FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

We wish to congratulate our High School Graduates from Holy Childhood Parish.  Some of you did not attend Holy Childhood School, and some of you are new to our parish, and new to our High School.  However, we include all of you in our parish, and we pray for you and for your success.  Some may choose not to belong to our parish, or be active in the parish, or maybe in the Catholic Faith.  But you are all children of God, and baptized into the Body of Christ, which is our Church.  We pray that God bless you and that you in turn, be a blessing to your families, your church, your community, your work.  May you become the person God wants you to be in this world, and inherit eternal life.

We also congratulate our students of Holy Childhood School who will graduate this Sunday afternoon at 2 P.M.   We hope that you too, will be a blessing to your families, to your church, and to the world.  Your parents entrusted you to our school to give you a good foundation in your Catholic Faith, and in the education needed to be a productive person in our world.  You have been gifted by your teachers.  Now it falls on you to use those gifts to make the world better and more caring.  You must do your share, or you will miss the mark, either in this life or in eternity.  Pray every day that you can know and do what God expects of you, when he gave you your soul and your life!

Next Sunday is the fourth Sunday of the Month, the day that we have assigned a second collection for defraying the cost of remodeling the Concerned Christians Food Pantry.  If you write a check for this purpose, you should write it to the parish, and the parish will process the checks, and along with any other donations, and forward a check to cover your gifts for this purpose.  It is also Shepherd Sunday, and we ask you to continue to bring food items or paper items to help those in need.  We thank our ladies who consistently work the food pantry every Tuesday and Thursday in this ministry.

Perhaps you have noticed the number of “Masses for the Parish” during the week.  This is due to lack of stipends or mass intentions, be they in thanksgiving, for the deceased, for special intentions, for personal needs.  There are only so many Sundays in the year, and when we have more than one intention for a day, the extra mass stipends are sent to the missions, or to bolster the Clergy Aid of our diocese.  Contact the Rectory for scheduling masses for your intentions.

Next Sunday is Memorial Week-end.  Many will be using this three day holiday to go camping or traveling—to get away!  When I was a kid, Memorial Day was the end of school and the beginning of summer vacation.  Times have changed!  School ends on June 3^rd this year.  So take care of yourselves next weekend.  And don’t forget to go to Mass and say your prayers!

Tuesday evening will be a meeting of our Parish Finance Council.  It is a challenging time for us as well as for you, as we try to meet our obligations both in the parish, and at school.  We will also be working on a budget for next year.  Pray that the council can make the right decisions for the parish, and the parish can help the council do its job.

BAPTISMAL CLASS will be held on June 7th, from 2-3:30 PM, in the parish center.

GIFT CARDS FOR GRADS: We have gift cards for graduates of all ages.  Pre-K and Kindergarten – Build-a-Bear, Border’s.  8^th graders – American Eagle Outfitters, Gap/Old Navy, iTunes, The Limited and GameStop.  High school – Best Buy, Exxon or BP gas, Bass Pro Shops, Bath & Body Works.  College – Starbuck’s , Bed Bath & Beyond, Pottery Barn, Cabela’s.

PARISH PICNIC MEETING will be June 2nd at 7 PM in the parish center. We will be meeting for ideas for new booths, things we would like to see at our picnic, and see about getting some stands fixed or moved.

HCCCW: The four winners for our quilt and grocery raffle were: Ruth Schadle of Mascoutah, Mae Kennedy of our parish, Arlene Haas of our parish, Jenn Kordick of our parish, and Dinah Breitweiser from Jerseyville, IL. Thanks to all of you for supporting our projects.

BISHOP BRAXTON WILL ORDAIN FIVE NEW DEACONS on Saturday, May 30th. The Vigil of Pentecost, The Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton will ordain five new Deacons at 10 AM in the Cathedral of St. Peter. Four of the ordinandi will be Transitional Deacons: Mr. Abraham O.  Adejoh, Mr. Dale A. Maxfield, Mr. Joseph O. Oganda, and Mr. Sean M. Palas. One, Mr. Gerald G. Bach, Sr. will be a Permanent Deacon. All five will serve in the Diocese of Belleville. All parishioners are invited to participate in the Ordination Liturgy. Bishop Braxton requests everyone in the Diocese to support these candidates for ordination with their prayers.

2ND ANNUAL PRIESTS' APPRECIATION DINNER: Come celebrate the vocation of your pastor at an appreciation dinner on Sunday June 14th at Fischer's Restaurant: 5:30 PM Cocktails; and 6:30 PM Dinner. Parishioners will be seated near their pastor. PLEASE ATTEND TO SHOW HIM YOUR SUPPORT. For invitations, contact the rectory at 566-2958 or Steve Kappel at 314-729-7843. The price is $37.50 per person for dinner. This is sponsored by the Serra Club of St. Clair County.

FILE OF LIFE REMINDER: Last weekend, 'File of Life' and 'Vial of Life' kits were distributed after Masses. If you need additional kits or forms, they are available in the gathering space. Please take whatever supplies you need, and feel free to take kits for anyone who would benefit from having one. Please get your forms filled out and the Files/Vials placed in their proper spot as soon as possible! If you need assistance, please contact a Social Service Ministry Member: Jodi Gardner (566-2347), Dolores Dauber (566-2666), LeeAnn Funk (566-4610), Colleen Hopp (934-3207), Pat Steinberg (566-2245).

"SONROCK KIDS CAMP" VBS: Registration and volunteer forms are now available for this year's Vacation Bible School. VBS will be held June 22nd - 26th from 8:45 AM - 11:45 AM at Bethel United Methodist Church and St. John's United Church of Christ. You may pick up forms from the rectory or the HCS office. Contact Judy Schneider at 566-9562 or judy.schneider@charter.net.

May 17th - Last Day

Tuesday, May 19

8:00 AM      Mary Waigand

                   Special Intension for Mr. & Mrs. Charles Crowe

Wednesday, May 20

8:00 AM        Mr. & Mrs. Joe Rist

Thursday, May 21

8:00 AM        Fran Haas

Friday, May 22

8:00 AM        Sonny Biebel

Saturday, May 23

5:30 PM         L/D members of Clyde & Rose Krausz Family

Sunday, May 24

8:00   AM       Marian & Henry Huber

10:30 AM       People of the Parish

May 10, 2009

Dear Parents,

Last week our students participated in the Math Olympiad at SWIC. Our students took 3^rd place out of 41 schools. That is impressive and shows the learning and abilities of our students. I am very proud of them. Great job!

Saturday was the Diocesan Track Meet at Red Bud and we took third place in the large school division. We are the smallest large school. What I saw was the determination and hard work of athletes and coaches. Great Job. I am proud of you!

This Sunday our 8^th graders graduate and begin another large step in their life. They are multi-talented and each will make decisions along the way that will affect their lives.

At last count the video of Susan Boyle singing on the British television show “Britain’s Got Talent” has been seen by over 60 million viewers (probably more by now). If you have not seen it you should. Ms. Boyle, an unemployed, unmarried, unprepossessing woman from a remote village in Scotland is a devout Catholic who spent the last years quietly caring for her ailing mother who recently died at 91. When she strode on stage to sing "I dreamed a dream" the judges smirked at first until she started to sing. She silenced them with her glorious voice. The judges and audience were blown away. The viewers saw a worthwhile, special, talented, unique and beautiful person. God sees us in that way. God sees the real person’s gifts: rich or poor, young or old, lucky or unlucky. God knows us and loves us.

Each student, each person God loves us. He loves those who try, those who use their talents. I am grateful to the students who use their talents whatever they are. I am also grateful to the teachers and coaches who see each child as a child of God. You are loved by God no matter who you are. God bless you.

Sincerely,

Deacon Ron Karcher

Principal

May 17         8^th Grade Graduation         2:00 p.m.

June   1        Spring Concert                     7pm  Gym       All welcome

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER: “Love one another as I love you.” Do you love your spouse with the same kind of love that Jesus loves us? Take time now to learn this kind of love for each other. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend in this area is June 26th through 28th.  Early registration is highly recommended. To register or for more information call 888-889-9963.

BUNKO & DESSERT PARTY will be held on Monday May 18th at 1 PM at St. Anthony parish center in Beckemeyer, IL. This is sponsored by the Red Hat Ladies and benefits St. Anthony Memorial Fund. $5 per person; includes drinks and dessert.

BASEBALL BUFFET BREAKFAST: The American Legion in New Baden is having a Buffet Breakfast on May 17th from 8 AM - 12 Noon. This will benefit the area Legion baseball players from Mascoutah, New Baden, and Okawville.

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION: The City of Mascoutah is searching for organizations to sell certain products which include water, hamburgers, hot dogs, brats, chicken, fish, and BBQ. These items will be on a first come, first serve basis, please call for availability and to make a commitment. There is a restricted list of items reserved for the City and certain organizations which include beer and soda. If anyone is interested, please call the rectory at 566-2958 or the City at 566-2964.

KING'S HOUSE RETREAT & RENEWAL CENTER: There will be Retreats in June and July for Men and Women. There will also be Mind, Mystery & Imagination: a week long Retreat for women, men, religious, and clergy from July 27 - August 2. For more information, please contact the King's House at 618-397-0584.