Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic Church

July 31, 2011

FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

This coming weekend is Mascoutah Homecoming festival.  Friday evening, Saturday—all day, and Sunday—all day.  We have been talking about in the past two weeks, asking for help in the Hamburger Stand, which our parish sponsors.  I know that many of our parishioners work other stands for their organizations.  We also need to support our parish stand.   We all like the good time; help make it possible by your time and help.  NOTE:  MASS ON SATURDAY EVENING WILL BE AT 4 P.M.

Next Sunday, Fr. Elmar Mauer, OMI will be the celebrant at the 10:30 Mass.  I will be leaving after the 8:00 A.M. mass to go see my brother in Iowa, and will be coming back on Friday evening.  He is doing as well as can be expected, but he gets lonely there in the nursing home.  He is awaiting my visit, so that we can both get into trouble!

This week, you received a letter with our own parish Picnic Raffle Tickets.  This is very important part of the picnic success since it does not depend totally on the weather.  This is why we ask you to buy your tickets, or sell them to your friends, family, or neighbors.  There may be a few managing the picnic, but they need the support of the whole parish to make it a success.  We all will enjoy the blessings of a successful picnic.  Pray for good weather, a good crowd, and a great success.  BY THE WAY:  OUR PICNIC RUNS TWO NIGHTS, BEGINNING ON FRIDAY WITH A FISH FRY AND LIVE BAND MUSIC, AND SATURDAY WITH THE FULL PICNIC, QUILT BINGO, CHICKEN DINNERS, AND ALL OF THE REST.   So pass the word around and put up posters and flyers wherever you can.

The Southwest and the Midwest can still use rain to break the heat and the drought.  It will affect the prices we pay for food later on and for months afterward.  It takes months to renew what is being lost now.  So keep on praying for the weather our country needs to insure our own health and the food needed.  We need also to pray for the whole world and their needs.  Places in Africa and Asia are suffering from lack of water and food, while some parts are flooding.  Maybe there is something to Global Warming and its effects on our world and its inhabitants, and more so, OUR FUTURE!

We thank Jim Bunn for building the three book-cases in the Gathering Area on the East side of church.  This is the beginning of a parish library where people can borrow books and return them when finished.  At the moment, we do not have a person to manage or care for this operation, but hope someone will come to the rescue.  We welcome good books that others will read and grow spiritually and intellectually.

Again, a reminder of Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays, from after mass until 7 P.M.  Also, we have Eucharistic Adoration on Saturdays from 9 A.M. to 10 A.M.

 Our next Blood Drive will be on Thursday, August 18, from 2 to 7 P.M.

Please return your filled baskets for the picnic and place them in the  breezeway by August 21st. 

Please come and represent our church and school by walking in this year's homecoming parade on August 6th & 7th!  Saturday the parade is at 5:00 PM and Sunday at 4:00 PM.  Please  meet at the Citizens Bank parking lot at 4 PM on Saturday and at 3 PM on Sunday.  Look for our church float.  This year's theme is Patriotic so please wear your red, white & blue or your Holy Childhood attire.

Hamburger stand help needed!  Homecoming is quickly approaching and we still have shifts to fill for the Hamburger Stand.  Please call Jim Amann at 618-235-4199, (cell) 618-593-6979 or email jamann6@norcom2000.com to reserve a shift.

Gift Cards  Holy Childhood School sells gift cards at face value to a variety of local retail stores, restaurants and gas stations.  The cards can been given as gifts or used for your own purchases.  Stop by the Gathering Space after mass to purchase gift cards or just to see the cards that we have in stock.  The HCS students, faculty and staff thank you for your support.

BAPTISM CLASS Our next baptism class is scheduled for August 21st, in the parish center from 2-3:30 PM.

CHILD PROTECTION CLASS:  Initial Child Protection Class  -  Wednesday, August 10, 2011. Holy Childhood Church-Parish Center  -  7:00pm-9:00pm.  To Register call Holy Childhood School at 566-2922 Or Email: hcs@holychildhoodschool.com.

CHURCH CHATTER:  Seeking articles and information for the Church Chatter parish newsletter. Please share what you've been doing with the rest of the parish family.  We are a congregation with many ministries, services, and organizations -- each operating within their own circle.  Much is happening and the rest of the parish would like to be aware of the activities and opportunities available.  The Church Chatter was established 12 years ago to answer this need. Our mission is to spread parish news to all registered parishioners, Linda Zacharski: kzacharski@charter.net   or call 566-8022.

Fish Fry and Jam Fest  -  August 26th - 5 to 11 pm

Holy Childhood Parish Church Picnic

 August 27th - 4 to 11 pm

Mass is at 4 pm

All You Can Eat Chicken Dinner from 4-8 PM

Adult & Children’s Games starting at 5 PM

Lightning Raffle at 5:45  -   Quilt Bingo starts at 6:30 PM

    Everything seems to be moving faster & faster. 

We wanted to share the status of our church picnic with everyone

 and point out areas where help is still greatly needed.

****FRIDAY NIGHT FISH FRY****

        Was such a success last year, we are doing it again!

 Featuring local bands, playing Jazz, Pop Rock, Country, 80's & Oldies

**WHAT'S NEW FOR SATURDAY**

Chicken Dinner:  An all-you-can-eat Chicken Dinner.  Dine in only!

The line will go as usual, and when you go up for seconds there will be a buffet line, you can get a clean plate & get more.

Carry-Out:  Will still offer carry-outs by the 2-, 3-, & 4-piece meals.

Candy Land:  This stand will offer cotton candy as well as pop corn.

Soda Toss Game:   Throw rings, win a 2-liter soda.

Margarita Ville:  This stand will offer original Margaritas & Hurricane Punch,

                           refreshing cool beverages for a hot summer evening.

With these new stands, this means we need people to work!

DONATIONS NEEDED

Baskets:   Our basket stands are a huge pull tab success and to continue to be a success we will need 138 baskets for "This & That" as well as "Toy Land" totaling 276 baskets.  Please pick up baskets at each entrance of church and fill them with $15.00 & up of goods.

    Last day to turn in filled baskets is August 20 - 21

Cakes:    Another one of our popular stands, this stand requires 138 cakes to be give away as prizes.  Cakes can be dropped off the day of the picnic in the school cafeteria.  Also needed are desserts for the chicken dinner.  Please, no cakes that need to be refrigerated, custard or cream pies!  (They melt!) 

Country Store:  Home-Canned fruits & vegetables, fresh-baked goodies, fresh garden vegetables.

****CALLING ALL PARISHIONERS****

Our picnic needs your volunteerism & donations.

 Consider donating to our Quilt Bingo, purchasing/selling raffle tickets,

filling prize baskets, baking, and getting the word out.

Setting-up, working a stand, cleaning up are always volunteer intensive.