St. Anthony Catholic Church
Davenport, Iowa
Weekly Email Newsletter
Catholic Teaching Confronted
in Sidewalk Chalk Outside St. Anthony's
By John Cooper
Last Sunday a parishioner asked me to come and see something written in chalk on the public sidewalk on the south side entrance to St. Anthony's. Later, I discovered the same message written on the sidewalk in front of church. See pictures of the message above. It reads," Google Galatians 1:6-10, 2:16, Romans 4:4-8, 5:1, John 3:16, and Ephesians 2:8-9. Faith Alone." Faith alone and the related Bible verses cited were used 500 years ago by protestant reformers like Martin Luther to attack the Church on its teaching related to "faith and works" as justification for our salvation.

On Monday afternoon, I spotted three individuals on the sidewalk in front of church. Two were on the corner of 4th and Main streets with a sign and a cross. They were gesturing to pedestrians and cars driving by. A third person was writing another message on the sidewalk. I went out and spoke with them. In a very self-righteous manner, they shared with me their belief that Catholics and other denominations that don't adhere to the doctrine of "faith alone" as a means of salvation are going to hell. Their argument is that good works can't get you into Heaven. I told them that the church has never taught that good works alone will get a person into Heaven. As you might imagine, we didn't get very far as we continued to argue. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE .
Falling Upward
Weekend Retreat with John Cooper
February 21-23

Using Jesus’ messages in the Gospels we will explore what it means to “fall” and get back up as we go through life. We will reflect and pray about how our daily “dying and rising” moments bring spiritual growth, richness and awareness. For in Christ, our “falling” is never downward. It is always upward.

Fees include meals. Fee $125 Overnight/$45 Commuters
Call 563-336-8414 for more information.
Large Number of New Families Join St. Anthony's this Past Year

Registrations from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31
Families...
2015 - 23
2016 - 22
2017 - 14
2018 - 49
2019 - 55

Starting soon...we will be putting pictures of the new families both in this newsletter and in the bulletin. This will help us to welcome them!
GALA PLANNING KICK-OFF
Hello to all,

As you may have heard, our Parish is planning another GALA this coming Fall. The date we have reserved is Saturday, October 17th. With Tricia Jestel's guidance and expertise, Mike and I have agreed to oversee this year's event.  

We will need many able volunteers to make this happen and appreciate everyone's participation. 

This Tuesday, January 14th, Father Apo and I have scheduled a short meeting at our Parish Center, to briefly go over the different committees and obtain willing volunteers.  Please let me know by EMAIL if you are able to attend as we are providing pizza and pop. Since many of you work, we have the time scheduled for 4:45 - 6 p.m. Come a little early so you can grab some pizza. We will start the meeting at 5 and be done by 6 p.m. Following our meeting, is the second week for "Catholic Conversations" which is an excellent discussion of author Matthew Kelly's "Resisting Happiness", so our meeting will not extend beyond 6 p.m.  

I hope to hear from you! Please feel free to invite any others that may also want to help with this event.  

Thank you.  

Mike and Sally Kent
GALA Committee Chairs
563) 340-2864 (Mike)
563) 340-7904 (Sally) 
Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)

Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"
Downtown with St. Anthony's @ Cafe 'd Marie
This month’s Downtown with St. Anthony’s is Saturday, January 18 at Café ‘d Marie located at 614 W 5th St, Davenport immediately following the 4:30 p.m. Mass. In addition to great food with the main entre of lasagna, there will be fun activities to enjoy. Cost is $12 per person to be paid at the door. Sign-up sheets are at the entrances to church.
Are you coming to Downtown with St. Anthony's at Cafe 'd Marie?
LOCATION
Cafe 'd Marie - 614 W 5th St, Davenport

DATE AND TIME
01/18/20 5:30pm - 01/18/20 8:00pm

Faith, food, and fellowship. Cost is $12 per person at the door.
I'll be there!
I can't make it
ANOTHER NEW CATHOLIC FOR 2020
See Logan's Baptismal Family Pic Below
Logan is the son of parishioners Ian and Erica Theis and the grandson of Linda and Bob Theis.
Check out Father Mike Schmitz's Video Below
A Little Baptismal Humor...

Many ministers could, from personal experience, tell of strange names bestowed upon infants at their baptism, but few could equal the following story recently told by the Bishop of Sodor and Man. A mother who was on the lookout for a good name for her child saw on the door of a building the word "Nosmo". It attracted her, and she decided that she would adopt it. Some time later, passing the same building, she saw the name "King" on another door. She thought the two would sound well together, and so the boy was baptized, "Nosmo King Smith". On her way home from the church where the baptism had taken place, she passed the building again. The two doors on which she had seen the names were now closed together, and what she read was not "Nosmo King," but "No Smoking".