FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

                I went fishing this past Monday and Tuesday down at Kentucky Lake, and we did catch fish.  The guide, who is Baptist, told me that my job was to provide good weather and fish.  We got both!  Divine power?  No, Divine help!  On Tuesday, I believe that we caught as much or more, than the other “guided” boats.  Our guide wanted to rent me out to them.  Sounds fishy!  Next year, my task has been enlarged to make sure we catch enough bait from the river.  Peter, James and John, help me!  We had fun and caught fish!

                 The Convocation of Priests of the Diocese of Belleville is this coming week at the Drury Inn, downtown St. Louis.  It begins at noon on Monday and ends on Thursday.  Two days will be devoted to the new Sacramentary for Mass.  All I can ask of you is to pray for all of us priests, and that it will be a profitable experience.  I will be praying for you.  There will be no mass this week until Friday, since all of us priests will be (should be) in St. Louis.

                Thanks to all who were involved in the Holy Childhood Golf Scramble this past Friday!  We had only 25 teams registered, down from past years, when we had up to 36  teams.  We take what we can get!  Thanks to all who planned, worked, and came out to play golf for Holy Childhood School.  The profit is part of our school’s budget now.

                Thanks also to all who took the time to attend Fr. Oscar Lukefahr’s talk this past Thursday evening here at the parish.  Thanks to John Pettinger for arranging and spear-heading this event, and to all who helped him, and brought food for the potluck supper.  We always need to be reacquainted with what it means to be a Catholic, and to live our faith.  Our faith needs to be a growing project, and not taken for granted.  I am afraid that too often, we do not do enough to expand our faith, or to reinforce our faith.

                Thanks for the prayers for my brother and his wife.  He had to put her in a nursing home, and it is only a matter of time.  The doctor told them he could control the pain, but he could not cure the cancer.  In June, we celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary by having mass in their home, since she could not go to church any more.  My brother is having a difficult time after having taken care of her for so long.

                And speaking of care, I am grateful to our parish Social Services Ministry under the leadership of Jodi Gardner.  The ministry is a resource or referral service for those in need to get them in contact with agencies and persons who specialize in special needs for elderly care, health care, grief and bereavement issues, financial assistance, teen and child resources, military issues, child and adult disability issues, and many others.  Our Social Services Ministries can help you make contact with agencies who cover these areas and help you to profit from their services.  If you need help, call Jodi or the rectory.

                Thanks to Jerry Mueller for making the railings next to the altar.  They are a help to the elderly who enter and leave the sanctuary.  They are removable also for weddings and other functions where they would be in the way.  Jerry did a great job of engineering, designing, and making these beautiful items of oak wood.  I am sure that his wife Sally had a hand or more in the project, with plenty of encouragement and support.  Thanks!

GIFT CARDS:  Need to do some Fall outdoor work?  We have gift cards in stock for Lowe’s ($25 & $100), Home Depot ($25), Sears ($25) and Wal-Mart ($25 & $100).  Looking to decorate the inside of your home for Fall?  We have gift cards in stock for Bed Bath & Beyond ($25), Pier 1 Imports ($25), Pottery Barn ($25) and Michaels ($25).  Stop by the school office during any school day or in the gathering space after any mass.

RCIA On September 26  Introductions and Informational Meeting.   We will meet in the Parish Center from 9:00 – 10:15 a.m. Meetings are first Sunday of the month in the basement CYO room. If you are interested in joining or finding out about the Catholic faith, please call the rectory @566-2958 or KK Schneider 566-2871.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS is having a BBQ on Saturday, October 2nd @ 1 PM at the Ag Building in Sheve Park. This is for all members and their families, widows of past members and the men of the parish and their families who are not members but want to see what the Knights are about and possibly consider joining. Meat is provided, please bring a covered dish or dessert, drinks, a lawn chair and any games. Please R.S.V.P. by Sept. 30th to Rob Anstedt (618) 410-4595.

BI-MONTHLY QUILT WINNER  is Loretta Pittaluga from St. Louis, MO,

A good time was had by all who attended the meeting of the HCCCW (Holy Childhood Council of Catholic Women). It was the first meeting of our 2010/2011 year. There was business discussed, of course, with a good amount of laughter and friendly discussion. We were all entertained by a friend of Norma Reinneck, Jeanette Materkowski. She is a flower arranger with a great sense of humor. Her creations were given as door prizes which made the winning ladies very happy. Home-made apple pie was served with coffee or punch thanks to this month's refreshment chairwoman, Ruth Klingelhoefer and her committee.  Pat Fletcher, President HCCCW.

THE 17th ANNUAL HOLY CHILDHOOD SCHOOL DINNER AUCTION  is coming up on October 16th.  Doors open at 5:00 pm.  Dinner buffet at 5:30 pm.  Silent auction and raffle.  Oral auction at 7:30 pm. $30 per person includes buffet dinner, dessert, refreshments (draft beer, wine, whiskey sours and sweets, soda & snacks). To make a donation, contact Mary Moll 566-2300; For tickets, contact Debbie Hulliung 566-4196. Please bring your baked goods for the Sweet Tooth Booth to the HCS cafeteria on Friday, October 15th.