FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

Many thanks to all who came and brought their families last Sunday, to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus from the dead!  It is interesting to see how important it is for many to make both Easter and Christmas masses, and then be so non-critical about the rest of the year!  The mass is the same all the time—Jesus is the sacrifice, Jesus is priest offering Himself, and Jesus is the one giving us His Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist.  We are grateful that persons come for the two big feasts.  However, the gifts are the same every Sunday, and in fact, at every mass that we participate in.  God wants to give us His Son every day of our lives.  I pray that more and more of our parish family will avail themselves of this blessing in the future.

And speaking of this great blessing, next Sunday, at 2 P.M., our Second Grade students will be making their First Communion at their special mass.  We congratulate all of these little ones on this great event in their lives.  We also call upon their parents to be the prime leaders and examples of faith as they bring their child or children to receive the Holy Eucharist.  This is the beginning of a new relationship with God that will be there for the rest of their lives.  It is also the key to their being united to their Lord Jesus, who said that unless we eat his flesh and drink his blood, we will not have life in us.  Pray for the graces these children need, their parents need, and in fact, all of us need to save our souls.  Heaven is not a “freebie”.  It takes our work and cooperation!

Thanks to all who have supported the Catholic Services and Mission Appeal.  This is a very important project, extending the loving care of  Christ through his church to those in need both through instructions and services.  The CSMA makes possible the necessary people to share the goods that are given, to the people in need in Southern Illinois.  It puts faces and hands to the generous families who support the mission of the Church.  We are grateful to all who have supported this program so far this year.  We have received many new donors.  However, we have also not heard from many who were generous last year in this program, and we are hoping they will continue their generosity this year.  We are well over half of our challenged goal as far as gifts.  However, we are down about 75 donors from last year.  Every little bit helps, and every one who gives can be proud that you were there and willing when called upon.

On Saturday, April 24^th (two weeks away), the parish will be celebrating the 150^th anniversary of Holy Childhood School.  It will begin with mass at 5:30 P.M. here in church, and will continue with a chicken and beer dance over at school.  It will be a time to meet old classmates, tell and exaggerate old events, reminisce about teachers and the “tough times” as well as the “good times”, and look at old pictures.  It is open for all to come and enjoy.  You might see a photo of yourself that you did not know existed, or wanted to exist.  It should be a fun evening.  Tickets are $15.00 per person ahead of time.

I am planning to go to see my brother in Iowa the week of the 18^th for a few days.  We have not seen each other since March of last year, and we are not getting any younger, or faster.  I will leave after the First Communion mass and drive up there—it is a six and a half hour drive—375 miles.  I will be back on Friday, April 23^rd.