The Advent edition of "Community Connections" is now available online. Please click on the image to access the newsletter.

Now that we have had public Mass for some time, we need more help from you to keep it going. Volunteers are needed to serve as Ushers and to run the disinfectant sprayer after Mass. Please consider gifting your time to Blessed Sacrament in one or more of these ways. Training will be provided. With Christmas right around the corner, we need more help than normal for those Masses, so now is a good time to get trained. To help, please contact Maggie in the office (319) 233-6179.

We all need to observe safety and the necessity of travel during the harsh winter months in Iowa. Therefore, daily weekday Masses will follow the school closing rules. Tuesday, 5:30 pm Masses will be cancelled if school has been dismissed or let out early for the day. If school has a late start or is cancelled in the morning, there will be no 8:00 am Mass for that day. Inclement weather does not apply to Funeral Masses.

This is the 10th year that we have partnered with Hy-Vee Food Stores to provide holiday food bags to local children over the holiday break. Many children rely on the school lunch and breakfast programs, as well as summer programs to get their meals. Sadly, similar programs do not exist when students leave for holiday breaks. Hy-Vee located at 2834 Ansborough Ave and Blessed Sacrament want to help fill that gap by providing up to 600 bags or more for needy families. Help us make their holiday enjoyable and less stressful! You can support this program in two ways: (1) Send money directly to Blessed Sacrament by dropping off a check, or donating online to the "Holiday Food Bag Project"; or, (2) Go directly to the Ansborough Ave Hy-Vee, inform the cashier at checkout that you would like to purchase one or more bags for the Blessed Sacrament Holiday Food Bag Project. The cost will be billed to you at the register and bags will be delivered to Blessed Sacrament at a later date. The cost is approximately $18.00 per bag. Food bags will be collected throughout the month of December. THANK YOU!!!

Are you looking for some new side dishes for your Thanksgiving dinner? There are many side dishes & salad recipes in the Blessed Sacrament Church Cookbook; along with desserts! You can purchase your copy for $10 at the church office (exact change or checks payable to Blessed Sacrament). Call the office at 319-233-6179 or call Ann Baumgartner at 319-984-6457 if you have any questions. This project is a fundraiser for Blessed Sacrament and your purchase is greatly appreciated.

Sunday, November 22nd is the 4th Sunday of the month and our Food Pantry Collection. Please help to replenish our pantry with canned and boxed foods, cleaning supplies, paper goods, and personal hygiene products for those of our parish who are in need. We are especially in need of, for both children and adults, 20oz. shampoo and conditioner or those that are 2-in-1, men's and women's deodorant, toothpaste, bath soap, body lotion. We could also use soups. Thank you for your continued support.

Columbus High School is holding its "Feed The Hungry Campaign" from November 1-30, 2020. We are unable to collect donations after church, as in the past. Instead, we offer the following options to donate: Drop your food goods at Columbus High School or St. Vincent de Paul. If you wish to make a monetary donation, please make checks payable to "SVDP Council of Waterloo" and include "CHS Feed The Hungry" in the memo line. Mail your check to: St. Vincent de Paul, 320 Broadway St., Waterloo, IA 50703. Thank you!

This new program is happening in collaboration with our religious education program on Wednesday nights at Sacred Heart School. EDGE meets from 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm and is open to ALL middle school youth from any school or parish. For more information and to register, visit www.waterloocatholics.org/edge. Questions? Contact middle school youth minister Gen Wandro at wandrog@uni.edu.

Have you remembered to leave a gift to Blessed Sacrament in your will? If you haven't, please prayerfully consider this request. Your gift will help ensure the mission of Blessed Sacrament will continue to grow, serving the needs of our community and families forever. If you would like more information about leaving a legacy gift to Blessed Sacrament, contact Fr. Tony Kruse or the Parish Office at 319-2330-6179.

IMPACT is a two-year formation program for adults facilitated by the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The program utilizes the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Scripture, spiritual reading, and dynamic presenters to guide spiritual, theological, intellectual and pastoral formation in the Catholic faith in order to help participants live out missionary discipleship in their parish and community. IMPACT is open to any adult who desires a deeper relationship with Christ and a greater understanding of the Catholic faith in order to better serve others through leadership. The next two-year cohort begins in September of 2021 and will meet at St. Mark Church in Iowa Falls.More information is available at www.dbqarch.org/IMPACT. For questions, contact Matt Selby at m.selby@dbqarch.org.

Saturday, November 14, 2020 from 9:30 - 11:30 am, COR @ 220 E. 4th St, Waterloo. This preparation program is for first-time parents in the Waterloo parishes who are planning to baptize an infant or young child in the near future. Parents should be registered members of a parish and may register at the class. Masks and social distancing required. To register online, click on the picture or contact the parish office at 319.233.6179.

Are you downsizing and have things to get rid of? Are you clearing household goods from an estate? Blessed Sacrament parishioners are offering Estate of Grace Sale Services for those willing to donate the proceeds back to Blessed Sacrament parish. At your location, we will set up for a sale, advertise the sale, staff the sale, and dispose of what remains after the sale. If you are interested in discussing or scheduling a sale with us, please call Margaret Klein at 319-429-1907.

CHS will be hosting a Blood Drive with the American Red Cross. The Blood Drive will be held on Friday, October 16th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta Middle School Gym, 3225 W. 9th Street, Waterloo. All blood donations will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies. Appointments are preferred. To schedule an appointment call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service and Guiding Star of Cedar Valley are hosting a "No Matter How Small" memorial service on Thursday, October 15 at 10:00 a.m. at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. If you have been touched by miscarriage or infant loss, please come in memory of your child or relative. "We do not have control over many things in life and death, but we do have control over the meaning we give it."

Our Gargae Sale Drop Off days are this Tuesday, October 13th from 1:00 - 4:00 pm and Thursday, October 15th from 3:00 - 6:00 pm at the Parish Center. Please take advantage of this block of time to bring the items you wish to donate for the Garage Sale. More drop off days are scheduled in the coming weeks.

Registration for the 2020-2021 high school confirmation program is underway. High school juniors and seniors are invited to join the classes, which begin Sunday, October 25th at 1:00 p.m. in the Parish Center at Blessed Sacrament. Registration for these classes is available online at www.waterloocatholics.org/hs-confirmation. Please contact Annie Zeets,Youth Minister, with questions at email: anniezeets@gmail.com.

40 Days for Life-Cedar Falls is excited to announce an amazing speaker, Yoi Reyes, for our Kickoff Rally Sunday, September 20, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Waterloo. 40 Days for Life is an internationally coordinated 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful vigil in front of abortion businesses. To read the full article, please click on the image.

Our next Alpha series starts Monday, October 5, 2020 and meets on Monday evenings from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Due to COVID-19, this series will be held via Live Video Conference. Alpha is an engaging enrichment series for adults and young adults who want to explore or renew their relationship to Jesus Christ and the Christian faith. Learn more online at https://waterloocatholics.org/alpha.

A preparation program for First Reconciliation and First Communion is available for baptized children in grades 2-8. The child must also be enrolled in Catholic school or a Religious Education program. Contact Julie Niemeyer at jniemeyerff@gmail.com or call 319-234-9912 for information about how to enroll. Parent information meetings will be held in October.

The Archdiocese of Dubuque will be hosting Catholic author and speaker, Rose Sweet, for "An Evening for the Divorced and Separated and Those Who Love Them" on Friday, October 30th from 6:30 - 8:30 PM at St. Pius X Church in Cedar Rapids. Whether you're divorced or separated yourself or want to help someone you love who is, you're invited to come hear how the Church can help those who have experienced divorce or separation. CDC guidelines will be followed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The event will be live-streamed and recorded for those unable to attend in-person. No cost, but please RSVP at www.dbqarch.org/rose-sweet-event-rsvp.