FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

   I am cheating!  I am writing these comments a week ahead of time before I leave to visit with my brother in Iowa.  I will be back home by the time you get this parish bulletin.  However, since May is such a busy month, some have asked me to write my thoughts for the coming week.  So bear with me!

   Today is Mother’s Day, when we honor our mothers as life givers.  This is why Pro-Life Sunday is today, and we sell roses before mass, to both honor our mothers who are deceased, our mothers who are alive, and also to raise funds to promote the Pro-Life cause.  Really and truly, our mothers have a special calling to prepare us to get to heaven.  The church uses the term “Holy Mother Church”—Mother as life-giver, to remind all women of their special calling to give life, both here on earth and on to heaven.  That is why a special respect should be given to all women as life-givers for earth and for heaven.  By the same token, all women should realize the special gift God has given them to help children reach their goal in heaven, and to enjoy the blessings God has planned for them for all eternity.  So today, thank your mothers and bless them.  Pray for your deceased mothers, and thank them for the gift of life and the care they gave you.  And for all of us, respect the life that God has given us, and to protect and use it in such a manner that it will give us the peace and blessings that God wants.

   Today is also our day to honor the High School Graduates from Holy Childhood Parish.  Some of these graduates did not attend Holy Childhood School, but are members of our parish family, and we pray for and are proud of them.  We award the Holy Childhood Alumni Academic Plaque to a graduate from Holy Childhood School with the highest grade point average for this year.  63% of our HCS graduates are ranked in the top half of their class.  We thank all of our HCS students for their excellence in school, and we thank all of our graduates for representing our church so well in school.

   WEDNESDAY, we have Practice for all of the eighth grade students in preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation on Thursday.  This is at 3:30 P.M., and we expect all of those to be confirmed to be there.  The Bishop is quite exacting in what he expects at Confirmation, and we do not want you to embarrass yourself.  So be there, so that you can know where to be, what to do, and what to say.  THURSDAY—7:00 P.M. Confirmation with Bishop Braxton.  Be here early and properly dressed.  It is not a fashion show,  it is a Sacrament of the Holy Spirit coming into our souls in a special way to help us get to heaven.

   Next Sunday, 2:00 P.M.  Holy Childhood School Graduation.  This year has gone by fast!

   We lost another member of our parish, in the person of Leo Haas.  He was a faith-filled person and a hard worker.  He suffered much the last six moths with his health, and spent the last six months either in the hospital or the nursing home.  May God bless him for all the good that he did in life, and forgive him for his failures.

   Thank you to Marilyn & Pat Hund and Drew & Kaylee Dixon for helping clean the church last Saturday.  We could have used more help.  They did as much as they could.  Thanks again for what you did for your church.

We are looking for families to volunteer to host Welcome Sunday. This would entail handing out name tags at the 8 and 10:30 Masses on Welcome Sunday held once a month, and to participate in the after Mass celebration.  Please contact the rectory if you would like to volunteer for one month out of the year.

BAKED GOODS NEEDED:  The 7^th grade class will be hosting the reception following the 8^th Grade Confirmation on Thursday, May 12^th.  Your kind support would be greatly appreciated in the donating of baked goods.  Please drop off your donations on Thursday, May 12^th, anytime before 7:00 p.m. in the school cafeteria.  Thank you very much for your continued support and generosity!!

Congratulations to Michael Lowry and Brian Rongey who are new School Board members for Holy Childhood Catholic School.

Gift Cards for Mom and Graduation – Purchase gift cards for Mother’s Day and Graduation gifts.  For Mom, we have $25 gift cards for Target, Macy’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, Pottery Barn and Bath & Body Works.  For Graduates, we have $25 gift cards for Cabella’s, GameStop, Build-A-Bear, iTunes and American Eagle.  Plus many more.

On the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month (excluding holidays) @ 6:30 PM, you are invited to come receive the graces that can only be had by praying the Rosary.  Bring your whole family, or just yourself!  The location can change depending on who is hosting, but dates and times are consistent.  Good food and fellowship are guaranteed!  You don't have to have ever prayed the Rosary to join!  Please call Tiffany Wright at 618-616-5933 or e-mail t_wright00@yahoo.com for details.  We begin on May 27th. 

Boy Scout Troop 57 will be holding their Annual Yard Sale on Saturday, May 14, 2011 on the parking lot of Holy Childhood Church. Mark your calendars and come look for a great deal! If you have some old things in good condition that you would like to donate, you can bring them to our weekly meeting on Mondays at 7:00pm in the HCS Cafeteria or you can call Bill Huff at 566-4357 to arrange for a pickup of your items. Thank you for your support!

Eckert’s Restaurant is excited to announce a special fundraising program available for area churches! Make any dining room reservation (minimum of 10 people) to come and enjoy breakfast, lunch or our famous family-style fried chicken and Eckert’s will tithe 10% of your total bill back to your church.  In addition, we will donate $15 (3/$5) in Eckert Cash to your church to be distributed at your discretion.  Eckert Cash is treated as currency in the store, restaurant and garden center. 

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS  . . .

May 12^th is Confirmation here at Holy Childhood at 7:00 PM.

May 15^th is Holy Childhood School Graduation at 2:00 PM.

May 22^nd is Baptism Class in the Parish Center at 2:00 PM.