From the heart of our Pastoral Associate...Dr. Kathie Amidei
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Advent
The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas goes so fast, doesn't it? Much of it is good. The anticipation. Gift giving. Decorating. Baking. Traditions honored.
But sometimes it can be overwhelming. Draining. Exhausting. Especially if we are listening to voices outside of our own heart that absorb other's expectations. After a hectic Thanksgiving week-end I had to stop and think what was important this season? My prayer yielded three "P's," for me for Advent. I share them and hope they might be helpful for you.
People- Am I putting the people I love first? Or do the things I am rushing to accomplish get top focus in my mind, heart and time? Our children will never be the age they are this Advent. This season, surrounded by loved ones, is something we never want to take for granted.
Presence- Do I give my full attention to the person in front of me or is my mind half there as I think of the tasks I have given myself? Am I focused on presents for others or presence to others?
Priorities- Where is time with my God on my calendar? What is my ratio of busy commercial quests to spiritual preparation and prayer? When am I quiet and when do I listen to God?
Advent comes from a word that means "arrival" or "coming" especially of something of immense importance. God wanted to be so close to us he sent his Son, his only Son, into our world where he had the potential to be loved, befriended, but also hurt and betrayed. That is a big deal! God willingly became a helpless baby, in a family so in need, they camped in the simplest of spaces, for his birth. My question is how can I prepare my heart for that, for God almighty, willing to become little so being human becomes so big? It is a gift beyond what I can take in. It is worth pondering such a great love during this season. You and I are so loved! Each Advent we can prepare to take that in a little more deeply.
I wish you the best with the three "P's" and oh, one more, I wish you
Peace!
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In Our Community
Thursday, 30th
9:30-11:30am
Alpha (St. Anthony's)
2:30/4:30pm
Children's Choir Rehearsal
5:30-7pm
Handbell Rehearsal
6:15-7:45pm
First Reconciliation Parent/Child Session #2
7-9pm
Adult Choir Rehearsal
7-9pm
Mom's Night Out (Cafe Hollander)
Friday, 1st
Saturday, 2nd - Sunday, 10th
Fill the Rack Coat Drive
Giving Tree
Saturday, 2nd
8:30am-12pm Forming the Catechetical Spirit - Int.
11am-12pm
Schola Rehearsal (DMC)
Sunday, 3rd
Tuesday, 5th
6:30-8:30pm
Alpha at Queen of Apostles
NO 7:45am Mass
10am Young at Heart Christmas Party
6:30-8:30pm 9th/10th Gr Confirmation Session
9:30-11:30am
Alpha at St. Anthony
Friday, 8th
8am & 7pm
Immaculate Conception Mass
Saturday, 9th
9-11am Lessons and Carols Rehearsal - All Choirs
Sunday, 10th
10:15-11:45am O Come Little Children
RSVP
4-6pm Lessons and Carols Concert
Monday, 11th
6:30-7pm
Vespers
7-8pm
Spark!
Tuesday, 12th
9:30-11am
Mom's Group
6:30-7:30pm
Alpha at Queen of Apostles
8-9:30am
Active at St. Anthony
9:30-11am
WOW-Women of Wisdom
5-8pm
Culver's Night
6:30-8:30pm 11th Grade Confirmation Session
Thursday, 14th
9:30-11:30am
Alpha at St. Anthony
1-3pm Quilters
2:30/4:30
Children's Choir Rehearsal
5:30-7pm
Handbell Rehearsal
7-9pm
Adult Choir Rehearsal
Friday, 15th
8-9:15am
Alpha at St. Anthony
Choir Cookie Sale-before and after masses
Sunday, 17th
Choir Cookie Sale-before and after masses
1:30-2:30pm
St. Anthony Choir Series-Piano Recital
8-9:30pm
Buckets and Beliefs
Monday, 18th
6:30-7pm
Vespers
Wednesday, 20th
8-9:30am
Active at St. Anthony
9:30-11am
WOW
-Women of Wisdom
10-11:30am
Molly Ministry-Open Gym
6:15-8pm
Middle in the Middle
Thursday, 21st
2:30-5:30pm
Children's Choir Rehearsal and Christmas Party
5:30-7pm
Handbell Rehearsal
7-9pm
Adult Choir Rehearsal
7-8:30pm
Mom's Group
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Make a Difference
.
The group that makes jewelry that is sent to Santisimo Sacramento every year for Mother's Day are running low on supplies. Do you have some old jewelry that they can re-purpose?
P
lease bring to the parish office, marked for Peru Mother's Day project. Would you, teens or adults, like to work on this project?
Email Maureen
to let her know you are interested and she will let you know when dates are set.
Upcoming service learning opportunities for you and your family include:
Food Box Distribution at House of Peace - December 19th
Help distribute holiday food boxes to families in need at the House of Peace in Milwaukee on Tuesday, December 19th. Arrive at the House of Peace at 4:30 pm, distribute food boxes and help guests with Christmas shopping, and you're done by 6:00 pm. Families of all ages are welcome! See the joy in families' faces when they receive a holiday gift of food!
Sign Up Here!
Greeters at Mass
Offertory Gift Bearer
Sign your family up to bring up the gifts at Mass once or twice this year. Present the gifts of bread and wine at the altar in preparation for the celebration of Eucharist.
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Molly Ministry/Early Childhood
Moms Night Out: November 30, TONIGHT, at 7pm;
Café Hollander
RSVP
so we know to expect you.
Planning Meeting: Dec. 4 in the childcare room from 9:30-11:00am, come share your ideas!
Guardians and Angels Playgroup: Dec. 6 from 9:30-11:00 in the childcare room.
Field Trip: Join us December 8 at 9:00 in helping spread Christmas cheer to the residents at
Mission Creek Senior Community in Waukesha. Each year, Molly Ministry visits the residents at Mission Creek to visit, do a craft and pass out candy canes. The crafts are used to decorate the residents' rooms or the community Christmas trees throughout the building. We hope you can join us! The residents look forward to our visit each year!
Join us for our moms groups in December!
Next morning Moms group will meet December 12, 9:30 am in the Daily Mass Chapel.
Next evening Moms group meets December 21, 7:00pm in the Fireplace Lounge.
We hope you can join us for this fun-filled tradition of singing Christmas carols, gathering to make a craft as a family, decorating cookies, and hearing the Christmas story. Breakfast will be served as we celebrate this Holy Season with friends, both old and new. All ages are welcome!
Please help us prepare by sending an RSVP by December 6 with the number of adults and children attending. Free will donations are appreciated to help cover the cost of the event. We look forward to seeing you!!
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Grades 1-5
First Reconciliation
The next First Reconciliation Parent/child session will be Thursday, November 30 from 6:15-7:45.
CLOW, Children's Liturgy of the Word
is each Sunday, during the 9:00 Mass.
We are grateful for the extra help we have been getting from Middle Schoolers and adults! Anyone else wishing to help with this special ministry for our young Mass goers is welcome!
Please sign up here.
Any questions can be directed to
Debbie Kusch.
Youth grades 5 and over are able to help by serving for Mass.
Contact us if you would like to be trained or need a refresher to help with this important ministry.
Family Program child classes
:
The 2nd graders learned about the Mass and the Church Year. They also talked about what they were thankful for and wrote on turkey feathers.
Thanksgiving and turkeys was the highlight for the 3 and 4 year old students these past couple weeks.
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Middle School Ministry
The Family Program classes for grades 6 - 8 continued their discussion on making good moral choices. At our last class, youth made and shared their own inventions and the topic was how we can use technology for good or for bad. You can read more about that on the Middle School Classes blog, where you will find a few questions to discuss as a family.
You could also encourage your middle school youth to use your family Bible to find all the types of technology that might have been used during Jesus' time on earth. Perhaps the hammer was the latest tool of the day, but what other tools might they have used, and how would they have used them?
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High School Ministry
Thank you and many blessings to all those who supported our teens and chaperones so they could attend NCYC, November 16-19 in Indianapolis! It was a priceless experience for all of us and we could not have gone without your help! The National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) is a powerful, biennial, three-day experience of prayer, community, and empowerment for Catholic teenagers and their adult chaperones. We attended outstanding keynote
presentations, prayer, workshops, liturgy, and participated in reconciliation and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, as well as recreational activities, concerts, and exhibits.
NCYC is truly a life changing experience! We are grateful to our St. Anthony family for their love and support!
See our photo gallery!
November Wednesday Night Make Up Session for 9th/10th/11th is Sunday, December 3 from 12:15-1:30pm in MRG.
9th/10th GRADE CONFIRMATION SESSION: Wednesday, December 6th from 6:30-8:30pm
We will be packing College Care Packages!!!
11th GRADE CONFIRMATION SESSION:
Wednesday, December 13th from 6:30-8:30 pm. Meet in the PLC
Alpha Youth Session 3- Why Did Jesus Die?
COLLEGE CARE PACKAGES: The 9
th/10
th Grade will be making care packages for the college students of the parish for Advent and semester finals. Clip Boards will be in the Gathering Space or email
Maureen Michaels with names and addresses by Monday. December 4.
Advent
Prayer!!! SPARK,
is Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament specifically geared for teens, the next one will be held Monday, December 11
th
from 7-8pm. Mark your calendars for this beautiful prayer experience with beautiful music. Please plan to join us for time with Jesus, stay the hour or stop in for 15 minutes. Parents come with your children! ALL are welcome! Bring your family to spend time with Jesus this Advent!
Summer 2018
Mission Trip Sign-up is OPEN!
Our parish provides life-changing, Christ-centered service opportunities for youth in grades 7 through 12. These trips are an opportunity to live out the love of Christ, to commit to growth in faith and community, and to serve those we meet in our travels.
Sign up now.
CYM Basketball
is back! Last day to register!!
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL:
Are you looking for an opportunity for team spirit that combines youth ministry and sports?
The Archdiocese sponsors a recreational Basketball League for high schoolers - girls and boys - called CYM (Catholic Youth Ministry) Basketball. Our parish will once again field teams competing with other SE Wisconsin parishes. Volunteers needed to supervise practices, coach and support games at our gym. For more information, please contact Cindi Petre thru the Faith Formation Office (691-9170).
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Family Program
December 3 and 4, we will be making Advent Wreaths
Please bring pine boughs, work gloves, pruner and your Bible. We do have plenty of pine cones, so you do not need to bring those.
Families enjoyed one of their favorite Family Program activities as they packed Holiday Food Boxes for the House of Peace on November 19 and 20. Our parish has been packing these food boxes every year for over 15 years!
Each year, we also invite one of the Capuchins from the House of Peace to tell us about the ways they serve the community. This year Br. Rob was our guest, sharing stories of those who may receive one of these boxes.
Our Bible passage for the day was from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, verses 34 to 40. We heard that again at Mass the weekend after Thanksgiving: "Whenever you did this...you did it for me." After packing their box, families reflected on how they have lived those words, and when they have served Jesus. You may want to look up that passage and consider it with your family.
"This is literally confusing!" For more, see our family program blog!
Rememb
er to use your bibles!
FH Homework: Pgs. 1510-11:
Matthew 25:34-40. As a family, take some time in the next 2 weeks to go over these pages, including discussing the Understand it, Live it & Tell it.
PLC and SAH: Keep your bibles open to Matthew 25:34-40 and read the Catholic Social Teaching on page 1361.
Deacon Dennis Petrie facilitated a listening session where parents discussed the question what issues are affect their children. One thing that came out of several of the discussions were concerns around the prevalence of drugs in our community. As a result, the parish is working on follow-up to raise awareness and education.
Please sign up for remind to help us communicate better this year.
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LaPetite Family Program
LaPetite Families enjoyed packing holiday food boxes for the House of Peace during one of their Learning Centers.
Children acted out 4 scenes in a short kit about the Golden Rule and learned what it means to follow the "Golden Rule"
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Family Inspiration:
Advent begins this weekend!
This calendar with clickable links and several more resources can be found on the
USCCB website.
DECEMBER 2, FAMILY ADVENT RETREAT AND NIGHT OF WORSHIP
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