FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

Well, here we are in November.  Today is the Feast of All Saints, when we honor all those persons who tried to be the person God wanted them to be.  They did not know they were saints, and probably would have denied it.  All they wanted was to do what God asked them to do, like you and me, and did the ordinary things in an extraordinary manner.  That is why we can relate to them, since they were ordinary people.  But their love for God and their love for their neighbor brought them to great achievements in their lives, and in the lives of other people.  We pray to them to pray for us!  We name our children after them, that our children may try to model their lives and attitudes like those of their patron saint.   All you saints of God, pray for us!

Tomorrow is the Feast of the Poor Souls in Purgatory.  On this day, we pray for all those souls who “missed the mark”.  We pray for them that what is lacking in their progress to heaven will be filled in with our prayers and sacrifices, our masses.  This is one of the reasons that we encourage people to go to mass and pray more often during this month—to pray for those who have passed from this world, and have not yet attained the glory and joys of heaven.  Pray for them, since they can be our family members, our friends, anyone who may have had an impact on our lives, for good, or for not-so-good.  We will probably be depending on the prayers of the living when we pass from this world also.  What goes around comes around, so they say.

The Book of Remembrance is in the front of church for you to enroll those special people you want to be remembered in all of our masses here at church.  Please enroll their names and we, as a parish, will be praying for them.

November is going to be a very busy month for many of us.  On Thursday, the 19^th, our Holy Childhood Youth Group, 60 strong and the chaperones, will be going to Kansas City to attend the National Catholic Youth Conference.  On Sunday, the 15^th, they will attend the 10:30 mass as a group to receive a special blessing, and to thank the parish for their support.  We ask your prayers all this month for a safe journey, and a very positive effect on all who attend the conference—an uplifting of our faith, hope, and charity.

Many thanks to all who responded to the last appeal of the Catholic Services and Ministry Appeal.  It all helps spread and deepen the Catholic faith that we all cherish, among others in our diocese.  It is the missionary spirit at work!

Do you know of someone who has not been going to church lately—family member, neighbor, or friend?  Why not be the missionary presence of Christ, and invite them to attend?  The call to save souls goes with our baptism into Christ and the Church—to be the presence and goodness of Jesus in the world today.  Sell the blessings that you have received from God and your church to others.  We should all be living examples of the happiness we have received from Christ present, and want others to be so blessed.  Say an extra prayer for the return of lapsed members of our church, of our families!

We often complain about the weather—the rain!  How often have we prayed for good weather for our farmers, for the harvesting of our crops, for the safety of the workers?  We are a part of their picture, as well as they are a part of our picture!

Please pray for Fr. Robert O’Shea, a priest of our diocese, who died last week. He was a great priest who was retired, due to severe health reasons!  

GIFT CARDS: Support Holy Childhood School by buying gift cards for everyday purchases.  We have many in stock for “cash `n carry”.  You can purchase gift cards everyday in the school office and after weekend masses at church.  Thanks for your support!

MAYOR'S PRAYER BREAKFAST will be at the New Ag Center Building on Tuesday, November 10th from 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM. There will be a special guest speaker: Chaplain Colonel Frank Yerkes. Tickets are $10 each and available at: Toms Supermarket, First Federal Bank, Citizens Bank, and Regions. For more information, please contact Tom Norrenberns at 566-8531.

BREAKING OPEN THE WORD: We are in need of additional adult leaders for the children's liturgy program on Sundays at the 10:30 am Mass. This is a wonderful way to share your faith with the children of our parish. If you are interested or need further information, please contact Mary Elmore at 566-7315.

INTERNATIONAL WORLD YOUTH DAY PILGRIMAGE is an opportunity to celebrate our Catholic faith with the Holy Father and youth of the world! This pilgrimage trip is a service of the Office of Youth Ministry, Diocese of Belleville. All youth must be a minimum of 16 at the time of the trip or be accompanied by a parent or guardian in order to participate. We strongly encourage young adults between the age of 18-35 to register. This will take place in Madrid, Spain and will be held August 11-22, 2011. For more information, please contact Colette Kennett at the Office of Youth Ministry at 618-235-9601.  

DID YOU KNOW HCS IS 150 YEARS OLD? If you would like to be a part of celebrating this special anniversary, please join us at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, November 3, in the Parish Center-downstairs. We would like to hold an event to share this exciting and huge anniversary for Holy Childhood School, but we need your help.  If you are interested in being a part of this planning, please contact Kati (Renth) Schwierjohn at 618-954-8169 or kschwie@yahoo.com or Carrie Norrenberns at lou_can03@yahoo.com.  

THE BELLEVILLE DEANERY NEWMAN AUXILIARY will hold their annual Fund Raiser, "The Fall Gala," on November 7th at  the Newman Student Center in Carbondale, IL. It includes hors d'oeuvres, beer, wine, soft drinks, dinner, dancing, and a silent auction. Tickets are $30 per person -- all proceeds help fund the many activities and programs that are provided for college students at SIU. Reservations are required. For more information or to make reservations,  please call Ruth Wilhelm (HCCCW Chair-person) at 566-2285.

"For just as you cannot be exposed to the sun, without receiving its vivifying rays,

 so too you cannot be exposed to the Son of God,

present in the Blessed Sacrament,

without receiving His divine rays of enriching graces, mercy, love, life and peace."

(Pathway to Holiness by Mary's Call)

 Visit our Lord in Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays following the 8 AM Mass until 7 PM

or on Saturdays from 9-10 AM.