FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

Today is the parish Pre-Cana day for 23 couples who are planning marriage this year.  We pray for them, that their marriages will be one of great happiness and blessings, especially of bringing Christ to one another helping each other to achieve their real goal in life—eternal life in heaven.  Pray also for the presenters who give their best!

This past week, I celebrated my 76^th year on earth, and am now beginning my 77^th year.  Thanks for all of the good wishes and prayers, and the support that you have given to me over the many years we have shared together.  God willing, I hope that I can continue to serve God and you for many years to come.  When I was first ordained, I used to look at the old timers and wonder about them.  Now I wonder what they are wondering about me as the oldest active pastor in our diocese.  I hope that it is good!

Tuesday evening, 7:00 P.M., we have a meeting of the Pastoral Council in the parish center.  There are some important items to be discussed for the good of the parish.

Wednesday is ASH WEDNESDAY, the beginning of Lent.  Ashes will be blessed and distributed at the 8:00 A.M. mass, and at the 7:30 P.M. mass.  I would appreciate it very much if the Eucharistic ministers, who serve the sick and shut-ins, would also take ashes to those persons.  As I wrote in my Lenten/Easter letter this past week, Ashes are a sign of repentance—a desire to change our lives conscious of our eternal destiny—to die to those items that lead us from God, and to perform deeds that will lead us to God.  Make this Lent as if it were your last Lent of your life.  One never knows!  But let it be a time to bring God’s happiness not only to ourselves, but to all we meet.  In such a way of living our Lent, we will be receivers as well as givers!

Friday at 5:30 P.M., we will have Stations of the Cross and Benediction.  Again, the Stations remind us of the great love of Jesus for us, that He would undergo such an agonizing journey, only to die for us, in order to save us from our sins.  The time was chosen so that many could attend before they went home from work, and then would be able to have the rest of the evening for their own purposes.  Try to attend—the service should last no longer than 35-40 minutes.

During Lent, we will also have mass on Wednesday evenings at 5:30 P.M.  Could you change your routine to attend Mass?  Mass is the opportunity to share with your God some of your time, and to receive His blessings.  There is much to pray for this year in view of the economic situation of our country and our world.

BLOOD DRIVE for the Mascoutah Community is scheduled for Thursday, March 5^th at Holy Childhood cafeteria.  The card/notice from the Red Cross is in error.  The time is the usual time—2 to 7 P.M.  Please come and save a life.  This would be a great Lenten project for those who could give blood—to share our blood because Jesus shed his blood for our salvation.  The “Make-Up” drive will be Saturday, March 14^th, from 9 A.M. to 2 P.M.

ATTENTION: The first pews on both sides of the church are for the elderly who receive communion at the pew. Thank You!

UPDATES ON THE ELDERLY: Edna Heimann has been transferred to St. Paul's Home in Belleville. Frances Wilhelm now resides at Cedar Ridge in Lebanon.

HCCCW: The winner of our Bi-Monthly Quilt Raffle Drawing was Helen Wombacher of our parish. You received tickets in the mail this week for the drawing to buy or sell. Sold or unsold tickets can be returned by putting  them in the collection baskets or taking them to the rectory. The first drawing will be held at our March 10th meeting.

SOUP SUPPERS: Our annual Soup & Speaker Series will be held on the last three Monday's in March. There will be more information to follow.

BELLEVILLE DEANERY: The spring meeting of the Belleville Deanery Council of Catholic Women will be held on Saturday March 14 at St. Luke's Parish in Belleville. The meeting will begin with registration at 8:30 AM and will conclude with lunch at noon. All women of the parish are invited to attend. The cost will be $5 for the lunch. Please contact Pat Fletcher by March 10 if you plan to attend.

WELCOME SUNDAY: Next Sunday March 1, is Welcome Sunday, please join us in the parish center following the morning Mass for coffee, donuts, and fellowship.

THANK YOU: The family of Father John Schoeberle would like to express our thanks and appreciation to everyone for your caring thoughts and prayers during his illness and your expressions of sympathy after his death.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: On March 11, the youth group is sponsoring a guest speaker in the parish center. The title of her talk is "The Choices You Make Today Can Affect the Rest of Your Life." All middle school & high school students,  and their parents are urged to attend. You do not have to be active in the youth group to attend; it is open to the public. If you have any questions, please call Kathy Renth at 618-588-4018.

GIFT CARDS: We have gift cards available for the following restaurants: Tony’s Place ($25), Applebee’s ($25), Chevy’s, ($25), Chili’s ($25), Burger King ($10), Chuck E. Cheese ($10), Arby’s ($10), Starbucks ($10), Fazoli’s ($25), TGI Friday’s ($25), Long John Silver’s ($5), Cracker Barrel ($10), Outback ($25), Texas Roadhouse($25) plus many more.

ATTENTION ALL MEN: You are invited to the Annual Catholic Men's Conference in St. Louis on March 21. Transportation and lunch are included in the registration cost. Sign-up will begin February 7 after all of the Masses. The cost for the conference is $45 prior to March 1 and $50 after that.

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).

ADORATION: If HCS or Mascoutah School District 19 is cancelled due to the weather, Adoration will also be cancelled. To get the school closings, it will be on KMOX radio or KSDK Channel 5.

Tuesday, February 24

 8:00 AM          John Rist

                                       Special Intention  

Wednesday, February 25

                     8:00 AM           People of the Parish

                     7:30 PM           People of the Parish

Thursday, February 26

           8:00 AM           Erma Sommers

                                                            Special Intension: John Riess

Friday, February 27

8:00 AM         Gene Hund

Saturday, February 28

                         5:30 PM       L/D Oscar Wilhelm Family

                                                Harvey & Ophelia Groennert

Sunday, March 1

            8:00 AM       People of  the Parish

10:30 AM      Norman Siegel

February 15, 2009

MONDAY, February 23

No Mass

Tuesday,  February 24

8:00 AM  Mass→Adoration→7 PM

9:00 AM            Quilting

6:00 PM             Quilting

7:00 PM             Pastoral Council-pc

Wednesday,  February 25

Ash Wednesday

8:00 AM            Mass

7:30 PM            Mass

THURSDAY, February 26

8:00 AM Mass

9:00 AM Quilting

7:00 PM Stewardship

FRIDAY, February 27

8:00 AM Mass

5:30 PM Stations/Benediction

9:00 AM  Adoration

4:30 PM  Confessions

5:30 PM   Mass

8 & 10:30 AM    Mass 

(Rite of Sending)

9:00 AM PSR/RCIA

Dear Parents:

We live in a culture that tries mightily to disguise aging and deny death.  Proof of such was found recently on the radio when I caught an NPR segment in which celebrity Joan Rivers, an aficionado of cosmetic surgery, was reviewing her new book on the very topic.  Now 72 years old and completely wrinkle-free, she encourages everyone to keep sagging skin at bay with the many innovative procedures surgery can now provide.  I had to wonder what her thoughts were if she had no admirers to applaud her latest surgical lift.  What’s it like, I wonder, when someone so devoted to their appearance, stands alone before God?

Well, Ash Wednesday is coming this week, time to begin another Lent, and rather than speculate on what Joan Rivers and The Almighty might be talking about, it’s time once again to turn our focus inward.  It’s also time to admit that, while we may not be as blatantly hedonistic as the comedienne who touted her latest book on NPR, we can easily become self-absorbed about things that matter very little.  We can easily spend our energies on things of no real consequence.  We have it in us to become unnerved by fleshly wrinkles and sags when our souls may be dying of neglect.

It’s time to confess that our souls can easily become bed-bound weak, suffering malnutrition through neglect.  We never meant for this to happen, but the culture’s fascination with comfort and beauty has left us little room to consider the things of eternity.  Lent has come.

So, with the help of true friends, drag your ailing frame into the presence of the Divine Healer.  Be insistent:  maneuver through back corridors, narrow stairways and even ventilation shafts in your determined effort to reach Him.  And know a truth:  when He sees your resolve, He’ll kneel down and take your hand.  All your hopes for healing will culminate in this one moment, in this one man.  He will speak, “Your sins are forgiven.”

God bless you.

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: As we prepare for Lent let us think about ways to change our hearts and enrich our Sacrament of Marriage. Take time now to build a stronger Sacrament. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend in this area is April 24^th through 26^th.  Early registration is highly recommended. To register or for more information call 888-889-9963.

FAT TUESDAY: St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Freeburg is having their annual pancake and sausage dinner on Tuesday, February 24th from 4-8pm. Everyone is invited!

ST. GEORGE PARISH is having a chicken dinner on Sunday, March 8, from 11 AM - 6 PM. It will be held at St. George Hodapp Hall in New Baden, IL. Everyone is invited! Adults- $8.50; Children(5-12)- $4.25; Under 5- free. Carryouts available.

ST. LIBORIUS PARISH is having a quilt bingo on Sunday, March 1, at the American Legion Hall, 7236 State Route 15, St. Libory. The bingo starts at 1 PM with the doors opening at 11 AM.

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.