FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

To Whom It May Concern:

Well, the Fourth of July weekend is history, and it was a wet one at that.  Fortunately, there was a Sunday to postpone all of the activities at the park, and the fireworks display was beautiful.  Thanks to all who made this possible! I know that many persons were away camping or vacationing.  I did not see them in church, and the collection showed their absence for the first Sunday of the month—usually our largest collection of the month when many donate one time for the month.  Thankfully, I did not hear of any casualties over the holiday weekend, and we are marching onward through this month like a blitzkrieg!

The next big event is Homecoming, and again our parish will be manning the Hamburger Stand on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Jimmy Amann is our manager for this event, and I ask everyone to help him, if possible. The stand represents our parish’s involvement and support of this event, which supports our park and many other projects.  Many members of our parish are involved in planning and executing this event.  Some work at other stands for their organizations and ours also.  But the success of the event is poured back into Scheve Park and other facilities that benefit the citizens of Mascoutah—the ball diamonds, the picnic grounds, the pavilions, the Ag Building for events, on and on.  The Mascoutah Improvement Association does a great job for us, and we all need to support it by our involvement.  So when Jimmy asks you to work a shift, or help out, make the answer a whole hearted “Yes."

Our Picnic is also quickly approaching, and is a vital source of funding to our parish budget, which includes supporting our school.  I thank Stacie Cornman for all of the work that she is putting into this event, along with her other co-chairpersons.  However, they cannot do it alone, and they need our whole-hearted support in selling raffle tickets, publicizing it to friends, supplying for the various stands, working in the stands, and doing the myriads of  other work that goes to make a parish picnic a success.  Most of all, we need prayers, from the youngest to the oldest members of our parish for good weather, good attendance, and a successful picnic.  It is a parish event, as well as a community event, a social and fun event,  and hopefully, a memorable event, in which all of us and our parish are blessed.  By our cooperation, we will be showing our support of Holy Childhood Parish, our love for God’s work in our community, and our love of one another.

Next weekend, I will begin my vacation, leaving on Monday morning—a direct flight to Seattle Washington, and from there into Canada.  Fr. Hitpas and I will come home on Friday, July 31^st—direct flight home.  Pray for us!

This past Monday, July 6^th, was the 37^th anniversary of my arrival to Holy Childhood parish—July 6^th, l972.  I walked in the front door, and was told immediately that I had to go to church to hear Confessions—Thursday before First Friday!  And so I did!  And I know who the first one was—now long deceased, one of the quilting ladies!  This past Monday, I went the opposite direction, south to Cairo and Mound City to see some of my old friends.  It was a good and refreshing trip with beautiful weather.  Thanks, God!

WORKERS NEEDED for the Hamburger Stand at the Homecoming. If there is anyone interested in helping out, please contact Jim Amann @ 618-235-4199 or jamann6@norcom2000.com. Thank you!

GIFT CARDS: Whether you are planning a nice dinner out or needing to grab a quick bite, we have gift cards to meet your needs.  Tony’s Place ($25), Applebee’s ($25), Chevy’s, ($25), Chili’s ($25), Burger King ($10), Arby’s ($10), Starbucks ($10), Fazoli’s ($25), TGI Friday’s ($25), Home Town Buffet ($25), Texas Roadhouse ($25) and many more.

LOOKING FOR MUSICIANS: We are looking for an organist / pianist to play for Mass on occasion. If you have this talent and are willing to share it with the parish, please let Father know or call the rectory at 566-2958. Thanks!

HOLY CHILDHOOD BOY SCOUTS would like to thank everyone who was able to give a donation to the Scouts. We are very fortunate for all of the support Troop 57 receives from the Holy Childhood Church Family.

VALUES FROM ST. VINCENT DE PAUL is a new catalog program sponsored by the Belleville Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. It's a way you can purchase new, quality merchandise of all types (delivered right to your door) and , at the same time, help St. Vincent serve the poor. All proceeds benefit St. Vincent de Paul ministries. For additional information or to see merchandise available, visit SVDP website at www.svdpsouthil.org and click the "Catalog Program" tab or call 618-394-3568.  SVDP needs your help in meeting the growing requests they have for assistance; visit the website or call today! Thank you and God bless!

CHURCH CHATTER: This is our Church newsletter, sent out to all households registered with Holy Childhood Parish. We look for news about what's happening within the parish and in support of our parishioners. If you have something of interest, please send it to Linda Zacharski at:      

kzacharski@charter.net or mail it to: 717 Knipp Ave, Mascoutah, IL. All organizations, school, and committees and clubs are invited to respond. Deadline for summer issue is July 15th. The next issue will be in late October. Don't wait to tell us about your activities and your members. Do it now!!

Have a Good Summer!!

TUESDAY, July 14

8:00 AM            Michael Warning

WEDNESDAY, July 15

8:00 AM         Louis & Elsie Wombacher

THURSDAY, July 16

8:00 AM          Gertrude Moll

FRIDAY, July 17

8:00 AM          Dan & Rose Mueth

                         Art & Dorothy Mueth 

SATURDAY, July 18

5:30 PM           Marie Hartlein

                          L/D Members of the Oliver Biebel Family

SUNDAY, July 19

8:00   AM        Norbert & David Haas

                         Leroy Schulte

10:30 AM        People of the Parish

July 5, 2009

MASCOUTAH FOOD PANTRY: Items needed by the pantry this month are: sugar, vegetable oil, saltine crackers, coffee, tuna "helper", and paper towels. Many thanks to all who have been supporting the food pantry.

HISPANIC YOUTH DAY: The annual Diocesan Hispanic Youth Day will be held at the Pastoral Center, Bldg. 6, Belleville, IL on Saturday, July 18th from 9 AM - 4:30 PM. Mass will be celebrated at 3:30 PM. Hispanic Youth, ages 11 to 21+ are invited. There is no charge. We will "Build Bridges" literally and through cultural dialog. The day also includes fun, a construction activity, food and attendance prizes. For more information, call: Sr. Cecilia Hellmann, Diocesan Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry at 618-235-9601, ext. 129, or S. Irma Avila at ext. 132.

THE MASCOUTAH TOWNSHIP is currently sponsoring an annual school supply drive for local needy children. We are in need of the following: pocket folders, Clorox wipes, erasable pen, colored pencils, washable markers, yellow highlighters, pencil boxes or zipper pouch, large erasers, children's Fiskars brand scissors, and multi subject notebooks. If you have questions, or require further information, please contact Debra Moll at 566-7132.

ST. JAMES CHURCH 60TH ANNUAL SUMMER FESTIVAL will be on Saturday, August 1st. There will be a household auction starting at 10 AM. An all-you-can-eat chicken dinner will be from 4 - 7 PM, and Quilt/Cash Bingo starts at 5:30 PM. Mass will be celebrated at 4 PM. in the Church. They will have live music, raffles, crafts, booths, attendance prizes and games for all ages! St. James Church, Millstadt, IL. Please accept our invitation if your schedule permits!

THE LEU CIVIC CENTER is planning a fall cookbook fundraiser to benefit the children at the center. Currently, we are putting together a cookbook and would love to include some of your delicious recipes. In order to meet our Thanksgiving deadline, we need to submit recipes by July 15th. Please consider sharing two of your recipes for the worthwhile cause. If you wish to contribute, please bring copies of two of your recipes or mail them to 213 North Market St, Mascoutah; or if you any questions please call 618-581-6588.

ST. CHARLES CHURCH PICNIC will be on Saturday, July 25th, Church grounds, DuBois, IL. Polka Mass at 4 PM, there will be a Fried Chicken Dinner & Pork Steak Dinner served from 4-7:30 PM. Quilt / Cash Bingo starts at 6:30 PM, and the Polka music begins from 6:30 - 10:30 PM. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kathy Conner at 618-214-1233. I hope you can make it!