St. Elizabeth Ann Seton September 5, 2021 Bulletin

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish

Bringing People Into A Growing Relationship With Jesus Christ

We’re so glad you’ve chosen St. Elizabeth Ann Seton as your parish.

We exist to bring people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. We do that by providing authentic hospitality, giving our gifts sacrificially and helping each other grow through prayer, learning, sharing and witnessing. We pray you always feel that you belong here.

See you on-line or in-person this weekend!

We would love it if you served as a minister during Mass? Sign up here!

Covid-19 Guidelines Update

We continue to pray for the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. The CDC has placed Linn County in a high level of community transmission. Thus, all parishioners are encouraged to wear masks when you are in the church or at a meeting in our building.

We are making this request to all of our parishioners in order to care for those who are most vulnerable and unable to be vaccinated such as children, the elderly and those who are immunocompromised.

Eucharistic Ministers will also be wearing masks during Communion distribution due to their close contact with parishioners.

Hope Fest

Thank you to everyone that joined us for Hope Fest 2021! We especially want to thank Laura Potter and High Praise for sharing their musical talents, as well as Marcos Grilled Cheese, and Red Bowl food trucks for feeding us, plus Peppy's Ice Cream truck for dessert! If you would like to see the pictures and videos from the event, visit our webpage!

Seton Sweets - After-Mass Fellowship

Beginning the weekend of September 11th, join us for Seton Sweets after Mass! There will be cookies after the 5 PM Saturday Mass and donuts after the 8:30 and 11 AM Sunday Masses. We're so excited to have this fellowship opportunity back!

Save the Date for the Next Family Ministry Fellowship Event!

Mark your calendars for our next Family Ministry Fellowship event - pumpkin decorating! Join us on Sunday, October 3rd from 12:30 to 2 PM. Bring your own pumpkins and we'll provide paint, stickers, stencils, and more! Fall treats will be provided too. Contact Jill Sires with any questions.

Children's Ministry Resources

We invite you to take advantage of our online "home edition" Children's Liturgy of the Word lesson for the Twenty Second Sunday of Ordinary Time! You can also find the weekly Children's Bulletins on our Children's Ministry page.

We invite families to sign up for the newly created weekly Family Focus Newsletter. The newsletter will have information for your family to use throughout the week to incorporate your faith into everyday life including weekly saint information, gospel of the week, a craft idea, and family dinner table questions. Subscribe to the newsletter by emailing Jill Sires.

Children's Ministers Needed!

We need Children's Ministers! We currently only have enough adult ministers to open the PRAYground and PRAYZkids programs during the 8:30 Mass time. If you're interested in helping with one of these programs, please contact Jill Sires (jsires@seasp.org).

PRAYground and PRAYZkids Programs are Restarting!

The PRAYground and PRAYZkids programs are restarting on September 12th! We currently will only be offering it on Sundays during the 8:30 AM Mass until we find more ministers.

The PRAYground and PRAYZkids ministries are also seeking youth ministers, 5th grade and up. Come join the team!

Pictured L to R:

Dave Stoltenberg, Xavier Foundation Board Treasurer and Parishioner; Sue Lowder, 2020-21 Xavier Impact Parish Chair and Parishioner; Fr. Gary Mayer; Mary Harken, Xavier Foundation; Chris McCarville, Xavier President; Amy Thuente, Xavier Foundation; Tammy and Jamie McAllister, Overall Xavier Impact Fund 2020-21 Co-Chairs

Congratulations to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton!

Last fall the Xavier Foundation partnered with St. Elizabeth Ann Seton to raise funds for the Xavier Impact Fund. Together with the 11 parishes that make up the metro Catholic community, we raised an amazing $511,421 to support Catholic education at Xavier High School.

Thanks to your hard work and generosity, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton surpassed the parish goal of $90,500. As promised, all monies received over this goal are given directly back to the parish. We are happy to announce that a $3,435 check was presented to the parish from the Xavier Foundation.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton went above and beyond! Thanks to the generosity of our parishioners, our faith-based and academic programs have grown; our teacher salaries and endowment increased; and more families received financial assistance to attend Xavier.

We appreciate your support and continued commitment to Catholic education in the Cedar Rapids-metro area!

The 2021-22 Xavier Impact Parish Kick-Off will be the weekends of September 25-26 and October 2-3. We hope we can count on you to make this campaign the best yet!

Mt. Calvary Cemetery Ministry Opportunity

Are you retired and looking for fulfillment in your life and a way to supplement your income? Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery serves the Catholic community of the Cedar Rapids area and is looking for two people who will have the opportunity to serve God and His people in providing comfort and direction at the ultimate stage of life’s journey. Begin on a part-time basis working alongside the people currently in these two positions. A couple is preferred, but not mandatory to do administrative work and ground supervision. Hands-on training will be provided, beginning part-time and transitioning to full-time, with a five-year commitment for this corporal work of mercy. If interested contact Steve Powers 319-364-1012 or Pat or Cindy McElliott 319-365-2959.

Pat & Dick Semelroth have done a wonderful job at Mt. Calvary for many years, we thank them for their time and energy in this ministry!

Social Justice Committee Request

Several agencies are in a desperate need for volunteers! If any of these opportunities are of interest to you, please contact the individuals listed below.

Horizons Meals on Wheels - needs volunteers to deliver hot meals, once a week, on a designated route. Several routes open daily. Call (319) 338-0515 to volunteer as a delivery person.

St. Vincent de Paul - needs volunteers for all sorts of positions at the store - fill food boxes, stock shelves, take applications for assistance, etc. Send an email to president@crsvdp.org or visit the thrift store at 928 7th Street SE to volunteer.

Catherine McAuley Center - needs volunteers to tutor refugees in English either online or in person. Visit https://cmc-cr.org/volunteer to learn more.

Social Justice Loose Coin Collection

On a quarterly basis the loose coins that are given in the collection baskets are given to local charities. The last quarter, $350 was collected and given to Big Brothers Big Sisters in support of their mission.

Thank you for your generosity! The next quarter (September - December), the coins collected will be given to Families Helping Families. We appreciate St. Elizabeth Ann Seton families sharing their treasure in support of local families.

LEARN

Fall Bible Study - A Biblical Walk Through the Mass

Everything we say and do in the Liturgy is steeped in biblical language. The Biblical Walk Through the Mass Bible Study explores the extraordinary biblical roots of the Liturgy and reveals what it all means and why it matters. This fascinating tour of the Mass will renew your faith and deepen your love for and devotion to the Holy Eucharist.

The five-week study will meet on Sundays beginning Sept. 19 to Oct. 17th. For your convenience, you can choose between an online (6:30 to 7:30 PM) or in-person (6:30 to 8 PM) option.

Registration deadline is September 10th and cost is $30. Find out more and register at www.seasp.org/biblestudy.

Catholic Question Exploration Teen Series

All High School teens are invited to participate in our Catholic Question Exploration Teen Series. Teens will have the opportunity to discuss topics about their faith and get answers to their questions in a small group setting.

The first series will be 4 weeks long on the topic of “Who Is God, Does He Exist?”

We will meet via zoom 8-9 PM beginning September 12th to October 3rd. The second series will be October 24th to November 14th on a different topic.

Teens can choose to do all the series or just one - whichever works for their schedules! Stay tuned for future series topics if you can't do this one. Join us and invite a friend! Please register by September 9th to Sarah Casey at scasey@seasp.org.

Support for the Divorced and Divorcing

"Surviving Divorce" is a facilitated, small-group Catholic conversation; a 12-week process of healing, hope, and support. Sessions will be offered on Tuesdays, September 7th to November 23rd from 6 to 7:30 PM at St. Pius X.

Please contact Cate Biro, Nick Gaeta or Maureen Gaeta for more information or to sign up.

Surviving Divorce is offered with approval and support of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Non-Catholics are welcome to attend.

Fall RCIA Session

Are you interested in becoming Catholic, or just finding out more? Join us for the fall session of RCIA!

The new group will begin September 12th and meets Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30 AM. You can choose to meet online or in-person. Contact Trish Lokmer to sign up or if you have questions about the program.

WITNESS

Religious Education Classes Begin September 22nd

If you have not registered for our 2021-22 Religious Education classes, you still have time! Register on our website www.seasp.org/religious-education

Classes begin in September 22nd. If you have any questions please contact Angie Bulman at abulman@seasp.org.

Catholic Evangelization Outreach (CEO) Event

The next CEO event will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, on Monday, September 20th, 6:30 to 8 PM. The speaker will be our very own, Father Gary. He will speak on how his life was transformed through daily Mass and ultimately developing an intimate relationship with the Eucharist!

The event is free and all are welcome! There will be a light meal served. childcare will not be available. If you prefer, the event will also be livestreamed. Find out more at www.crceo.info.

40 Days of Life

Pray that we do not ignore the cries for help from the unborn and their mothers and fathers.

40 Days for Life is a cross-denominational, faith-based effort. Join us for the kick-off rally at 2 P.M Sunday, September 19th at First Open Bible Church, 1911 “E” Avenue NW in Cedar Rapids.

Rev. Michael Salemink, Executive Director of Lutherans for Life will present encouragement and guidance on speaking up for life through all of its stages with the theme “FEAR NOT.” This rally will inspire and motivate you to pray and fast for an end to legal abortion.

The Cedar Rapids LIFE CHAIN is Sunday, Oct. 3rd from 2 - 3:30 PM along First Avenue SW. Join this public witness of prayer and repentance, united in solidarity against abortion, while boldly standing in the hope of Christ. Register today with Sue Martinek at 319-270-0054 or susjmar@aol.com.

The Coalition for Life of Iowa is looking for people to commit to pray in front of Planned Parenthood for 40 Days for Life campaign. Sign up for an hour any day or night! Join us in prayer and fasting for an end to abortion in front of Planned Parenthood September 22nd to October 31st.

For additional information, visit https://40daysforlife.com/cedar-rapids, email Pat or call 319-721-9730.

PRAY

COMMUNITY NEWS

Catholic Daughters of the Americas Monthly Meeting - Tuesday, September 14th, 6:30 PM at St. Wencesalus Church

St. Vincent de Paul Friends of the Poor Walk/Run - A Step Towards Eliminating Poverty, Saturday, September 25th, registration at 8 AM, 9 AM walk/run start time.