St. Anthony Catholic Church Davenport, Iowa Weekly Email Newsletter

Why Are You Volunteering at the Window on the 4th of July? by John Cooper

A couple 4th of July patrons enjoying a hot dog pictured above.

Something new this year at McAnthony Window - NOT closing on holidays that fall during our weekly hours of operation! So far we've covered Good Friday, Memorial Day, and now July the 4th. Volunteers cook and serve the food. We even had ice cream cones! I asked the volunteers, "why are you volunteering on the 4th?" Here's what they said...

Crew Chief Pat - "Because we are crazy. No, because it brings joy to my heart. They are like family to me. I prayed last night that I wouldn't fall coming down my stairs with the pot of baked beans!"

Kathy - "Because I've got to listen to that little voice inside. The patrons give back more to me than I give. Besides, we don't want people to know how much fun this is or they'd want our job."

Tina - "Because Kathy and Pat are doing it!. They're so much fun to work with and hunger doesn't take a break on the holidays."

Meara (Kathy's daughter) - "I can't get here during regular hours. My mom helps out here and I think she's so perfect. It makes her so happy."

Gary - "I just came out to help because everybody else comes to help." It was Gary's first time volunteering at the Window and Sister Judy talked him into becoming a regular!

Judy - "I'm here to help humanity. Seriously, I was hungry for a hot dog. No, really I'm here because people need to eat on a holiday."

Richard Reedy, pictured is a regular at the Window. He lives homeless on the streets to make his social security check stretch further. I asked him what having McAnthony Window open on the 4th of July means to him. Here's what Richard who has a masters in education/counseling had to say. "I'm not your typical capital "H" homeless person. They have nothing - no food and in many cases, no family. After God, family is everything on this earth. It's shocking how many homeless people haven't talked to family in years. The people who volunteer at places like McAnthony Window become your family."

Sharing This Week's Vision 20/20 Video

Convocation Presentation... How to Evangelize Married Couples

Bible, Art, Music Camp July 8-12 - 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Click on the Video to learn about how Squeaky the Squirrel is going to plow through the parables at camp! Email to register.

Join the St. Anthony's Fishers of Men for Breakfast on July 6 Please come join a group of men from your parish for food, faith, and fellowship on the 1st Saturday of every month. Our next gathering is at Family Restaurant (West Kimberly Street) on Saturday, July 6 at 9 a.m. No need to RSVP. Non-parishioners are welcome. Non-fishers are also welcome!

MINISTRY TO PARISHIONERS IN THEIR 20'S AND 30'S If you are in your 20's and 30's and have ideas about how to enhance our parish's ministry to this age group, please join us for pizza on Tuesday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Center. RSVP by email or see John Cooper for more info.

CHILDREN'S LETTERS TO GOD Dear GOD, It rained for our whole vacation and is my father mad! He said some things about You that people are not supposed to say, but I hope You will not hurt him anyway.  Your friend -- (But I am not going to tell you who I am) Dear GOD, I went to this wedding and they kissed right in church. Is that okay? -Neil Dear GOD, Did you mean for the giraffe to look like that or was it an accident? -Norma