FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

This is Thanksgiving week, and the Mascoutah Ministerial Alliance is having its annual Community Thanksgiving Service today, November 22, at 6:00 P.M. at the Bethel Methodist Church.  Most of the ministers participate in this event, along with members of their congregations.  It is a good time to gather and pray together, and collectively thank God for the blessings that he has given to us individually, to our families, churches, and city.  I hope that there will be many from our parish to represent us.

Thursday is Thanksgiving Day, and we will have mass at 9:00 A.M.  Again, it is a time for all of us, as Catholics, to gather and pray, thanking God for our many blessings.  That is how this day got started—to thank God, and how we need to continue it today.

Many thanks to all those who came last Saturday to clean-up around the church.  I want to thank Nancy Austin for bringing her athletic teams, who did a great job, taking out the old plants, raking leaves, and just general clean up.  Thanks also to Christeen Wingate, who has taken care of the flowers all summer, and who was there also.  Thanks to Bill Huff who came with his truck to haul leaves to the dump.  It was a great crew and much was done.  We now have to get ready for next year.

The “Little Blue Books” for Advent will be distributed in church for the next few weeks.  Please pick up your copy at the exits of church.  We did not mail them out this year due to postage costs and handling costs.  If you know someone cannot make it to church, but would like to have one, please take them a copy.  Next Sunday, we will put out the booklet “The Word Among Us” for those who would like a weekday missal for the weed-day mass, along with the meditations.  We only ordered 100 copies of these, since we have had so many left over in the past.  It is Advent time, a time to prepare for Christmas, and we are placing at your disposal materials that can help you grow in faith, hope, and charity, and make Christmas more of what it should be—Jesus.

Today, the second collection is for our parish cemetery.  If you forgot your check, bring it next week, and properly identify it.

Next Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent, when we will begin to decorate the church in preparation for Christmas.  We can use many hands to bring up and down the decorations to the church proper, and to hang them.  We will set the starting time at 12:30, and hope that many will come and help us.  It is also a good time to do some cleaning of the church in preparation for Christmas.  Please come and help and bring your children so that they can “learn the ropes” when their time comes.

Many have exchanged their telephone “land-lines” for new cell-phones.  As a result, your phone numbers are no longer in the phone book.  For all of you who are relying on your cell phone as your main communication device, would you please inform the rectory of your new phone number so that we can get in contact with you in case there is a serious need to do so.  Chasing down your friends that we might know of, in order to get a message to you by your cell phone, takes times, and often ends in failure.  Please send in your new phone numbers, whether a cell phone number, or a new “land line” number.

GIFT CARDS: The holidays are approaching fast. No need to run from store to store to purchase gift cards, you can get them through HCS. We have gift cards for many local and national retail stores and restaurants. Stop by the school office during the day or the gathering space after any mass. To ensure Christmas delivery, please place your order by December 8^th.

DINNER AUCTION: The Holy Childhood Dinner Auction Committee would like to thank everyone who donated so graciously to the auction.  With your help, we raised over $46,000 for Holy Childhood School.  Thank you again for your support.

HCCCW: The Bi-Monthly Quilt winner is Mary Jo Bechtoldt. Congratulations!

THAT'S MY PAN: HURRY, HURRY! Get your pans now! Get your orders in for “That’s my Pan”. The last order for the year will be sent in Dec 1, 2009. All order forms and money may be turned into any 8th grade student, Nancy Raben, the 8th grade Homeroom teacher or the Holy Childhood School office.  If you need an order form or catalog, please contact Lori Grawitch at 566-4319 or grawitch@charter.net. As always, thank you for supporting the 8th grade class of 2010.

HOLY CHILDHOOD SCHOOL'S ANNUAL SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR is here!  The book fair  is in the HCS's cafeteria through November 24th. The book fair will also be open after mass on November 22nd from 8:30 - 12:00 noon. This is a great time to pick up stocking stuffers or Christmas gifts. Thank you!

11/26 Happy Thanksgiving

"This brings you Mother Love and blessing -

but especially the joy of the assurance that Jesus loves you,

and I only ask you to love one another as Jesus loves each one of you -

for in loving one another you only love Jesus. "

(The private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta - Mother Teresa - Come Be My Light).

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

or on Saturdays from 9-10 AM.