St Anthony Church Newsletter
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It is never too late to start over and make up for lost time with our loved ones and with our God.
As we begin the four weeks of preparation leading up to the feast of Christmas. The festivities of the coming month will keep us very busy. But if we are not preparing our hearts with as much care as we are preparing our homes and our tables, then we are wasting our time. These weeks provide us a precious opportunity to re-center our lives on God by focusing on love, on holiness, and on pleasing Him in whatever we do. May God strengthen us to cut out of our lives those things that are keeping us from Him so that this Christmas will be a time of life-changing grace unlike any we have ever known.
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Please click on the links to familiarize yourself with the Hymns for this weekend:
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Upcoming Events:
- November 30th - 8:00 am volunteers to help swap the yearly missalettes in the pews and to help decorate the church for Advent. Contact David Byrne, 203-758-4056 ext. 17, if you can help.
- December 3rd - Advent Penitential Service, 6:30 pm
- December 6th - Knights of Columbus will sponsor the blood drive at the Prospect firehouse.
- December 6th & 7th - Ladies Guild Christmas Bazaar -More information below
- December 7th - Conformation Mass of Commitment 4:30 pm
- December 8th - Faith and Friendship Gathering - Join us for some coffee and conversation following the 7:30 am Mass. All are welcome to attend these Faith and Friendship gatherings to make connections to one another and to St. Anthony Church.Hosted by the Hospitality Committee.
- December 8th - The Knights will have a "Keep Christ in Christmas" float in the Prospect Christmas Parade, 5 pm.
- December 13th - Advent Concert and Reflections, 7:00 pm -More information below
- December 14th - First Reconciliation Celebration at 11:00 am for Third Grade.
- December 15th - Christmas breakfast for Knight members and their families. Following the 7:30 am mass in the Church Hall
- December 15th - Ladies Guild Christmas Luncheon, 1 pm at the Manor Inn Southington Click here for more information
- January 19th - SAVE THE DATE Ministry Meeting - all are welcomed! More info coming soon
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Thanksgiving Baskets
Thank you to the World Foreign Language Honor Society at Woodland who donated non-perishable food items as well as Stop and Shop gift cards. Also the Lions Club donated Oliver’s Supermarket gift certificates.
We had 8 families signed up to come to the parish center to shop for their Thanksgiving baskets. The families came from single parent households, elderly and adult households. All were grateful to be able to shop. Those who are not parishioners also received a booklet called Welcome to Our Church, which is about the Mass, as well as a bulletin.
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Keep Christ in Christmas
- We are having a “Keep Christ in Christmas” themed drawing contest!
- Winner will be the cover of the bulletin the week of December 21/22
- All are welcomed to submit a drawing.
- The DEADLINE is December 8th.
- Entry pages, with instructions, at the entrances of the church or can be downloaded here
- All entries will be displayed on the website.
- Entries can be put in the collection basket, brought to FF class, the Parish Center or emailed to stanthonychurchcc@gmail.com
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Join us for the St Anthony Church Annual Christmas Bazaar
December 6th from 6 - 9 pm
December 7th from 9 am – 3 pm
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Highlights Include
- Many vendors selling a variety of items
- Themed Basket Raffle
- Baked Goods
- Granny’s Attic (gently used items)
- Food for purchase
- Special raffle for a Nativity Crèche
- Christmas Craft Activities for children 10 am - 1 pm on Saturday
- Photos with Santa 10 am - 1 pm on Saturday
Breakfast, Lunch and dinner items are available for sale to satisfy your hunger while shopping!
Sponsored by the St Anthony's Ladies Guild
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Cece Cochran and Yvonne Schepis are shown here selling homemade items at the Holly Berry Festival at the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Nov 22/23. All proceeds from their sales go to the refurbishment of the parish hall. Items are made throughout the year by Cece, her sister Margaret, Yvonne, and Erminia Giacomazzi. Thanks for all the beautiful work you each do and to Cece and Yvonne for the time they spent at the festival setting up, selling, and breaking down. If anyone is interested in donating items or donating their own crafts, please call the office and we will put you in touch with Cece.
You can visit their table at the Ladies Guild Christmas Bazaar next weekend.
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Giving Tree Information
- The red tags on the our “Bags of Hope” Giving Tree are for gifts to children who are in the care of the Department of Children and Families (DCF). We are asking for donations of duffel bags and essential items to fill these bags to help these children during their transitions from home. Gift ideas are hanging on the tree.
- The multi colored tags on our second tree are for donations we are seeking to help our local families.
- Please remove a tag, purchase your gift and return it unwrapped to the Parish Center with the tag securely taped to it no later than Monday, December 16.
- Thank you in advance for your generosity. Please call the Parish Center with any questions.
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Volunteers needed!
- Ushers Needed - Men and women are encouraged to consider joining the Usher/Greeter Ministry, currently needed to serve at the 11:15 Mass. Contact David Byrne or call 203-758-4056, ext. 17.
- The Parish Health Ministry is in need of people to take blood pressures after the 11:15 Mass. Please call the Parish Office if you can help out.
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Are you Shopping online for Black Friday?
When shopping Amazon, you can choose to use Amazon Smile* and a percentage of your order will be donated to St. Anthony Church, specifically for the refurbishing of the Church hall.
Click on the photo to get started!
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*
We encourage supporting local businesses, direct trade and fair trade partners
as well as environment considerations when making purchases. If you do choose to use Amazon Smile and you don’t need your item immediately, please don’t choose overnight/rush delivery because this often forces people to work on Sunday.
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"Build our Vibrant Parish"
Suggestion Three
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Periodically, these suggestions will change. We invite all parishioners to share their thoughts and ideas as well.
Thanks to those who have submitted ideas. They will be addressed in the coming weeks here and in the bulletin. Keep your ideas coming!
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Faith Formation News and Schedule
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Sacrament
Buddies
On November 23, this year's Confirmation class happily visited the Communion students early on a Saturday morning (even after they had all attended homecoming the night before.)
A lot of fun was had as the high school buddies helped the grade 3 students create Advent Wreaths. Then both grades sang songs together and everyone left the parish center smiling! It was a wonderful day!
Click for photos
Evelyn Kiley met with the 9th grade Faith Formation class last week and told them the history behind the St. Anthony food bank. After, they helped her reorganized the pantry.
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Join us for our next session December 2nd
We will be awarding that $200 Rollover Cash Door Prize at our this session. The winning player's ticket was from a previous session. Be sure to bring your door prize coupons from the last three sessions for your best chance to win!
Doors open at 5:30 PM Games begin at 7:00 PM
PLEASE NOTE: In order to the start of our sessions promptly at 7:00 PM, admission and all bingo game sales will now close promptly at 6:55 PM
Progressive Jackpot #
1
$875
Progressive Jackpot #2 $1050
VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS NEEDED! If you can volunteer one Monday per month, please call the Parish Center at 203-758-405
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Please consider using online giving for your financial support.
The consistency from online giving is very helpful over vacation periods. You may still use your envelopes and mark “I gave online”.
Thank you and God bless you for all you do for St. Anthony Church!
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St. Anthony Church
4 Union City Road – Prospect, CT 06712
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