FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

I would like to thank the persons who conduct our “Welcome Sunday” coffee and doughnuts program.  They are here to get tables set up, get the pastries, make the coffee, have everything ready, serve, clean-up and get ready for the next mass.  Carol Flannery has been our leader in this project, and tries to get help.  It is easy to sit down, talk with friends, and hopefully, make new acquaintances, and then walk off.  We do ask for a donation to off-set our costs, and we always take a loss, which the parish picks up.  That is not the problem.  The real problem is that so many do not take the opportunity to meet new parishioners, or even old parishioners.  We need one another to pray, and to fulfill our roles in the mystical Body of Christ.  Learn who your neighbor is in church, and who is brother and sister praying with you.  Be part of the “Welcome Sunday”.

Monday evening, we have the last of the “Soup-Supper” Adult Education Sessions.  Our speaker is Fr. Ed Hauf, O.M.I.  Come and learn more about your faith, and how to live it.

Wednesday, we have Lenten Mass at 5:30 P.M.  It was heartening to see our CYO so well represented and participating this past week.  God bless you!  This coming Friday, we will have Stations of the Cross and Benediction at 5:30 P.M.  Our CYO will be leading the Stations, with dramatization of the Stations.  We appreciate their enthusiasm and dedication.  Last Saturday, a group of them went to Granite City to be in protest against the abortions that take place at the Hope Clinic.  There is a big difference in having your faith, and living your faith!  Let your light shine!

This coming Saturday, we will have our “Follow-up” blood drive from 9 A.M. to 2 PM.  If you were unable to make the main blood drive this past Thursday, this is your opportunity to make up for it.  Remember, when you give blood, you can help three different persons, and save lives.  As I write this column on Wednesday evening, and our blood drive is tomorrow, by the time you read this, it will be history.  I hope you were there Thursday to make it a good history.  Remember that Christ shed His blood to save us from our sins.  Giving our blood can help someone save their life.

We have two pairs of glasses in the Sacristy that were left in church.  Items like these are not cheap for anyone, and they are for someone who had to have them.  Pick them up as soon as possible, or we will be putting them into the Lions Club gathering boxes.

How has your Lent been going?  Have we done anything special that we could be bragging about?  Maybe “bragging” is the wrong word!  How about, “have we done anything that would inspire someone else?  We still have two and a half weeks to start the conversion process of putting on Christ and bringing Him into the world through our Catholic faith life!

CSMA Upcoming Commitment Weekend

LENTEN SOUP SUPPER AND SPEAKER SERIES: Our third and last Soup Supper will be held on Monday, March 15th starting at 6:30 pm in the parish center. Our Guest speaker will be Fr. Ed Hauf, OMI. Father Hauf is based at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows where he serves as a counselor, spiritual director and is the leader of the Healing Ministry and the Charismatic Renewal Service. His topic will be "Something Has to Die." We invite everyone to come and enjoy good soup from Tony's Restaurant, plus homemade breads and cookies and then hear a very informative talk by Fr. Ed. See you there!

CEMETERY: Spring Clean-Up in the Cemetery will start next week. If you have any belongings that you would like to be saved, please remove the items off of the graves by March 16th. All items that remain on the graves after March 16th will be removed and thrown away.  Thank you!

HCCCW: The winner of the Bi-Monthly Quilt Raffle was Jeremy Schanz of our Parish. A big thanks to all who sold and purchased tickets to make this a big success!  

CONGRATULATIONS to Heather Tomaszewski, RN who received March of Dimes 2010 Outstanding Nurse Recognition Award!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: The Meals on Wheels program is in desperate need of volunteers.  The time needed is one Wednesday a month for about one hour. All our volunteers are very dedicated to the needs of the homebound residents of Mascoutah. However, several of our volunteers are unable to continue serving at this time.  If you are interested or need additional information about this program, please contact Sharon Yaeger at 566-2376. Won’t you please help! Thank you for caring.

GET YOUR TICKETS AND T-SHIRTS: The HCS 150th Celebration committee will be selling tickets for the April 24th dance after each Mass in the month of March. The ticket prices are $15 per person in advance or $20 at the door. There are T-Shirt order forms at all entrances of church if you would like to purchase one. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Angie Norrenberns at 566-7078.

EASTER FLOWER MEMORIALS: Now is the time to send in your request for Easter Flower memorials for your deceased loved ones. For $10, you can list one or two individual names or one or two family names. The Holy Childhood Counsel of Catholic Women is sponsoring this program. The money is used for the purchasing of the Easter Flowers and any other items needed for the altar. For your convenience, there is an Easter Flower envelope in your church envelope box, or you may use a white envelope address it to HCCCW. Make sure you list who the memorial is for and the donor's name on the envelope. Please make checks payable to HCCCW. All donations are needed by March 30th, to insure your loved ones names are included on the list displayed at all entrances of the church. For more information, please contact Pat Bowker at 566-7089.

"The Most Blessed Sacrament is the memorial of Divine Love. 

 Our Lord did something infinitely great

when He gave Himself wholly to us through His living and personal presence

in the adorable Eucharist. 

Our Savior could not possibly have given us

a greater, a more tender and a more ardent proof of love."

 (The Holy Eucharist For All, Fr. Lulas Etlin, O.S.B.)

Jesus Himself invites us

 to frequently approach

and draw from the fountain of graces

available in the Blessed  Sacrament. 

 Eucharistic Adoration is available at Holy Childhood on

Tuesday following the 8 AM Mass until 7 PM,

and on Saturdays from 9-10 AM.

If you would like to commit to a specific hour

 to pray on Tuesdays,

 please call Mary Ellen Mueller at 566-9529;

otherwise, just come and spend any amount of time you can with Our Lord.