St. Anthony Catholic Church
Davenport, Iowa
Weekly Email Newsletter
PLAN TO ATTEND...
A SPECIAL MASS OF THANKSGIVING
WED. NOVEMBER 27 AT 5:30 P.M.
Ain't No Party Like a Catholic Party,
Cause a Catholic Party Don't Stop! Chanted Students
by John Cooper
Seven students, Tina Wagschal, and myself from St. Anthony's along with more than 20,000 high school students, chaperones, bishops, priests, brothers, and sisters from around the country came together this past weekend in Indianapolis for a Catholic party like no other at the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC)!

There is so much to share with you about this amazing four-day, faith-filled experience that I don't know where to begin or end.
Where else, would you be walking down the street with thousands of Catholic youth chanting, "God is good...all the time...all the time, God is good?"

From energizing Christian rock bands to Catholic speakers, students experienced the energy of the Risen Jesus in ways they probably never have before. I know this 54 year old guy hasn't ever experienced the "Young Church" in this way. Indeed, the consistent message was this is not the "Future Church, it's the "Church NOW!"

I asked the students, "What are you hoping to get from this experience?" Overwhelmingly, students expressed a desire to bond with friends around their faith. Izzy said, "I want to make new friends and get closer to the one's I already have. I want to see what kinds of relationships other students have with God." Emily commented, "I hope to become stronger in my faith and become closer to God.

This year's NCYC theme was "Blessed, Broken, Given." I asked them for ways in which they felt they were blessed. Ellen said, "I'm blessed just to be at the conference." Brianna shared, "I'm blessed by all the people here." Diego added, "We're blessed to be with people who have a similar faith story." Others related to the "broken" theme of the conference. Krynan said, "I've had a deep struggle with my faith for the last three years and I want to rebuild it."

To symbolize "brokenness," dynamic speakers spoke about how we come to know Jesus when his body is broken for us in the Eucharistic just as the disciples on the road to Emmaus came to know Him in the breaking of the bread. To bring this home, the second night ended with an extremely moving Eucharistic adoration. Students packed around the stadium's center stage on their knees on concrete for one hour adoring and praising Jesus. Afterwards, Emily said, "Tonight during adoration I felt forgiven." Krynan shared, "I had a breakthrough with my faith struggle." Brianna reflected that "it was heartwarming, a lifting of weight from my shoulders." Izzy was moved by seeing "thousands" of people praying in adoration. Jack, who is being baptized and becoming Catholic at Easter acknowledged, "I now feel like I have a relationship with God."

As we entered the last day which would culminate with Mass with more than 20,000 people. I asked the students, "what is the best thing that Jesus has given us?" They correctly responded, "His body and blood." I turned the question and asked, "what they were going to give Jesus?" Here's a sampling of what they said. "I'm going to try something new to get closer to Him. I'm going to give more of myself to Him. I will give Him more of my time. I plan to commit more of myself to Him. I intend to develop more of a relationship with Him. I'm going to keep Him more in my thoughts throughout each day."

As we boarded the bus early Sunday morning students were visibly tired. They were kept busy from morning till night. I asked them one last question. Here's how each of them responded. CLICK HERE TO READ WHAT OUR STUDENTS HAD TO SAY AT THE END OF OUR TRIP.
Bishop Zinkula rode to Indy on our bus. The students thought it was really "chill" to have him with us. I asked Bishop what he thought as we loaded the bus. He said, "young people come to something like this with various motivations. We hope that the light of faith is lit for them."
NCYC VIDEOS BELOW
Check out the video to hear how student's described Eucharistic Adoration at NCYC
Opening night NCYC band had the students as pumped up, just as if they were at a secular rock concert
CLICK ON THE ABOVE NCYC EUCHARISTIC ADORATION VIDEO
DOWNTOWN WITH ST. ANTHONY'S @ ST. ANTHONY'S

In November and December, we will combine our Downtown with St. Anthony's and have a potluck and Christmas Trivia contest on Saturday, December 7 immediately following the 4:30 p.m. Mass.

Bring a Christmas-themed food for the potluck which we will enjoy after Mass. Christmas trivia and other fun activities will follow. If you have an ugly Christmas sweater, you're welcome to wear it!

For more information contact the parish office. We hope that you can join us! Reigning Christmas Trivia champions are The Lumps of Coal team of Rosie and Charles Lewis and Sarah Donnelly here pictured.
A Thank You Letter from a Thanksgiving Basket Recipient

Dear St. Anthony's,

Just wanted you to know that the Thanksgiving food basket is very much appreciated. Special blessings to all that gave their time and generosity.

I just recently lost my job (to a younger, co-worker) after 8 years of full-time service. There was no warning and given no reason. It was a hurtful shock and a financial burden. My husband became disabled just a few years ago, so loosing my insurance has only added to the extra financial stress.

We have always been hard-working and self-sufficient people in our community. But, this year everything changed. The struggle became real.

I am now attending college at the age of 60 so that I can have a more promising chance at getting a job that will supply our needs through our elder years. I work part-time as well to keep us going. What you do is important to many. The gift basket will assure my family a Thanksgiving dinner that I wasn't going to be able to fulfill this year.

Thanks so very much!

Nancy

P.S. More than 900 Baskets were Given Away Saturday!!!
ANGEL GIVING TREE
MCANTHONY WINDOW PATRONS

This year we are introducing something new to our Advent preparation for Christmas. There's an Angel Tree in the front vestibule entrance of church. Hanging on it are tags with items that we invite you to purchase for patrons of our McAnthony Window. 

Types of items include: socks, hats, gloves, toiletries, sweat shirts, long johns, toiletries and toys for children. We will be giving out these gifts away at our 2nd annual McAnthony Window Christmas Party on Friday, December 20 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Unwrapped Angel Tree gifts should be dropped off at the parish office the week of December 16. If you have any questions, please contact John Cooper. 

P.S. If you'd like to make a food dish to share on that day, we greatly appreciate your doing so. Please let John Cooper know if you are making a dish to share. Email him .
Mark Your Calendars….
St. Anthony’s Advent Concert
Sunday, December 22 at 3:00 PM
Performances by The Youth Choir,
Adult Choir Ukulele Band and
String Ensemble
with reception immediately after
A Little More Church Humor...

While on vacation in Rome, I noticed a marble column in St. Peter’s with a golden telephone on it. As a young priest passed by, I asked who the telephone was for. The priest told me it was a direct line to heaven, and if I’d like to call, it would be a thousand dollars. I was amazed, but declined the offer. Throughout Italy, I kept seeing the same golden telephone on a marble column. At each, I asked about it and the answer was always the same: It was a direct line to heaven and I could call for a thousand dollars. Then, I traveled to Ireland for the final leg of my trip. I decided to attend Mass at a local village church. When I walked in the door I noticed the golden telephone. Underneath it there was a sign stating: “DIRECT LINE TO HEAVEN: 25 cents.” “Father,” I said, “I have been all over Italy and in all the cathedrals I visited, I’ve seen telephones exactly like this one. But the price is always a thousand dollars. Why is it that this one is only 25 cents?” The priest smiled and said, “Darlin’, you’re in Ireland now. It’s a local call.”