Lord, we gather around this symbol of our waiting for you. May the never-ending circle of this wreath and its evergreen branches remind us of the eternal life you came to bring us. May the flames of these candles remind us of the light you bring into the darkness of our own sin and of our troubled world. Bless this wreath and those who look at it during this Advent season. Let it be a sign of hope and a challenge to prepare our hearts for your coming: at Christmas, at the end of time, and your various “comings” in our daily lives. Amen.

Do you enjoy watching Christmas movies? From The Bells of St. Mary's to The Muppet Christmas Carol, the attached link has a great list of holiday movies to enjoy with your family, as well as a list of conversation starters to encourage an organic discussion. We hope you can cozy up and enjoy a popcorn movie night with those you love this Advent and Christmas seasons.

God of life, we joyfully place this Christmas tree in our home in preparation for your birthday. From a tree, our first parents ate the forbidden fruit, turning away from you and bringing death to all. On a wooden cross your Son Jesus carried out your plan of love, offering salvation and fullness of life to all. Jesus taught that we were all to remain connected to him like branches to a vine. We thank you for this tree, symbol of our salvation history. As we enjoy the fun of decorating our tree, let it bring us closer together. Let the twinkling lights remind us of the meaning and hope you bring to our lives. Let the ornaments remind us of the many blessings and gifts with which you grace our lives. Let the star or angel we place at the top be a proclamation of our faith in your presence among us. Amen.

Thank you to our organizers and all who attended the CCW Art, Brunch, Create Saturday morning!

Living Advent as an intentional season of preparing our hearts and homes for Jesus can help bring focus, deeper meaning, and grace to the holidays. Click this post for ideas on how to add family traditions and incorporate prayer and acts of kindness this Advent season.

The city of Atlantic begins it's Christmas celebration tonight at 5:00 pm with the Grand Lighting of the Historic Rock Island Depot. Click for additional information on local happenings this season!

"Lord, we thank you for the goodness of our people and for the spirit of justice that fills this nation. We thank you for the beauty and fullness of the land and the challenges of the cities. We thank you for our work and our rest, for one another, and for our homes. We thank you, Lord: accept our thanksgiving on this day. We pray and give thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." (USCCB) Please click for additional information about masses during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Monday, November 18th is Father Trevor's birthday - as you walk in the glory of God's garden of life, may you celebrate another year of the riches He has given you. Please remember Father in your prayers and wish him a Happy Birthday!

Join us for 40 Hours of Adoration beginning after 7:00 pm mass on Friday, December 13th concluding with 10:30 am Benediction and mass Sunday, December 15th. Click to sign up for a specific one-hour time slot to sit with our Lord and participate in our continuous 40 hours of prayer.

Our Christmas Blessing program will focus on our parish seniors living in their homes this year. Those interested in helping provide practical or fun items for our 20+ baskets may take a Christmas tree ornament showing requested items. Purchased items can then be brought to church by December 8th, and we will coordinate the basket preparation and delivery. There is no need to wrap the items. Monetary donations, noting “Christmas Blessings” in the check memo line, can be mailed to the parish office, placed in the church collection basket, or put into the ally black box near the rectory. Donated funds will be used to provide a small gift to our seniors residing in care facilities or parishioners who may need a little extra support in feeling God’s loving presence this Advent season. Thank you for your generosity as we bring the spirit of Christmas to those in need, and may God bless us all this Advent Season!

Jesus, Our Light, Our Joy is a free online advent retreat for those living with chronic pain, illness or disability and their caregivers. Offered by the National Catholic Partnership on Disability, please click for additional information and to register for this December 12th (Noon to 3:00 pm) online retreat.

To see all of the stories WHO-TV aired last week on the 45th anniversary of the pope’s visit, you can go to the station’s website by clicking on the title of this post. The stories will be compiled into a one-hour special to air Christmas Day on WHO-TV.

In October 1979, Pope John Paul II made Iowa one of the stops on his inaugural tour of the United States. Follow the logistical and spiritual planning process for the Pope’s visit to the Heartland by watching The Pope's Visit to Iowa on Iowa PBS. Click the title of this post to be taken to the documentary.

CCW's online fundraising auction will close tonight at 8:00 pm. Get in your final bids! Items may be collected by the winning bidders in the Parish Center between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm Saturday, November 9th or Sunday, November 10th.

This will be the last weekend to sign up for the CCW's Art, Brunch, Create event. Join us after 9:00 am mass Saturday, November 23rd for brunch and create your own decorative door hanger. All art supplies, food, and beverages will be included; however, a suggested donation of $10.00 may be given the day of the event. We invite women to join us for food, fun, and fellowship! Signups are in the back of our churches.

Please click for a prayer we hope everyone will reflect upon and pray as we engage in our democratic republic. As Bishop Joensen noted, "Please pray often as well as solicit prayer for our country and its voters during this time as well encouraging all to exercise their privileged right to vote."