Are you interested in jump-starting your prayer life in the new year? Sign up today for a new Bible study, “Follow Me: Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John,” by Dr. Edward Sri. The study will start on Monday, January 10, at 7:00 PM, and will run for eight consecutive Monday sessions. If interested, contact Diane Herding at herdingdiane@gmail.com or via phone at 701-793-4021. Workbooks can be purchased for $20.

St. Monica is the patroness of: wayward children, abuse victims, those struggling with addiction, widows/widowers, and those in difficult marriages. Join us on Monday, December 20 (the third Monday of the month) at 7:00 PM to spend an hour in prayer, asking St. Monica to intercede with Christ for all those under her patronage. Bring a rosary and join our Legion of Mary in this powerful time of prayer!

There will be a Mass Server training session at 11:30 AM this Sunday, December 19, in the Church. All current Mass servers and those who are interested in serving should plan to attend. Father Gerard will discuss some of the new procedures.

Our Knights of Columbus will be receiving a traveling St. Joseph Icon and holding a prayer service to display it on Tuesday, December 21, at 6:00 PM, in the church. All are welcome to join for this time of prayer. St. Joseph, pray for the men of our parish!

Do you have ideas of how our local, regional, or global church could work better toward modeling Christ in our times? Join Fr. Gerard this Tuesday, December 7 at 6:30 PM in the Social Hall to share ideas and prepare to send St. Anthony’s answer to our Synod of Bishops. A soup meal will be served beginning at 6:00 PM for all those who participate. Join with your parish family to make your voice heard on our journey of faith. All are welcome!

We have been doing some fall cleaning here at the parish and have a number of 8’ wood top folding tables to sell for $10 each. These make great extra tables for family gatherings! If interested, please contact the Parish Office at 701-237-6063.

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be Wednesday, December 8. This is a holy day of obligation. The Mass schedule is: _____ Tuesday, December 7 Vigil Mass: 5:15 pm Wednesday, December 8 at 6:45 am, 12:10 pm and 6:00 pm Liturgical ministers, please sign up to assist at these Masses through the following link: signupgenius.com/go/4090549a9ab29a4f94-immaculate1

If you are looking for ways to make this holiday season brighter for those in need of Christ’s light, here are a few options at St. Anthony’s: *Women’s Care Center (formerly First Choice) Giving Tree: Take a tag home with a gift request to help out an expectant mother! Help make the decision of ‘yes’ to life all the more joyful this season! *Dacotah Foundation Hat/Glove/Gift Tree: This year, the Dacotah Foundation has requested adult winter gear (hats, gloves, socks, etc.), candy, grocery cards, or other small care items for those in their Fargo recovery centers. Over 100 individuals are currently in their care as they suffer with chemical dependency or mental health problems. Help bring the compassion of Christ to them this season as they traverse their struggle. Both of these giving trees and collection boxes will be in St. Francis Gathering Place. Please leave gift cards with Deidra in the Parish Office (or under the office door). Thank you for being Christ’s hand and feet during the Advent season!

Our annual St. Anthony’s Youth Group bake sale is back next weekend December 4 and 5! Stop in to get some delicious goodies to share with family and friends, or treat yourself! Would you be willing to donate a dozen treats to help support our youth? Goodies can be dropped off at the Parish Office, starting Friday, December 3, or bring them Saturday, December 4 throughout the day. Thank you for sharing your baking skills!!

Please help yourself to a Word Among Us devotional, as well as children’s Advent booklet, located at the Main Entrance/Exit of the church. Use these resources to help you make this Advent season a time of prayerful preparation.

Please help us spread the word that we will be returning to our pre-Covid Mass schedule on Sunday, November 7. This affects 2 Sunday morning Masses. The current 7:00 am Mass will move back to a 7:30 am start, and the 11:00 am Mass will now begin at 10:30 am. All other Mass times will stay the same.

DRESS UP AS SAINTS Children are invited to dress up as their favorite Saint when they come to Mass next weekend(Oct. 30/31). They will be called forward and recognized by Father at each of the Masses. Do you need last minute inspiration? Come to the Holy House on Wednesday, October 27 and get some ideas!

MASS SERVER TRAINING & ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING We will be having a mandatory Mass Server training and organizational meeting, beginning at 6:30 PM in the Church, on Monday, October 25, for all current and those interested in becoming Mass Servers. One parent should plan to attend with their child/children. Pizza will be served! There are new Mass Server duties to discuss, but more importantly, we would like to create a new schedule to make sure every Mass is covered. Please tell your children and make plans to attend!

Join us on Saturday, August 14, anytime from 8:00 AM-3:00 PM as we join together to pray for peace in our country. The day will begin with Mass at 8:00 AM, and then follow this schedule: 9:00 AM - Patriotic Rosary, 10:00 AM - Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 11:00 AM – Litany of the Sacred Heart, 12:00 PM – Litany of St. Joseph, 1:00 PM – Litany of the Saints and Chaplet of St. Michael, and 2:00 PM – Litany of the Virgin Mary and prayers for peace. Each hour will start with the led prayer, and any remaining portion of the hour will allow for private prayer and Adoration. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for the full time. Please make plans to join for any part of the day that you are able! Sponsored by the Legion of Mary.

Sunday, September 26 Mark your calendars and tell all your friends and family! We’ll be holding our annual Fall Bazaar with our legendary turkey dinner, bake sale, games for the kids, and booths that include crafts, plants, books, jewelry and an apple pie wheel. It will be a wonderful day of fun and fellowship for the whole family!

Are you being called to serve as an usher or greeter? This hospitality ministry is so important in our church. The individuals who serve in these roles greet and welcome parishioners as they enter the church, help with seating anyone who may need assistance and collect the offering. Individuals or families can serve as ushers and greeters. We have a specific need at the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass. If you (or your family) are able to help one Sunday/month, please contact Sam.

There will be a beautiful collection of hand carved olivewood religious articles from the Holy Land available for sale in St. Francis Gathering Place this weekend (July 31/August 1) after the Saturday 5:00 PM and Sunday morning Masses. Profits from the sale of these items goes to support 27 Catholic families who made these articles in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Thank you for your support!

Registration is open for Religious Education this fall. Please sign your children up today! Also, if you have ever felt the Holy Spirit nudging you toward sharing your faith with our youth, please consider being a teacher for this year’s religious education. We are still in need of a few wonderful people willing to give of themselves. Contact Maria with any questions.

A Memorial Day Mass will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery North (1502 32nd Ave N, Fargo) on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, at 9:00 AM. All are welcome! St. Anthony’s will also have Mass on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, at 8:00 AM only (NO 5:15 PM Daily Mass that day).

All are welcome to celebrate the feast of our patron, St. Anthony of Padua, with a grill-out picnic of hot dogs and burgers, on Sunday, June 13, beginning at 12:00 PM (Noon), in the St. Anthony’s northeast parking lot. The event will be hosted by our Knights of Columbus. The picnic will also provide parishioners an opportunity to say goodbye to Fathers Courtright and Antony Samy and thank them for their time at St. Anthony’s. We hope you make plans to join us for this fun annual tradition. St. Anthony of Padua, pray for our parish family!