FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

Last Monday, we laid to rest Glennon Behrman of our parish.  Glennon lived on North County Road and loved cats, flowers, and nature.  His house was virtually hidden from the road due to the many plants, shrubs, and trees.  Age took its toll on him, and he became very senile, ending up in a nursing home the last days of his life, much to his dissatisfaction.  He was a good person, and we pray that God will reward him for all the good that he had done in his lifetime.  May he rest in peace!

Retreat was a good time to rest, to pray, and to think. Intimacy with God can be a very challenging struggle in any one’s life.  For some saints, it was a very familiar event!  And yet, we read of great saints who struggled in this arena.  It does not mean that we are not praying, or that we are not good, or that God does not like us.  God loves us all of the time, and lives in us all of the time.  However, for us to become more conscious of it can be a real struggle, as if you are lost somewhere out in a desert.  That is o.k.  However, if we do not know that we are lost, or do not care about it, we might be in for some trouble.  Retreat always calls us back to knowing our God better and appreciating all that He does for us in every moment of our life.  It is in knowing how much we are loved by God, or anyone who brings God’s love to us, and learn; to appreciate it all the more, that we can find it easier to love God, our neighbor, and ourselves—yes, ourselves, and be happier.  Retreat is a good escape for anyone and everyone to find ourselves and our God, and to grow in our peace with our God.  I strongly recommend it to everyone!  God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him (or her)—St. John’s Gospel.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. James Amann, Sr. on their Golden Wedding Anniversary.  They can look back over the many years they had together, their many children, their “ups and downs”, and all of the good they accomplished, and thank God for His many blessings and joys.  We pray that God will continue to bless them with good health, happiness, and the support of many friends and family.

Again, thanks to all who supported our Red Cross Blood Drive this week-end! Thanks to those who came to give blood, were able to give blood, those who were here to “set-up” and to “take down”, and all those who worked during the blood drive helping it “flow” well.  A blood drive takes a lot of work and workers, whether it is a big drive or a small drive.  We need people to be convinced that giving blood is saving a life, and is a very important task—as important as any other gift that we personally enjoy.  This life-giving gift cannot be manufactured—it can come only from another healthy human person.  Thanks to all who share their gift of life so that others may live and enjoy life longer.

Thanks to all who supported our parish so generously over the holiday season with your contributions in the offertory collections.  Like you in your own lives, the parish has bills to pay, and is caught up with the same increases in utilities, assessments, and other expenses.  So, thank you for your generous financial support! 

HCCCW: will meet this Tuesday at 7 PM in the parish center.

2008 CONTRIBUTIONS: All contributions for 2008  need to be turned in by January 18, 2009.

THANK YOU FROM DAYSTAR: I want you to know that you all have touched so many lives down in the Daystar working area. Between the Thanksgiving Day dinner for the elderly and the handicapped and the Christmas for the children. Thank you for helping us to make this possible. From our hearts at Daystar to your hearts, Sincerely,   Sherry Miller

* We send $100 each month to Daystar Community in Southern IL.  PLEASE REMEMBER SHERRY AND HER FAMILY IN YOUR PRAYERS, SHE LOST HER DAUGHTER ON JANUARY 6, 2009.

URSULINE SISTERS: The Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph invite you to join them in praying for Sister Emily Zent, O.S.U. who died on December 30, 2008. Sister taught at Holy Childhood of Jesus School from 1967-1972.

BAPTISMAL CLASS: will be held on February 1, from 2-3:30 PM in the parish center.

INFORMATION UPDATES: If anyone of the parish has address or phone number changes, please let the rectory know so we can update our records (566-2958).

GIFT CARDS:  Did you know that you can use gift cards to pay your JCPenney's and Kohl’s charge accounts at any store register?  Now in stock Texas Roadhouse ($25) and Exxon/Mobile ($50).  Thanks for your support over the holidays!

Tuesday, January 13

 8:00 AM Catherine Augustine

Wednesday, January 14

 8:00 AM People of the Parish        

Thursday, January 15

8:00 AM Donald Muren Sr.

Friday, January 16

8:00 AM  People of the Parish

Saturday, January 17

5:30 PM Norman Siegel

Sunday, January 18

  8:00 AM  People of the Parish

     10:30 AM  Joseph & Dee Bechtoldt

                                 (62nd Wedding Anniversary)

January 4, 2009

MONDAY, January 12

No Mass

2:30 PM   St. Vincent-pc

Tuesday,  January 13

8:00 AM  Mass→Adoration→7 PM

9:00 AM   Quilting

7:00 PM    HCCCW

Wednesday,  January 14

8:00 AM  Mass

                7:30 PM  Choir practice

THURSDAY, January 15

8:00 AM   Mass

     9:00 AM   Quilting

                       7:00 PM   School Board mtg.

FRIDAY, January 16

8:00 AM Mass

SATURDAY, January 17

9:00 AM  Adoration

    4:30 PM  Confessions

5:30 PM   Mass

SUNDAY, January 18

  8:00 AM  Mass 

10:30 AM Mass

  9:00 AM RCIA

   NO PSR

The other day I heard on the radio an announcer say that the best thing about 2009 is that 2008 is gone. It has been a chaotic time. Who could have imagined the drop in the stock market, the loss of jobs, and a recession? What do we do in times of chaos? We tell stories. That is why we tell stories at the funeral home, stories about the person. Stories teach us and help us to cope with many situations. Perhaps your family shares stories, can laugh at themselves. I am fortunate that both sides of my family tell stories. Some are funny now, some are hilarious, some sad, yet they teach us. Below is one story.

In an eastern European country there is a statue in town. It is not of a rock star or a politician but of an ordinary man, sitting in a chair playing a cello. Vedran  did an extraordinary thing. When the war in Croatia was going on, a bomb hit the local bakery and killed 21 people who were waiting in line to buy bread.

Vedran thought “I am a simple man, what can I do?” He was in the orchestra but it was closed down so he put on his tuxedo, brought a chair and his cello and sat at the spot where the 21 died.  For 21 days he played music, dodging bullets honoring the 21 who died. He brought hope to a chaotic world.

Chaos in the world has always been with us. It was chaotic in the world Jesus was born in, yet he brought hope and love into the world. We too, in our own way, can bring hope to those around us.  We may be only one in the world,  but to one we may be the world.

Sincerely,

Deacon Ron Karcher

Principal

 Holy Childhood Open House & Registration- 2009

Preschool (3 & 4 year old) – March 11, 7pm Preschool Room

Kindergarten – March 18, 7pm  Meeting Room – Lower Level

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER: “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call him while he is near.” Are we taking time to seek the Lord in our marriage? The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend in this area is January 25^th through 27^th.  Early registration is highly recommended. To register or for more information call 888-889-9963.

TRIVIA NIGHT:    Sponsored by St. Mary-St. Augustine Athletic Association. January 17, 2009 at 7 PM in the SMSA gym. Doors open at 6:30 PM and the cover charge is $10 per person and 8 people per table. To reserve your table please call Margy Pearson at 236-0507 or Mary Arndt-Kettler at 234-9976.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES: The Belleville Region of Catholic Social Services (CSS) is seeking nominations for the 19^th Annual Christian Service Awards.  Individuals nominated should serve or live in the following counties:  Clinton, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair and Washington.  The awards will be presented at a benefit dinner on May 1, 2009, at 6 o’clock in the evening at Albert’s Banquet Center in Belleville.  Reservations for the event are $45 per person (or $320 for a table of eight) and can be made at any time by calling the Catholic Social Services office at (618) 394-5900.

SUPPORT GROUP:   For those grieving the death of a loved one, a Grief Support and Education Series will begin at SWIC'S Programs and Services for Older Persons in Belleville on January 15. Weekly sessions will run on Thursday afternoons for 8 weeks. The program is free of charge and refreshments will be provided. Reservations are required by calling 618-234-4410 ext. 7031.

QUILT BINGO:   On January 18, at 2 PM, St. Augustine in Breese, IL will be having quilt bingo. There will be 24 quilt games and 50/50 game cash for doubles.