FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

The Confirmation Retreat went well, from all reports.  I thank all of the teachers, and other persons who gave of their time to make it a success.  We often think of items like this as of little value.  I once heard a mother complain about the cost and burden of sending her son to this one day event.  However, it was not too much to send this boy to a baseball and football camp of a week each.  If only we valued the effects of a good religious education and living it out as much as we valued other activities, I believe that the world would be a lot better.  Thanks to all the parents who support religious education for their children, not only in word, but also in action and good example.

Time is flying through this Lent, in fact, this whole year.  The last Sunday of the month, four weeks away, is Palm Sunday.  Today, I start hearing Confessions for PSR students for their Easter Reconciliation, and for the next two Sundays.  As many of you parents look at your children and wonder how quickly they have grown up, especially when they are in High School, you also wonder where the time has went.  It is still sixty seconds in every minute, sixty minutes in every hour, and twenty four hours in every day.  However, it is amazing how, as we get older, it seems to get speedier and speedier.  And that is also to our eternal destiny.  That is why our spiritual foundation has to be so solid, as to support us through turbulent times as well as peaceful times.

BLOOD DRIVE THIS THURSDAY, FROM 2 P.M. TO 7 P.M.  You know me when it comes to Blood Drives—it is giving our blood to save another person, just like Jesus gave His Blood to save us from our sins.  Yes, it is love for our brothers and sisters that we make this sacrifice of time, and hurt, so that someone else can live.  And you might ask why one needs to do this?  To show the presence and love of God alive in ourselves, and in gratitude to God for the health that we now enjoy!  Please come and donate a unit of blood so that some one else can live.  It might end up in a person very dear to you!  The “Make-Up” drive will be on Saturday, March 20^th, from 9 A.M. to 2 P.M.

Fr. Vincent Meskenas, a retired priest of our diocese, died this week out in California.  He was 86 years old.  He was a chaplain in the Military for a long time.  Say a prayer for him, and all of the deceased priests and sisters, especially those of our parish, and of our diocese.  March 15^th is the anniversary of the death of Fr. August Giesen, who died in 1978.  He was pastor here at Holy Childhood from 1962 until 1972, my predecessor.

I hope that you took a bit of time to read and meditate on the brochure that I sent to you in my Lenten Letter, “I Thirst”.  We all need to grow in an awareness of God’s great love for you and me, and not merely take it for granted.  Unless we think about it, and make it our own, we cannot really love God as we should or appreciate His great love for us, culminating in Jesus’ death on the cross.  If you have not read it yet, take a bit of time to start this week.  It really is for our peace and security.  And that is what Lent is all about!

Again, Pray for all the sick, and all those not up to par in their health.  We all love health and feeling good.  Be Christ to someone else in your prayers!

CSMA Upcoming Commitment Weekend

LENTEN SOUP SUPPER AND SPEAKER SERIES:     On March 8 we will welcome Sr. Jean deBlois, C.S.J. who will address "End of Life Issues."  This past November the National Council of Catholic Bishops issued new directives concerning nutrition and hydration of chronically ill patients. It is important that each of us know how these new directives may impact us or a member of our family.  Sr. Jean is eminently qualified to speak on this topic. She has much experience as an ethicist and as a teacher at Aquinas Institute and works with the ethics committees for Cardinal Ritter Senior Services.  She formerly served on the faculty of the Department of Internal Medicine at St. Louis University, where she taught ethics in all the schools on the medical campus. Her talk is one you won't want to miss. You may recall that Sr. Jean spoke about stem cell research at one of our Soup Suppers in 2007.  Let's give her a big "welcome back."  Soup, bread and desserts will be served starting at 6:30 p.m. Sr. Jean will speak at 7 p.m.  We look forward to seeing many of our parish family there!

HCCCW REMINDER:  Please turn in your Bi-Monthly Quilt Raffle Tickets!  The first drawing will be held on March 9th.  Returns can be made at the rectory by 12 noon on March 9th. Thank you for your support!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: The Meals on Wheels program is in desperate need of volunteers.  The time needed is one Wednesday a month for about one hour. All our volunteers are very dedicated to the needs of the homebound residents of Mascoutah. However, several of our volunteers are unable to continue serving at this time.  If you are interested or need additional information about this program, please contact Sharon Yaeger at 566-2376. Won’t you please help! Thank you for caring.

Preschool Open House and Registration will take place on March 10^th for the 2010-2011 school year. The times are: 6 pm for the 3 year olds and 7 pm for the 4 year olds. The children’s age must be on or before September 1, 2010. Parents must bring the child’s birth certificate for registration. Holy Childhood Preschool is open to all children. If you have questions or need more information please contact Holy Childhood School at 618 566-2922.

Kindergarten Open House and Registration will take place on March 17^th for the 2010-2011 school year. Open House and Registration will take place at 7pm at Holy Childhood School. The children’s age must be 5 on or before September 1, 2010. Parents must bring the child’s birth certificate for registration. Holy Childhood Kindergarten is open to all children. If you have questions or need more information please contact Holy Childhood School at 618 566-2922.

GET YOUR TICKETS AND T-SHIRTS: The HCS 150th Celebration committee will be selling tickets for the April 24th dance after each Mass in the month of March. The ticket prices are $15 per person in advance or $20 at the door. There are T-Shirt order forms at all entrances of church if you would like to purchase one. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Angie Norrenberns at 566-7078.

EASTER FLOWER MEMORIALS:  Now is the time to send in your request for Easter Flower memorials for your deceased loved ones.  For $10, you can list one or two individual names or one or two family names.  The Holy Childhood Council of Catholic Women is sponsoring this program.  The money is used for the purchasing of the Easter Flower and any other items needed for the altar.  For your convenience, there is an Easter Flower envelope in your church envelope box, or you may use a white envelope.  Address it to HCCCW.  Make sure you list who the memorial is for and the donor's name on the envelope.  Please make checks payable to HCCCW.  All donations are needed by March 30th to insure your loved ones names are included on the list displayed at all entrances of the church.  For more information, please contact Pat Bowker at 566-7089.

PASTORAL COUNCIL:  President -- Bill Ray;  Secretary -- Dr. Robin Booth.  If you have any comments or suggestions for the council, please email the church at holychildhoodchurch@cbnstl.com  Thank You!

"For just as you cannot be exposed to the sun,

without receiving its vivifying rays,

so too you cannot be exposed to the Son of God, present in the Blessed Sacrament,

 without receiving His divine rays

of enriching graces, mercy, love, life and peace."

 (Pathway to Holiness by Mary's Call)

Visit Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday following the 8 AM Mass until 7 PM,

and on Saturdays from 9-10 AM.

If you would like to commit to a specific hour

 to pray on Tuesdays,

 please call Mary Ellen Mueller at 566-9529.