FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

This weekend, our CYO is participating in the Diocesan Youth Convention at Collinsville, with all of the other youth groups of our diocese.  Pray for our youth, as well as each of the kids, that they may come away from this great event more inspired to live their faith in their parishes, and become leaders of other youth.  We have a fine group attending, and they need our moral, and spiritual support, both in prayers, encouragement, and good example.

Monday evening, we have Msgr. Hitpas giving the talk at the last of the Soup & Speaker series.  Last year, he was scheduled to come on two different dates, and the weather was such that we had to cancel both of them.  We thank him for making time in his busy schedule to enlighten us.  His topic will be about Reconciliation, and knowing Fr. Bill, it will be a very enjoyable and enlightening evening.  All of you are encouraged to attend and grow in your faith and a greater appreciation for this great sacrament of God’s love.

This week also begins our series of Lenten confessions, or Reconciliation services in preparation for Easter.  Admit it!  Many of you have not been to Confession or Reconciliation for years, and have become somewhat indifferent about sin. We all need to take inventory of good deeds, and our not-so-good deeds and attitudes, those that do not really reflect the goodness that we would expect of Jesus, and clean up our acts.  After all, we have been baptized into the life of Christ, and we also have received Christ, or so we think when we receive Communion.  It could very well be that all of our Communions have been fruitless because we have sinned and have not received forgiveness in this sacrament.  God wants to bless us and forgive us.  However, if we feel that we do not need to admit our failings and guilt, we put a blocker in the way.  The Sacrament of Reconciliation removes all those obstacles when we are truly sorry for our sins, and admit it.  On Tuesday evening, at 7:00 P.M., there will five other priests here besides myself, to help us in this great sacrament.  On Wednesday evening, I will be participating in the Penance Service at St. Nicholas’ Parish in O’Fallon, to which we can avail ourselves.  On Thursday evening at 7:00 P.M. also, St. Clare’s Parish in O’Fallon will have their Penance Service.  Next Sunday, Palm Sunday, at the Cathedral, there will be the opportunity to go to confession from noon to 5 P.M. with two to three priests available the whole time.

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday.  Palms will be blessed at all masses.  However, at the 10:30 Sunday Mass, we will meet in the parish center, bless the palms there, and have the procession from there to Church.  Easter is not far away!

I am still reminding those who have not joined in with our Catholic Services and Mission Appeal, to please make room in your lives and budgets for this great work of charity.  In making small monthly contributions, (and we spend a lot each month on small items for our own pleasure), we can also accomplish much good in the spread of faith, helping the needy, supporting education in our diocese, and sharing our gifts that God gives us in the first place.  You will never get ahead of God in sharing our blessings!  Please give your support to the Catholic Services and Mission Appeal!  Join the parade!

FUNERAL MASS: Rebecca Frances Haas from our parish has passed away. The prayer service will be on Sunday at 7:30 PM at Moll Funeral Home. The Funeral Mass will be on Monday at 10:00 AM.

 GIFT CARDS FOR EASTER:   Purchase gift cards to give as gifts or to use to make your own holiday purchases.  Popular gift cards for kids include: Build-A-Bear ($25), iTunes ($15), GameStop ($25), Toys R Us ($20), Best Buy ($25), Barnes & Noble or Borders ($10/$25).

 ADORATION TIME CHANGE:  Please note that on March 31st, Adoration will end at 5:00 PM due to the Penance Service.

 ANNUAL SOUP SUPPER AND SPEAKER SERIES:   The third and last Soup Supper and Speaker will be held on March 30th, beginning with the soup supper at 6:30 PM and followed by a presentation by Msgr. William Hitpas entitled, "Moving from Conversion to Reconciliation." His talk promises to help us focus on preparation for our parish penance service and prepare for Holy Week. Bring a friend, enjoy the soup and hear a great talk!

 GIFT BEARERS  are needed for Holy Thursday, April 9th, and Easter Sunday, April 12th. These Masses will be for the intention of the parish. Please assist us by calling the rectory at 566-2958 or Ruth Wilhelm at 566-2885, as soon as possible, as schedules are prepared in advance! Thank you!

 MARK YOUR CALENDARS: and join Fr. Ed Hauf as he teaches us about "Scripture and God's Plan for Salvation" from 9-10:30 AM in the parish center on April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6, & 13.

 TRIVIA NIGHT: HCS Technology is sponsoring a trivia night on Saturday, April 25th in HCS Gym. Doors open at 6:30 PM and the game begins at 7:00 PM. The costs: $15/person or $100/table (paid in advance to HCS). This includes two drink tickets.

 CHURCH PICNIC: It is that time of year again! For the Woodcrafters, we need large items for our woodcraft raffles. I would really appreciate it if you could tell me what you will be making, so that I get the raffle tickets made up. Wine makers, please let me know how many cases of empty wine bottles and corks you will need. Quilters, please let me know if you need anything! Last but not least, we are still in need of ideas for another booth. You can contact Stacie at 566-0355 or even better at hawaiiancornmans@charter.net. Thank you all for your help!

 EASTER FLOWER MEMORIALS:   Now is the time to send in your request for Easter Flower Memorials for your deceased loved ones. For $10, you can list one or two individual names or one or two family names. There is an Easter flower envelope in your church envelope box. Make sure you list who the memorial is for and the donor's name on the envelope. Please make checks out to HCCCW. Donations are needed by April 7th, to insure your loved ones names are included on the list displayed at all entrances to the church. For more information, please contact Pat Bowker at 566-7089.

Parents, if you are interested in your child going to Camp Ondessonk,

there are camp forms available in the office.

Devotion to the Divine Mercy

The Divine Mercy Novena will begin on Good Friday, April 9, at 7 PM (Good Friday services begin at 7:30 PM). We will meet at 7 PM each evening until the Sunday after Easter at which time our service is at 2 PM. Simple preparation is necessary to receive the graces of this feast day. Our Lord told St. Faustina "On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open; I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who will approach the fount of My mercy...On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened."

Simple preparation is due by us: 1) receive the sacrament of Reconciliation on or before April 19; 2) Pray the Novena of Divine Mercy beginning on Good Friday for nine days ; 3) On Divine Mercy Sunday, April 19, receive Holy Communion, venerate the Image of Divine Mercy and pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy; and 4) an act of Mercy should take part in our lives towards others. Our Lord told St. Faustina, "All those who celebrate this feast shall obtain complete forgiveness of all sins and punishment attached to those sins."

The Blessed Sacrament is exposed every Tuesday following the 8 o'clock Mass until 7 PM and on Saturdays from 9-10 AM. Come spend any amount of time you can give with our Lord as He waits patiently for us.

 If you have  questions, please call Mary Ellen Mueller 566-9529.

Tuesday, March 31

8:00 AM            Minnie Schoeberle

                       Donald Voegele

                                                  Special Intention of parishioner

Wednesday, April 1

                8:00 AM            Dan & Rose Mueth Family

Thursday, April 2

     8:00 AM            Karis Winter            

Friday, April 3

       8:00 AM             People of the Parish

Saturday, April 4

         5:30 PM            Arthur Friederich Sr.

                                       Brother Paul Wilhelm

Sunday, April 5

        8:00 AM             People of the Parish

10:30 AM             Dan Stukenberg

                           Sylvia Campa

March 22, 2009

MONDAY, March 30

No Mass

               6:30PM         Soup Supper-pc

Tuesday,  March 31

                              8:00AM     Mass →  Adoration→7 PM

9:00 AM       Quilting

6:00 PM       Quilting

            7:00 PM      Penance Service

Wednesday,  April 1

8:00 AM       Mass 

                                            7:00 PM       St. Nicholas - Penance Service

               7:30 PM       Choir Practice

THURSDAY, April 2

8:00 AM Mass

9:00 AM Quilting

7:00 PM St. Clare - Penance Service

FRIDAY, April 3

8:00 AM Mass

Communion Calls

5:30 PM Stations/Benediction

7:00 PM Variety Show-hcs

9:00 AM  Adoration

2:00 PM Wedding

4:30 PM  Confessions

5:30 PM   Mass

8 & 10:30 AM Mass

9:00 AM RCIA

9:15 AM PSR

Dear Parents,

Many times I share at meetings the stories of what happens in school that brings a smile to me. To see a child laugh is to witness joy. Whether it is a giggle, a cackle, a high pitched shriek, the sound is like cool water to a long distance runner.

It doesn’t take much.  The simplest things can set them off. A goofy face, soap bubble, the way a ball bounces or funny noises from toys. They love it and we don’t understand why.

What does a child have to laugh about? What do they know about life? What is their key? Nothing! A child has no knowledge of life to get in the way. There is nothing to dampen, counter, or kill the rush of pleasure at seeing a grown up make a face or fake a sneeze.

For a child, I think enjoying something for its own sake comes naturally. We envy the gurgle, the coo, the laugh because they possess something we lost growing up.

We try to recapture it with indulgence in pleasures, collections often to excess. Yet these only give us an artificial high that soon flares out.

We can bring back some of that joy if we just stop, look and listen. Lent calls us to take time away from the world. To take time to pray, rest, breathe the fresh spring weather. We have only one life to live and we decide how to live it.

For now, we need to revel in the happiness a child enjoys. Some of it will disappear soon enough. We need to take in the joy of a baby smashing a banana and missing their mouth. We need to enjoy their laugh like it’s the funniest thing in the world.

Laughing with you,

Deacon Ron Karcher

Principal

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER: “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.”  Let a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend help your relationship produce more fruit.  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.

SECOND ANNUAL SPRING SALE: St. Theresa's in Belleville is having their Annual Spring Everything Under the Sun Sale! The sale will be on April 4th and doors open at 8:00 AM.

COME HOME FOR HOLY WEEK:  A dozen priests will be available for Confessions on April 5, Palm Sunday - from noon to 5:00 PM - for the Catholic people in our Belleville Deanery.  The invitation to "Come Home for Holy  Week" will offer two or three priests available each hour for the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Belleville.

NATIONAL SHRINE IN BELLEVILLE: would like everyone to know that they will have a 5:00 PM Mass during the weekday, Monday thru Friday. The Shrine will be celebrating this Mass not just through Lent, but all the way through Pentecost.

CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS:    On April 19th, there will be a Divine Mercy Celebration that will take place in the main church at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows. This Celebration will take place following 11:30 AM Mass and will last until about 3:30 PM. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available throughout the Celebration. For more information, please call the Shrine at 618-397-6700 or 618-397-0317.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY:   Looking for an affordable opportunity to buy a home? Or, do you know someone looking for such an opportunity?  Did you know that we're going to build a Habitat for Humanity House in Mascoutah? We'll be taking applications soon.  Interested applicants will have certain criteria to meet.  To learn more and to pick up an application, come to a meeting at City Hall in Mascoutah on Thursday, April 16th from 6:30 - 8:00 PM or Saturday, April 18th from 10:00 AM - Noon!

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.