As I type this…
The turkey is defrosting in the fridge, we have all decided what side dishes we are going to make for our friars Thanksgiving meal, and most of the shopping is done. Our main parking lot is empty because the students, administration, faculty and staff of our beautiful school are enjoying a well deserved week off. Over in the Outreach things are booming as the volunteers begin to hand out the over 650 food bags we collected from both our school and parish communities. Yesterday 20 large military families were delivered everything needed for their Thanksgiving meals and they were so grateful. The value in those donations, your donations, goes way beyond the monetary value. Every family that gets a bag or two has the peace of mind of knowing that they will, indeed, be able to sit around the table with the people they love for a Thanksgiving meal. The ability to give someone that experience is priceless and I am so grateful to everyone who contributed. I know you always come through. I am so thankful and proud that the light of the good work of our parish and school never seems to grow dim. There is always something going on for the good of God’s Kingdom. St. Anne is, indeed, like a city set on a hillside that cannot be hidden. Thank you.
Bishop Parkes’ Message
Last Friday Bishop Parkes modified the current dispensation from our obligation to attend Sunday Mass. These new guidelines will be in effect this Sunday. Here is a link to the document. Please take the time to read it and pray about it. I will let the Bishop speak for himself. His letter and guidelines are well written and should provide some food for thought for every Catholic in the Diocese.
Men’s and Women’s Adoration Schedule
After some thought and some good advice from the ladies in the office, I have decided that the Men’s Adoration will continue to be the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month and the Women’s Adoration will be the 2nd and 4th. This month there is a 5th Monday and I had thought to just rotate weeks, but then it was pointed out that no one would be able to figure out who was coming to Adoration each week. So when there is a 5th Monday there will be no Adoration.
Senior Citizens, You are So Important to Us
Several of our beautiful senior citizens have asked that we add an opportunity for Eucharistic Adoration during the day. Many of them are uncomfortable driving at night. Starting next week on December 4th, we’ll have one hour of Eucharistic Adoration for the senior citizens of our parish every Friday at 1:00 PM in the main church. This will allow for a prayerful experience and adequate social distancing. Thanks for asking and don’t forget to pray for your friars…we need it.
Adult Faith Formation
I am so happy to see that 144 parishioners have joined our parish subscription to Formed. Please feel free to share it with other parishioners. This Advent, Formed offers a number of daily advent reflections for both adults and families. The program is called the Road to Bethlehem. Check it out at advent.augustineinstitute.org or you can search at Formed.org.
Christmas Schedule
We are still finalizing our Christmas schedule and want to make sure that we have enough space and liturgies to meet the needs of those who will come to Mass on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. In the near future you will receive a SignUp Genius to let us know which Mass you hope to attend. This way we can adjust the schedule as needed. If everyone signs up as they should, you will be able to look online and see if a Mass is at capacity or not. If the church building is full there will always be the opportunity to watch the stream online in the parking lot then come to the main church door for Communion. More information will follow.
Offertory and Attendance
Stewardship of Treasure
- November 22, 2020 In-Pew Offertory: $11,219
- November 22, 2020 Online Offertory: $9,278
Attendance
- November 8 TOTAL: 761
- 5:30 p.m. - 146
- 8:00 a.m. - 205
- 10:30 a.m. - 298
- 12:30 p.m. - 112
Virtual Outreach Angel Tree
Altar Flowers
This week’s altar flowers were donated in loving memory of Judi Waldheim by Dutch Waldheim. If you would like to donate altar flowers in memory of or in honor of a loved one, please call the Parish Office. The cost is $100.
Opportunity to Offer the Bread and Wine at Mass
It is now possible to offer the bread and wine for Mass each Sunday. If you would like to do so, please call the Parish Office to schedule your weekend. Your offering of $50 will help defray the cost.
2nd Collection for Retired Religious
In good times and in bad, senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests have dedicated themselves to service and acts of mercy. Today, they pray for an aching world. Yet years of serving for little or no pay have left their religious communities without enough retirement savings. Your gift to the Retirement Fund for Religious helps provide medications, nursing care, and other necessities. Although we are not physically taking up 2nd collections during Mass, we hope you will be generous to this very important collection. You may give online, drop your donation in the collection box at Mass or mail it to the Parish Office.
