St. Anthony Catholic Church Davenport, Iowa Weekly Email Newsletter

I Wouldn't Work for the Diocese of Davenport, if I Wasn't Confident in Our Efforts to Protect People by John Cooper

During our recent Adult Faith Formation Committee meeting, we talked about the recent crisis in the Church with the release of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report regarding abuse. At one point, I shared with the committee my belief that due to the policies and procedures that are in place in our diocese that people, especially children are safer now than ever before. After the meeting, I continued to think about my statement. "Was I really confident in standing behind it?" Later that week, I was with another group that were discussing the crisis. I went a step further with that group, I said, "I wouldn't work for the Diocese of Davenport, if I wasn't confident in our efforts to protect people." I appreciated the front page article in this week's Catholic Messenger that does a great job of outlining the diocese's policies and procedures in dealing with abuse. The article is transparent. It provides good information about our diocese's efforts and how it has handled cases since the crisis originally surfaced in 2002. I highly encourage everyone to click here to read it.

Special High School Youth Mass this Sunday Evening Attention all high school students, Father Apo will celebrate a special Mass with you this Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. in the School Library. Please join us high school students!

The Gala is Coming… This year all proceeds from the Gala will be used for our Care and Share program. This program supports our McAnthony Window and all holiday baskets. Please join us as we help our brothers and sisters who are in need. The Gala this year will have 3 different parts. First, this weekend everyone is invited to a “Sneak Peek” at the Gala. No admission fee, and coffee and donuts will be provided after all Sunday Masses. We are having a Pre-Gala Silent Auction in the parish center after each Mass. Auction items that receive the minimum bid will be awarded at 1:15 Sunday afternoon to the highest bidder. Winners have until 1:00 pm on Friday to pay for and pick up the item. Some items that will be auctioned off for are reserved seating and parking at the Easter or Christmas Mass of your choice, gift baskets, gas leaf blower, quilted and crochet items, framed pictures and many more great gifts. Feel free to bid multiple times.  Second is the raffle. All parishioners are asked to purchase raffle tickets. They will be available in the parish center after all Masses. They are also available by simply clicking here and printing them out. Drawing will be at the Gala on October 6. You do not need to be present to win. Third, will be the actual Gala on the evening of October 6. We still have a few seats available. Cost is $75 per person. The Gala will start with Mass, followed by dinner, drinks, silent auction, live auction and raffle. Tickets will be available in the Parish Center after Mass this weekend or on our Parish web page .

Singing New Mass Music By Kim Kofsker Starting in a couple of weeks before Mass the cantors will be introducing a new Mass, It's called Mass of the Resurrection by Randall DeBruyn. What does that mean that we are changing Masses? The words of course will remain the same but the music will be different. This is a very happy Mass that eventually we will use for Christmas and Easter and the Sundays after! Many people will like that the Gloria is through composed. You may be asking yourself , what does this mean? The current Gloria and Mass we use is from Mass of Creation. The Gloria we sing now is verse followed by a refrain. The refrain is repeated after each verse and gets to be quite long . With the new Gloria, we will sing the text straight through. The Mass of the Resurrection is found in the Music Issue which is found in your pew, starting on page 858. In the next couple of weeks the Cantor will start introducing the new Mass a couple of minutes before the beginning of Mass. At the end of October we will start the new Mass. Most churches know at least two , three Masses or more ! In the future we will alternate with the current Mass of Creation that we are using now and learn another one in the future which will be used for the penitential seasons of Lent and Advent. We love this new Mass and we think you will too!

St. Gemma Palmer Student Group Potluck this Saturday Evening after 5:00 p.m. Mass All Palmer students are invited to a special potluck following the Saturday evening 5:00 p.m. Mass in the Parish Center. Bring a dish to share and enjoy faith, fun, and food with your fellow students. For more information contact Kelly McGee !

First Friday Adoration Don't forget! Each first Friday we have Adoration and the Praying of the Divine Mercy Chaplet from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Please join us on October 5!