FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

I guess that I am sounding like a broken record, but I have to keep asking the question:  Did I grow in my Catholic Faith during this Lent?  Did I grow in a greater awareness of God’s love and presence in my life?  Did I show my love for God and for all that He has done for me by my prayers and works of charity?  Honestly, would God pat us on our backs and say:  “Good Job” for my efforts this past Lenten Season?  God is still offering us this coming week, the opportunity to make up for “lost time”.  I have Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday to celebrate Life, Death, and Resurrection—Jesus’ final gift of Himself to us.  These are not merely three days on the calendar page.  They are a special time of the year, the church year, our life, when we can show  our love for all that God had done for us by praying with the Body of Christ, the Church, in the services on these individual days.  Please make a concerted effort to attend as many of theses special liturgies as you can.  It will give the sign of how much we really are in connection with our God and His Son, Jesus.

Today is Palm Sunday.  Palms will be blessed at each mass.  You may take extra palms for your homes.  We will remove the remainder on Wednesday.

I will have mass at the Grange Nursing Home on Tuesday at 10:30 A.M., and at the Mar-Ka Nursing Home on Wednesday at 10:00 A.M.  The Chrism Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at the Cathedral starting at 12:30 P.M.  to which we are invited to attend.

Confessions will be heard on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 7-8 P.M.

Thursday, at 7:30 P.M., we will celebrate the mass of the Lord’s Supper, and Adoration following the service until 10:30 P.M.

Friday—GOOD FRIDAY.  Community Stations of the Cross begin at 12:30 P.M. at St. John’s United Church of Christ, proceeds down Church Street to the park across from Regions Bank.

GOOD FRIDAY SERVICES AT HOLY CHILDHOOD begins at 7:30 P.M.  This is not a mass, but Communion will be distributed.

Saturday—Easter Vigil Services begin at 8:00 P.M., with the blessing of the New Fire, the new Easter Candle, out at the front of church.  This is also the event when we will welcome into our parish community four new members of the RCIA class.

Next Sunday is Easter—masses at 8:00 A.M. and 10:30 A.M.

Thanks to those who supported the CSMA so far.  We have received pledges of $32,613.51 toward our goal of $38,734.00.  This is from 172 donors.  Our goal of donors is 253, which we exceeded by twenty last year.  Thanks to all of you who have shared God’s blessings to you.  CSMA funds workers to work for us in Services and Ministry in our diocese!

 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).

LOSS OF A PARISHIONER: Oliver Biebel passed away on March 31. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. 

 HOLY CHILDHOOD SCHOOL:   is setting up a Science Lab for the coming school year and opening up another classroom that had been used for storage.  We are looking for 3 metal cabinets with doors and shelves.  If you can help us out, please contact the school office at 566-2922.

 GIFT BEARERS:   are still needed for Easter Sunday,  8 and 10:30 AM Masses.  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 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6, & 13.

THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC YOUTH CONFERENCE:  will be held in Kansas City, MO on November 19 - 22nd, 2009.  We will be meeting with all interested parents and youth on Wednesday, April 22 at 7:00 PM in the youth room.  The weekend is open to all who will be in high school next fall, including the current 8th grade PSR and HCS 8th graders.  College age students may also attend. Anyone under the age of 21 must bring a parent to sign the necessary paperwork.  If you decide to attend, a $100 deposit is due at this meeting.  Please consider attending; many young people describe it as an event that had a tremendous impact on their lives.

 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.

 VIDEO AD:  The Pastoral Council is looking for someone to videotape one weekend Mass.  We are going to do this for those who cannot attend Mass or that are in nursing homes.  If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Jenn Kordick at 566-3482.

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

Our Lord told St. Faustina, "All those who celebrate this feast shall obtain complete forgiveness of all sins and punishment attached to those sins."  Jesus promises to pour out an ocean of graces upon those who approach the fount of His mercy. "On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened."

In the Divine Mercy Encyclical (Rich in Mercy), Pope John Paul focuses on the beatitudes.  "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" to give us key insights that show us Divine Mercy for ourselves and we must learn to forgive.  Once we taste of mercy and learn to forgive one another, we begin to understand Divine Mercy.

Join us beginning at 7 PM each day from Good Friday, April 9, (before our parish services) for nine evenings and then on Mercy  Sunday, April 19. at 2 PM for exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and private prayers and then the chaplet of the Divine Mercy  at 3 PM. If circumstances hinder you from attending an evening service,  you can say the chaplet at your convenience. 

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

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, April 7

8:00 AM        Pat Huff

                                John Schaeffer

Wednesday, April 8

                       8:00 AM        Catherine Augustine

Thursday, April 9

                             7:30 PM        People of the Parish      

Friday, April 10

                    7:30 PM     Communion Service

Saturday, April 11

                8:00 PM     People of the Parish

Sunday, April 12

8:00   AM Bertha Jung

              10:30 AM People of the Parish

March 29, 2009

MONDAY, April 6

No Mass

2:30 PM           SVDP

                     7:30 PM          Athletic Mtg.- HCS

Tuesday,  April 7

                                         8:00AM          Mass →  Adoration→7 PM

       9:00 AM          Quilting

                         10:30 AM           Mass at the Grange

                                 12:30 PM          Chrism Mass - St. Peter's

                6:00 PM        Confessions

Wednesday,  April 8

  8:00 AM          Mass 

                  9:00 - 11:00    Bible Study - PC

                 10:00 AM          Mass at MarKa

         7:00 PM      Confessions

 HOLY THURSDAY,  April 9

  8:00 AM      No Mass

       9:00 AM     No Quilting

                             10:00 AM    Servers' Practice - Church

  7:30 PM Mass

   7:30 PM             KC's - PC - following Mass

GOOD FRIDAY, April 10

OFFICES CLOSED

 8:00 AM          No Mass

              12:15 PM    Community Stations

            7:30 PM Communion Service

9:00 AM      Adoration

         8:00 PM   Easter Vigil Mass

 8:00 AM              Mass

NO PSR or RCIA

10:30 AM            Mass
              7:00 PM              Divine Mercy
 

Dear Parents,

Each week I have been visiting a prisoner in jail as a deacon.  Last weekend as I was ready to leave the jail, another young woman inmate was in the next visitor’s booth talking to her sister and mother.  The mother (noticing my collar) told me I should talk to her.  I said I would be happy to.  Her next statement was, “I don’t think she is ready yet.”  I gave her my card and told her she could call me any time.

When I left, I wondered, “Let’s see, she is in jail and it isn’t the right time to look at her spiritual life?”  It seems to me it would be not only the right time but the perfect time.  I think that it is a question we need to ask ourselves.  When is it the right time to pray, go to Mass, go to Stations of the Cross, say the Rosary, pray at meals, go on a retreat, to contribute to the Church, to visit the sick?

The answer is ‘now’.  As we continue in this Lenten season, we need to ask ourselves, “When is it the right time?”  If we keep asking and not doing anything, maybe the next time we are asked the question will be when we stand before God.  Then it is too late.

This is the time to ask, “Is it the right time?”  It is the right time for everyone.  We each need to look at ourselves.  I know it became a real question for me. “When is the right time?”  We not only need to ask, we need to do something about it.  The right time to do something in our spiritual life is now.

God Bless 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.

ST. VINCENT de PAUL  is in need of furniture and appliances.  There is an urgent need for gently used furniture (in good working condition) ... particularly beds, chests of drawers, dressers, sofas, washers and dryers.  Donated items are tax deductible.  All donations are welcomed!  To arrange for a pickup or additional information, please call 618-394-3568.

ST. VINCENT de PAUL:   Throughout the month of April we will be collecting recipes for our Council Cookbook.  We are looking for a volunteer to help us with cookbook sales!  The deadline for recipes is April 30th.  If you would like to help, please contact Pat at 618-799-8505.  All proceeds will benefit the charitable works of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

MATER DEI MEGA RAFFLE:  sponsored by the Mater Dei Fathers and Friends Club and the Office of Institutional Advancement.  The winning ticket will be drawn at the Mater Dei Golf Tournament on Saturday, June 8th.  To purchase tickets, please call the office at 618-526-7216.

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.

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.

ANNUAL SPRING BLESSING OF THE FARM  will be held on Thursday, April 16th, at 1 PM at the property of Frank Dall and family located at 5500 Highline Road, Aviston, Illinois.  The farmers may wish to bring samples of seeds, which will be blessed during the prayer service.  Please mark your containers.  You may also bring animals, farm machinery and equipment.