FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

Many thanks to all who have signed up to have their picture taken for the new parish directory.  It will be a very handy instrument for new parishioners to identify other parishioners, and also to make new acquaintances.  It will also help the older parishioners to know the persons they are praying with in church, and to build up our parish family.  After all, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, through our baptism.  We try to show this family spirit by our praying together at mass, and at other times.  We also do this by working together, and enjoying one another’s company.  However, to make our parish a more visible image of the family of God, we need to know one another and meet one another.  Our new directory can help to make this happen.  If you are not signed up, please try to get your picture taken to be in the directory.  Many thanks to all who have helped facilitate this project so far, especially Karen Wobbe, who volunteered to chair this effort, and to all who have helped her.

The fishing trip was fun, relaxing and successful.  The weather was great, the rivers were calm (I talked to them), and we caught some fish—the nets did not break, but the lines did, whether through snags or by the fish.  The change was great; even though I got up earlier for fishing than I do regularly.  The fish were not as large as last year, but they fought just as much, and that is the fun in bringing in and landing the catch.

Again, thanks also to all who came to give blood at our community Blood Drive on Saturday.  I cannot give any figures as I write this column, but I know the persons who will receive the blood are grateful to those who cared enough to give time to save their lives.  I always believed that in giving blood, I was living the goodness of Christ who cared for others.  I personally cannot give blood because of blood disorder that I picked up somewhere in l982—I had four and a half gallons by then, and then had to stop.  But I do all that I can by promoting the blood drives.  You can help me by encouraging others to give blood.  At the last blood drive, we had seven first-time donors and one who was under age and had to get his parent’s signature.  That is the spirit we like to see—a caring spirit.

I have a question to ask!  Each one of us has a gift from God—24 hrs each day, 168 hours each week, 5040 or 5071 hours each month, depending on what month it is.  How many of those hours do you give back to God in prayer or good works?  Each day? Each week? Each month?  Ancient nations offered sacrifices to their pagan God to please them, and to show their need for divine help.  And down through the ages, we find people constantly showing their dependence on God.  The Muslims pray seven times a day to Allah.  I say this because I wonder if most of our world’s problems do not come as a result of indifference to serve God and His commandments, and choosing instead to think and live only for ourselves and our own pleasure.  If you or I were as generous as God in giving so much time to live, and received in return what we return to God for this gift, how would we feel?  If we gave as much to our children, and they returned to us on a similar level as we return to God, what would be your judgment?  It is a thought to ponder for our own good.

BAPTISMAL CLASS for new parents, parents to be, or parents who have not attended a class within two years of the last child baptized. Class will be held on Sunday, October 4th from 2-3:30 PM in the parish center. You will register upon your arrival.

RCIA: If anyone is interested in signing up for RCIA, please contact the rectory at 566-2958 or K.K. Schneider at 566-2871. The RCIA class will begin on September 20th at 9 am in the parish center.

IT'S NOT TO LATE to make your appointment for a photo session for the parish directory. Life Touch has opened Tuesday and Wednesday,  October 6th & 7th. To sign-up, you may call the rectory at 566-2958 or sign-up online at www.holychildhoodchurch.com, under events! Thank You!

HOLY CHILDHOOD 17TH ANNUAL DINNER AUCTION will be held on Saturday, October 17th. Please see the bulletin insert to order your tickets. If you would like to make a donation, please contact Mary Moll at 566-2300. Thank you for your continued support of HCS.

SHEPHERD SUNDAY - SEPT. 26 & 27: The Mascoutah Food Pantry needs the following items this month: pancake mix, oatmeal, saltine crackers, rice, shampoo, bathroom tissue. They also need used grocery bags. Thank you for your support.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL will hold its annual nationwide "Friends of the Poor Walk." It will be held at Althoff High School on Saturday, September 26th with registration 7 - 10 AM. For more information, please call 618-799-8505 or www.svdpfriendsofthepoorwalk.org.

GIFT CARDS: New gift cards available to order include: Nike ($25), Aéropostale ($25), OfficeMax ($100), Visa ($25, $50 & $100) and Dell ($100). Stop by the school office during school hours or the gathering space after masses to purchase gift cards. HCS thanks you for your support.

HCCCW: The HCCCW meeting will be held on September 29th at 7 pm in the parish center.

The HCS Technology Committee Trivia Night Has Been Cancelled.

SMALL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY is starting once again! This involves groups of 6-12 people meeting weekly or every other week this fall. These "communities" watch videos, go over Sunday readings, or discuss faith-related topics. There will be six groups meetings at different times and days of the week. If you would like to find out more, please contact John Pettinger at 618-677-2724 / johnpettinger@yahoo.com, or you may contact the rectory.

MASS INTENTIONS

TUESDAY, September 15

8:00 AM                 Msgr. Bernard Voss

WEDNESDAY, September 16

8:00 AM                  Gertrude Moll

                                  Harold DeRousse

                                  Mildred Binger

THURSDAY, September 17

8:00 AM                 Kachinsky Family

FRIDAY, September 18

8:00 AM                 Norbert Friederich

                                Little Flowers / Blue Knights / Edge

SATURDAY, September 19

5:30 PM                  Jerry & Sally Mueller

                                (50th Anniversary)

                                Con & Kate Meehan

                                Steve Cameron

SUNDAY, September 20

8:00   AM               Marian & Henry Huber

                                Linda Sembenotti

10:30 AM                People of the Parish

 September 6, 2009

WEEKLY CALENDAR

MONDAY, September 14

No Mass

1:30 PM                   St. Vincent-pc

Tuesday,  September 15

8:00 AM→Adoration→7 PM                

9 AM & 6 PM         Quilting

Wednesday,  September 16

8:00 AM                   Mass

7:30 PM                   Choir Practice

THURSDAY,  September 17

8:00 AM                   Mass

9:00 AM                   Quilting

7:00 PM                   School Board-HCS

FRIDAY, September 18

8:00 AM Mass

  9:00 AM    Adoration

12:00 PM    Wedding

  3:00 PM    Anniversary Mass

  4:30 PM    Confessions

  5:30 PM    Mass

8:00 & 10:30 AM    Mass

9:00 AM                  PSR

9:00 AM                  RCIA

Dear Parents & Friends,

"Savor life’s tiny delights – a crackling fire, a glorious sunset, a hug from a child, a walk with a loved one”... John Anthony

I called bingo at Holy Childhood Picnic, and on the following Monday, I was walking up to call bingo at CKL of I, when a lady asked if I called at Mascoutah.  I responded ‘yes’.  She then said, “I don’t like you”.  Obviously she didn’t win a quilt.

Tuesday a student came in with a flat screen, a gift to the school, and a parent came in and said they have an electric stove to replace the one in the meeting room.  A parishioner walked in with a check for $500 for the Annual Fund with a letter for a matching gift from the company he works for.

Joys and challenges.  It makes it worthwhile just coming to work.

The talk by President Obama was quite a controversy in the media.  Some said it was propaganda while others said it was the best thing since ‘sliced bread’.

If one sorts out all the hype, it seems very simple.  Yes, it is a good idea for the President to address students in school.  I don’t ever remember any other president doing that.  Is it political?  Somewhat.  I did not see nor read that the talk was endorsing any programs.

What was more important this day?  It was the feast of the Nativity of Mary.  It reminds us to pray for newborns and those women who are expecting.  Life is very precious and we need to pray for new life and celebrate our own life and enjoy the small pleasures that God provides.

 God Bless You,

Deacon Ron Karcher

Principal