FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

 Christmas has come, and is leaving us in its wake.  I hope that everyone had a very joyous and blessed Christmas.  However, I wish more that you have all grown in your love of God and of yourself as a very precious gift from God.  And every one of us that precious gift from God to be His image and likeness here on earth.  I hope that all of us have a greater appreciation of God’s great love for us, and how much He wants us to enjoy it—so much so that His own Son came to earth to show us God’s love, and would die on the cross for each and every one of us.  Please do not let yourselves go back on the great gift that God gave us on the first Christmas, and gives us each day in our Mass.

And so we look forward to the beginning of a New Year, on this coming Saturday.  Start off the new year with God—going to mass and asking His blessing on everything you do.  For some members of our family and our parish, this will be their last chance to celebrate a New Year.  Hopefully all of us will celebrate our New Year in heaven with God, the angels and saints, and all of God’s people at a time that God chooses.  At any rate, try to start the New Year with God first—at Mass.  It is a Holy Day!  We will have Mass on New Year’s Eve at 5:30 P.M., and on New Year’s Day at 9:00 A.M.

On Thursday of this week, we will have our Community Red Cross Blood Drive in our school cafeteria.  There is always a shortage of blood available at this time of the year because of Christmas activities, and people traveling, and no school blood drives.  I hope that those who can will take it upon themselves to come and save a life.  The Blood drive will be from 2 P.M. to 9 P.M.  Tony’s is donating soup for the “Canteen.” Red Cross is providing long-sleeved red t-shirts to all donors.  And we will have our share of cookies and other refreshments.  The “Make-Up” drive will be on Saturday, January 8^th, from 9:A.M. to 2 P.M.

Our next MASS OF ANOINTING OF THE SICK AND ELDERLY will be on Saturday, January 8^th, at 9 A.M.  This is something that all those who are sick or above the age of 65 can mark on their calendars, as an opportunity to receive God’s blessing in this special time of their lives.  It is also a call for those who need transportation, to contact a family member to bring you to church.  Plan ahead!

As I write this column, Wednesday P.M., Christmas has not arrived.  However, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the parishioners for their support of our parish, and for the poor in the special collection on Christmas Day.  I also wish to thank you for your kindness, prayers, and gifts that were extended to Fr. Abraham and me.  You are a great family to be a partner.  I wish to thank also all those who came last Sunday and helped with the final decorating of our church.  Special thanks to all of the young persons who came and made it easier for the older team.  God bless all of you!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!  The next Holy Childhood Blood Drive is December 30th from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM.; the “Make-Up” drive will be January 8th.  

TROOP 57 PANCAKE BREAKFAST is Sunday, January 16th, in the Holy Childhood School cafeteria after both masses.

HOLY CHILDHOOD MARRIAGE RETREAT is January 22 and   23rd.  We hope that you will consider joining us in January for our Third  Annual Holy Childhood Parish Marriage Retreat.  We will begin on Saturday at 3:00 PM and end Sunday afternoon.  We will attend church together at the Shrine, then enjoy a romantic dinner.  In the evening we will enjoy speakers, share stories and much more.  The cost is $175.00 and includes your hotel room, dinner and breakfast at the Shrine.  For more information please contact Cathy Jung at (618) 530-7103 or Mary Moll at (618) 971-7665.  Please submit registration by January 7th, 2011. 

PRE-CANA class will be February 20, 2011.  More information to come.