FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

        Praise the Lord!  Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  Our Picnic was a success, and we all are grateful to all who pitched in and made it happen.  You showed your spirit and love of Holy Childhood Parish and school.  And God blessed us with great weather.  Thank you!  Thank you, one and all for your support.  Special thanks to our Picnic Chairperson, Stacey Cornman, and to all of the other chairpersons of stands, the picnic “set-up” workers, the “clean-up” workers, chicken-fryers, kitchen workers, dining room workers—the list goes on an on.  Thanks to anyone who pitched in and helped make it a great success.  How successful?  The Friday night Fish Fry event deposited $10,200 for that evening.     

        Thank you, School Board, for spearheading the new event, arranging for food, drinks, music (bands), and clean-up.  You did a fabulous job!  A neat addition to the event!  The gross for Saturday night picnic was around  $61,800.  Together, that pushes the total to $72,000.  Last year’s gross was $65,400—up around $6,600.  And we did not have rides—we got the total profit from the “Kiddie-land”.  Thanks Bill Huff and family for all your ingenuity and work in presenting this great gift to our kids and the parish.  Did you notice the “booger-picking” game??  Interesting, indeed, and the kids liked it.  Kill us, you moms and dads!  We were in competition with St. Teresa’s Parish in Belleville, since they had their picnic the same night.  We did better and we hope they did well!  Again, thanks everyone!  May God bless all of you who helped make our picnic a success!

        I will be gone all this week.  The health issues at my brother’s house have depreciated, and I am with him.  My brother Ed is 90 years old, and it has been very tough for him of late in caring for his wife, Nell, who is critically ill.  I hope that you might pray for him and his wife, and that I might be doing what is best for him.  I intend to be coming back Saturday- I have to come back Saturday!  I am supposed to go fishing at Kentucky Lake on Sunday afternoon for a couple of days.

        Our Blood Drive on Thursday, the 26^th, brought in 70 units of blood, with 82 persons showing up to give blood.   Our goal was 71 units of blood.  Not too shabby for this time of the year.  We thank St. John’s Church for the generous use of their facilities to make our blood drive possible.  We thank all who came also.  What happens on this Saturday’s drive, Sept. 4^th, I do not know for now.  I just hope we make our goal of 31 units of blood.  Competing factor:  Labor Day Week-end, Three Day Holiday!

        I know that we all get “begging letters” for various charities, colleges, and programs.  Have you also noticed that many are now asking you to remember them in your wills?  I won’t ask how many of you have told them you have put them in your will, or bought an Annuity for their program.  I will ask how many of you have put Holy Childhood Parish or School in your will.  The gift does not take place until you pass away.  But the commitment to keep Holy Childhood Parish and School strong and active for the future is very important to your children and your children’s children.  Much of what we have is due to the generosity of our fore-fathers who built our church, school, and parish plant.  It has brought us this far!  However, we must also think about the future!  Are you in it?

        Again, your prayers are asked for all the sick of our parish, our families, and our friends.  That may include our own selves, since we are always aware what is happening inside of our bodies.  God will hear our prayers when we pray!

PICNIC QUILT WINNERS:  Sandi Klein and Mary Laurent.

RAFFLE WINNERS  Florence Voegele $1,000; Ray Wilhelm $500; Kimberly Haas $250; Rick Johnson $100; Norma Reinneck $50.

SEEING OUR YOUTH FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF THEIR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS gives those of us who are unable to work at the church picnic a great feeling of satisfaction. They are doing an excellent job.  With the help of God, prayer, good leadership, everyone’s support, and beautiful weather, what more could we ask. Thanks to all who attended, the workers, and most of all God. 

GIFT CARDS:  Going out to eat after mass?  We have gifts cards to the following restaurants: Tony’s ($25), Pizza Hut ($10), Subway ($10), Cracker Barrel ($10), Texas Roadhouse ($25), Ruby Tuesday ($25), Red Robin ($25), Applebee’s ($25), Logan’s Roadhouse ($25), and many more.  Thank you for your support.

HCS School Board:  The members of the 2010-11 School Board are: Debbie Bunn (chairperson), David Berthe (vice-chairperson), Cheryl Dressler (secretary), Lori Brady, Angie Norrenberns, Vinny Pagano, and Jay Vasquez.  We invite you to contact a member with any questions, concerns, or suggestions that you have.  We look forward to serving on the Board and thank you for your support.

ALL YOU SINGERS OUT THERE—Choir practice will resume on September 8 at 7:30 PM in the choir loft at church.  We sing the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays of the month at the 10:30 Mass and practice every Wednesday at 7:30 PM during the school year. Come join us and have some fun!

Potluck and Presentation: Holy Childhood Adult Education Committee and Small Christian Communities would like to invite the entire parish to attend a potluck and presentation on “What It Means to Be Catholic” to be given by Father Oscar Lukefahr at 6:30pm on Thursday September 16, 2010 in the school cafeteria. There will be sign-up for the potluck and presentation after Mass on September 4/5 and September 11/12. Also, if you would like more information on joining a small community of 8-12 parishioners this fall, to learn and discuss the Catholic faith, but are unable to attend the potluck, please contact the rectory or johnpettinger@yahoo.com.

16th ANNUAL HOLY CHILDHOOD SCHOOL 4 PERSON GOLF SCRAMBLE:  Sept. 17th @ Noon.  Entry deadline is Sept. 10th.  Contact Patrick Wombacher 566-4219 or Brandon Woodrome 566-3889 for more information.

SIGN UP FOR RCIA: If you are interested in joining or finding out about the Catholic faith, please call the rectory @566-2958 or KK Schneider 566-2871.