Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic Church

September 18,  2011

FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

Many thanks to those mothers who came to the first Hope meeting.  They have great plans for the coming year, and they will need the help of all of the mothers of our school children.  I doubt if any mother would want their child to come up short in what Hope plans to do.  I ask all of the parents to get involved to make sure that all of these good plans can take place by attending the Hope meetings.

My fishing trip was very restful and relaxing.  The weather was wonderful, the fishing was great, but the fish were not interested in being caught. That was also the case for all of the other fishermen on the river with us.  Oh, don’t get me wrong!  We caught many fish, but not the striped bass we wanted to catch, or the big fish of times past.  Of course, we did better than the fishermen of the week before.  So, thank you God, and all of you good people who prayed for us on our fishing trip.  It was great!

This coming week, the annual Diocesan Convocation for priests takes place at the Drury Inn in St. Louis.  Fr. Abraham and I will be attending.  It begins on Monday and will continue until Thursday.  As a result, there will be no Mass this week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  Pray that these days will be most beneficial to our clergy, our parishes, and our diocese.  If you care for your church, you will pray!

On Tuesday, there will be the usual day of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.  So often, there is only one person in church, and often, no one.  There is so much to pray for, and we are asking for an hour of your time, sometime between 8:30 A.M. and 7 P.M. to pray for our families (yours), our parish, our Church throughout the world, for world peace, for so many intentions.  And there are no age limits!  Just the love of our God that invites us to spend time with Him, and receive His blessings.  Can you take the time?

On Monday evening, Fr. Abraham will be giving a talk on the changes in the Mass at 7:00 P.M. here in church.  This is the first of three talks on the third Monday of the month until we begin using the new changes.  He will also have a mock mass to demonstrate the changes.  You are encouraged to attend and learn from these talks.

It is hard to realize that half of September is past, and we are beginning the third week.  I hope to go see my brother the first week of October, which is just two weeks away.  The days and weeks just seem to fill up so quickly.  As they say:  “Time flies!” 

Pray for Marlene Underwood, who was buried this past Monday.  (She had been in Mar-Ka Nursing Home for the past years.)  May she rest in peace!

Again, I ask you to pray for the sick of our parish.  Pray also for all those in the nursing homes and assisted living facilities.  If anyone wants to visit parishioners in these facilities, you can get a list from the rectory.  Some will not know you, others will.  But it will be a joy to see new faces, and to know that they are not forgotten.  Pray also for our doctors and our health care people.  My heart doctor told me to come back in six months, and so he gave me another six months!  I hope so!  But we all know that anytime can be our time to meet our God.

 REMINDER:  Special meeting about changes in the Roman Missal!

 LADIES OF HCCCW are invited to the Belleville Deanery Day of Prayer on Thursday, September 22nd.  8:30 AM registration in the parish center.  For more information contact Betty Schoeberle at 618-566-7702 by September 12th.

 Wayne Weible to Speak at Holy Childhood Church:   Wayne Weible, noted author and speaker on Medjugorje, will give a talk on the Blessed Virgin Mary at Holy Childhood Church, at 10:00 am on Thursday, Sept 22.  Everyone is welcome.

SHEPHERD SUNDAY-SEPTEMBER 25th  The Mascoutah Concerned Christians Food Pantry needs the following items this month:  cereal, instant mashed potatoes, saltine & graham crackers, applesauce, Kleenex and vegetable oil.  Donated items may be placed in the basket at the west entrance to the church.  Thank you for supporting the pantry.

BI-MONTHLY QUILT RAFFLE  winner is Marie Triesenbach of St. Libory.

 Gift Cards  We now stock Phillips 66 $25 gas cards which can be used in town at Sax’s.  Stop by the school office during the week or the Gathering Space after masses to purchase cards.  Holy Childhood School thanks you for your support.

Eagle Scout Project Bake Sales – Nick Grawitch of Boy Scout Troop 57 will be holding bake sales to raise funds for building Ceremonial Fire Pits at our VFW here in Mascoutah. Join him for great fish at the VFW on Friday, September 23 and Friday September 30 and buy dessert from his bake sale to help him in his project! Come out and show your support for our veterans and our Boy Scouts!

Music Room Carpeted  If you get a chance stop in the music room you will see that it has been carpeted. Our sincere thanks goes to Danny Krausz who continues to support the music program at Holy Childhood School. Each year two music awards are given at graduation in memory of his son Ben Krausz who was a graduate of Holy Childhood Catholic School. The music room looks great with new music stands, chairs, and now carpeting.

Wayne Weible to Speak at Cathedral:   Wayne Weible, noted author and speaker, will give a talk on the Blessed Virgin Mary at St. Peter's Cathedral, Belleville, on Thursday, Sept 22 at 7:00 pm.  A rosary will precede at 6:30 pm.

Retirement Fund for Religious Collection September 24-25  As you recall the people who have most shaped your life, you may remember the sister who prepared you for First Holy Communion or the brother who coached your high school basketball team. Never counting the cost, these religious shared with you love, faith and a belief in all that you could be—choosing to invest in your future rather than their own. Today, these sisters and brothers may be elderly or infirm.  Today, they likely receive an average Social Security benefit of just over $4,500 annually. Today, they need you. The Retirement Fund for Religious collection will be taken up in our parish on September 24--25.  Please be generous.

Holy Trinity Parish Picnic Friday & Saturday, September 23rd & 24th from 4-11 PM. 505 Fountains Parkway, Fairview Heights, IL. Friday Fish Fry 4-8 PM; Saturday Chicken Dinner 4-8 PM.  Both nights there are many booths, kids and adult games, beer garden, live music, outdoor grill, raffles, silent auction.  Saturday only Quilt & Cash Bingo 6:30 PM. 

In observance of Priesthood Sunday, The Messenger, the Belleville diocesan Catholic newspaper, will publish a special section in the October 27 issue to recognize our priests and sacramental ministers. This is your opportunity to tell us briefly some of your pastors’ and sacramental minister’s best qualities. Please email your remarks to cathnews@bellevillemessenger.org., fax 618-235-9605 or mail to: The Messenger, 2620 Lebanon Avenue, Belleville, IL 62221.  Deadline to submit remarks — September 23.

There’s Still Time To Join In The Fun  Walkers and Pledges Needed Now! St. Vincent de Paul Friends of the Poor® Walk,  Saturday, September 24, 2011 (rain date-Sunday, September 25).  Althoff Catholic High School, Belleville.  Registration 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  Or Walk In Your Local Community. To register as a walker, make a pledge or for additional information: online – www.svdpfriendsofthepoorwalk.org  by phone – contact Pat Hogrebe, St. Vincent de Paul, 618-394-3568, Ext. 2 note:  Advance registration is NOT REQUIRED – simply come the day of the walk.

The USCCB and the Catholic Conference of Illinois (CCI) have sent an URGENT Action Alert to encourage comments to be sent to Health and Human Services in light of a rule that is especially problematic on two counts:  1.  It mandates virtually all private health plans to cover contraception (including drugs that can cause chemical abortions) and sterilization as “preventive services”  2.  The included “religious exemption” (applying only to employers, not individuals or insurers) is so narrowly defined as to be essentially nonexistent.  For more detailed information go the www.respectlife.catholicweb.com and follow the links.  You will also find there a link to send an email and an option to listen to Zach Wichmann from CCI on the issue.  This is a VERY time sensitive issue!  The public comment period ends September 30.  Please act and share the information with others, including those for whom the contraception mandate may not be morally objectionable, but who recognize the narrow definition of a religious entity as a threat to the free-exercise of religion, dismantling conscience protections.

St. James Parish will hold its Annual Schlachfest (pork sausage dinner and fall festival) on Sunday, October 2 from 11 AM to 5 PM on the St. James church grounds.  This year’s Schlachfest features an All-you-can-eat pork sausage dinner served cafeteria style from 11 AM-2 PM.  Quilt and Cash Bingo from 2-5 PM in the gym.  In addition there are raffles, attendance prizes, booths and attractions for adults and children.