St. Anthony Catholic Church Davenport, Iowa Weekly Email Newsletter

What Do DC Comics, A Yellow Van, and Finding Faith Have to Do with A Woman's Cross-Country Journey? by John Cooper

Pictured above are Chelle and Her Travel Companion Bessie beside their transportation and home during their cross-country journey.

Every day is a faith adventure at St. Anthony's. You just never know what to expect. A couple of week's ago, Chelle and her dog Bessie ended up at McAnthony Window in a big, yellow van with artwork painted on it. Chelle quickly hit it off with the staff, patrons, and volunteers at the Window. She says her first impression of St. Anthony's was that the stonework was "very appealing to me, the people friendly and the garage area (Annex) felt a bit like a café." She continues, "Its like being welcomed into a family. The layers of help and acceptance have been totally unexpected and still leave me amazed." Chelle needed help getting from Vermont to California. She had set out earlier in the year. Along the way, she would stop and work temp jobs to save money to embark on the next stretch of the cross-country journey. She hit a major snag about three weeks ago when her tire went bad as she passed through the QC. The van was in need of an alignment so as to not ruin a new tire. She put the spare on and decided to stay here until she earned enough money to fix the van which she later found out also needed new brakes. Despite the kindness all around her, Chelle felt overwhelmed. It happened to be the weekend when the Gospel featured the parable of the Mustard Seed. Father Apo and I found her upset and crying in her van after the 4:30 p.m. Saturday Mass. We talked to her and encouraged her to have faith the size of a Mustard seed. We invited her to join us for Mass the next day. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING CHELLE'S STORY.

Stewardship Through Prayer Did you know that we have an active Prayer Network at St. Anthony’s Church? We currently have about 30 parishioners in our network who will pray for your intentions. All prayer intentions remain confidential, and those who serve in the network provide this service as a form of stewardship. Stewardship through their prayers. I was personally reminded of this ministry when my brother needed open heart surgery recently. Debbie Sager, a member of the Prayer network, asked if I had contacted the Prayer Network requesting prayers for my brother’s surgery? I regrettably hadn’t thought about asking my fellow parishioners to petition God for a positive outcome. Why hadn’t I thought about the power and willingness of my own faith community to assist me in a time of need? The members of the Prayer Network are eager to receive your requests. They view their prayers as an act of love – an act to strengthen and support the St. Anthony faith community. The Network can be contacted by Email:  Flaherty@hotmail.com or by calling Shirley at 563-324-1020. Please contact them with your requests. They are waiting to support you. Larry Duke Parish Council President

See Videos Below from the 8th Grade Confirmation Retreat In these 3 videos students were asked break into groups to create billboard designs and messages to evangelize the truly Awesome God we have In Jesus!

Confirmation students preparing to take the Cosmic Walk at Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat.

Fearless catechist leader Pat Bear pulls up the rear of our 2 mile walk through the Prairie - making sure no one is left behind!

Students reflected on times when they have been weak in their response to Jesus. Each of them wrote their sins on pieces of paper and attached them to the cross during a prayer service.

St. Anthony's Women's Group to Meet

The next meeting of the St. Anthony's Women's Group is Tuesday October 29. You can choose to attend either meeting: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon or 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. We will meet in the St. Anthony Parish Center. The service project will be learning how to weave sleeping mats out of plastic bags. These mats will be given to McAnthony Window patrons who want them, for use under a sleeping bag. You are asked to bring plastic grocery bags, rotary cutters, quilting rulers, and cutting mats, if you have them. If not, come anyway. They will be provided. The spiritual activity will be a discussion of our favorite Christian books, including the Bible, and how they have helped shaped who we are. All are invited to attend one or both meetings. You need not be a St. Anthony parishioner or Catholic to attend. We will provide the fellowship and fun. You bring the faith!

Parish Breakfast There will be a parish breakfast after all the Masses on Sunday, November 3. Breakfast includes scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage, and fruit. Freewill offering will be accepted and will go toward funding our high school youth trip to the National Catholic Youth Conference. Please come to share a meal with your fellow parishioners while supporting our youth!

SHOW TIMES STILL AVAILABLE FOR THE NEW MOVIE ABOUT ST. FAUSTINA  "Love and Mercy: Faustina" will be shown in more than 800 movie theaters across the United States on Oct. 28. It is showing at Cinemark on 53rd Street. Times with seats still available are at 4 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

This flower growing in the asphalt library parking lot beside church reminds us that God calls us to "grow where we have been planted."

A Little More Church Humor... Six-year-old Angie and her four-year-old brother Joel were sitting together during church services. Joel giggled, sang, and talked out loud. Finally, his big sister had enough. 'You're not supposed to talk out loud in church.' 'Why? Who's going to stop me?' Joel asked. Angie pointed to the back of the church and said, 'See those two men standing by the door? They're hushers.'