Blessed Sacrament Parish Life is opening up the Parish Center for our Family Open Gym Night on FRIDAY, JANUARY 24th FROM 6:30PM - 8:00PM! Parents feed your kids dinner before coming but then bring them over to the Parish Center and let them enjoy some free play until their hearts are content or until 8:30 PM (whichever comes first). This is a great opportunity for the kids in our Parish to get to know each other and for parents to enjoy chatting with other parents. There will be more open gyms to come over these winter months.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11TH: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM. LIVE VIDEO CONFERENCE. 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 either register at the class or coordinate registration soon. To register for the baptism class, CLICK ON THIS ARTICLE. To register with Blessed Sacrament Parish, please contact Maggie in the office: [email protected] or 319-233-6179.

Judy Bullis, our new Pastoral Minister serving, in part, our Homebound & Sick Ministry, is in need of some winter help for taking Communion to our parishioners in need at Allen Hospital. This is done once a week and, if you can help out in this way, please contact Judy in the office at 319-233-6179 or email: [email protected].

I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for the memories and relationships that we've developed. Through these years, you have touched my heart forever and I will never forget you. I continue to pray for all of you. I love you all, and you are an awesome parish family! My correct address is: 1527 Oriole Avenue, Waterloo, IA 50701.

Blessed Sacrament Family - The holiday is upon us and with it, many changes are taking place in my family life. Ten months ago, if you asked me how does the future look as to staying in Waterloo, I would have said it looked bright, especially with continuing as a Deacon at Blessed Sacrament and working with LSI. Ten months ago, all three of our adult boys lived in different locations (Chicago, Des Moines and Denver, Colorado). Since then, all of our boys and now a grandchild (another on the way) have all converged in Des Moines. Des Moines if the future for them and for Ceil and I. As Ceil and I approach retirement, we want to be more involved in the adult lives of our kids and extended family. We are sad, yet very happy, about this big change in our lives as we get ready to move to Des Moines. I am certainly nervous about the new new assignment as a Deacon, God-willing that the Bishop from the Des Moines Diocese will assign me to a parish, but with God’s help and continued guidance, I feel stronger in my faith journey. I owe much of this to our Blessed Sacrament community, as we have been members for over 35 years now. I have appreciated the support from all of you, even when my homilies went long and you were patient with me, giving me good feedback. Thank you for allowing me to serve you and to be a part of your faith journey. May your life bring you much joy — the joy that God has in store for all of you. He loves us so …. Thank you - Deacon Mike & Cecile Knipp

NCYC 2025 Registration is underway! The National Catholic Youth Conference is for high school students and adult chaperones and will take place November 20-23, 2025. High school students from any school are welcome to attend NCYC! The trip is part of the metro Youth Ministry program offered through the Waterloo parishes. Contact Annie Zeets: [email protected] with questions or visit waterloocatholics.org/ncyc for more info!

In early January, when Fr. Tony Kruse leaves for his 2-month sabbatical, we will be pleased to welcome Fr. Anthony Onyekwelu to Blessed Sacrament. He will cover sacramental duties for Fr. Tony Kruse while he is away from January 5 to March 4, 2025. Originally from the Awaka Diocese in Nigeria, Fr. Anthony was ordained in 1993 and spent ten years in the U.S. from 2001 to 2011. During that time, he served as a hospital chaplain while earning a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Seton Hall University in New Jersey and a Ph.D. in Religious Education from Fordham University in New York. He also became a naturalized U.S. citizen during his time here. Since 2011, Fr. Anthony has worked in high schools and served as a pastor and chaplain back home in Nigeria. His bishop has granted him a year-long sabbatical in 2025, during which he will serve at various parishes within our Archdiocese. We are fortunate to have him assist our parish during this time. While in Iowa, Fr. Anthony is particularly eager to gain insights into faith formation, youth programs, healing Masses, and Eucharistic Adoration. He has three brothers and two sisters, all of whom live in Nigeria, and he is a proud uncle to 20 nieces and nephews. An avid music lover, Fr. Anthony has previously served as a choirmaster and enjoys reading spiritual literature. While Fr. Tony Kruse is gone on sabbatical for two months, all contacts about parish needs should be directed to Maggie England in our parish office. She will then coordinate needed sacraments/pastoral care with Fr. Anthony and direct other questions to the parish staff, Pastoral Council, and the Finance Council. While he is substituting at our parish, Fr. Anthony will be attending some parish meetings and events as part of his own continuing learning, but he will not be leading administrative efforts for the parish. Please JOIN US in warmly welcoming Fr. Anthony to Blessed Sacrament Parish!

I will continue to celebrate the scheduled daily Mass (except in cases of a funeral), even if school is cancelled. However, with that being said, parking lots and sidewalks may not be cleared in time for daily Mass. Please use caution, stay safe, or even stay home. Mass will still be live streamed. If out of necessity the daily Mass needs to be cancelled due to weather, we will try to publish a notice of cancellation through KWWL and KCRG TV stations.

Join us Monday, December 23 in the Parish Center at 6:00 PM (doors open at 5:30 PM) for an evening of Christmas Carols and Coloring Activities for Kids. Wear your Festive Christmas Attire (ugly sweater, kids in Christmas PJ's, etc.). Hot Cocoa table provided by Parish Community Life! Bring an appetizer or dessert to share! Great for ALL AGES! Let's be Merry & full of Joy together!

Our parish is on a journey to know, love, and serve Christ as a parish community. Together we must embrace Christ’s vision for missionary discipleship so our parish can thrive and be a place for others to grow together in faith. The very first step in this process involves assessing our greatest strengths and opportunities, and that is where the Disciple Maker Index (DMI) comes in! The DMI is an important survey tool that invites you to reflect on your discipleship journey here at Blessed Sacrament Parish. Take the DMI survey today. ● Your input helps strengthen our parish. ● Results help leadership prepare for the future. If you prefer a paper copy, you may come to the Parish Office during weekday business hours. At Blessed Sacrament, we are blessed in so many ways. Together, we will identify our strengths and opportunities in greater detail as we strive to grow in missionary discipleship. Please continue to pray for this intention and for the growth and protection of our parish.

Blessed Sacrament has, once again, partnered with Hy-Vee to provide bags of food to area school children in need during the Christmas Holiday break. Cost to fill one bag is $21.00, and, between the area elementary schools of St. Edward, Lowell, Irving, Becker and Lincoln, we hope to fill a total of 570 bags to kids in need. This will amount to over $10,000! You may donate directly online by clicking on this article or through Venmo using the QR Code on the website donation page OR by placing a check in the collection basket at Mass or at the Parish Office during the week (please note "HOLIDAY FOOD BAGS" on the memo line)/ Thak you for your support of this program!

The Adult Confirmation preparation program will take place on Saturdays, January 18 & 25 from 9:00 am - 11:00 am in the New Life Center at St. Edward Parish. Catholic adults 19 years or older who have been baptized, catechized, and are actively participating in the spiritual and sacramental life of the Church are welcome. Those who participate will be prepared to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with Archbishop Zinkula in March. Pre-registration required. Learn more and register at: https://waterloocatholics.org/adult-confirmation

Tuesday, Nov. 12. 6:15-7:30pm. Parish Hall. St. Edward Parish, Waterloo. Waterloo Catholic Faith Formation hosts this opportunity for Catholic adults and young adults who want to be inspired in their practice of the Catholic faith. This month's speaker is Fr. Greg Lambert, the new Associate Pastor at St. Edward and Spiritual Director at Columbus High School. Open to the public. No pre-registration. Invite a family member, friend or colleague who might appreciate this opportunity. Learn more at: waterloocatholics.org/catholic-witness-hour

The Knights of Columbus Council #700 is sponsoring "Coffee with the Knights" in the Parish Center immediately following the 8:00 am Mass on Wednesday, November 20 (around 8:30ish). Breakfast pizza, coffee and water will be provided and ALL KIGHTS and PARISHIONERS are invited! Following the breakfast, Council #700 will conduct their regular business meeting. Hope to see you there!

Each week at Blessed Sacrament, there is an opportunity to receive healing prayer. Every Thursday we begin at 6:00 pm and we go until we are done. If no one outside of the prayer team is in the church by 8:00 pm, we do close for the night. Most weeks, Fr. Tony is also in thr confessional at 7:00 pm for those who are seeking the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

BIG NEWS! This year, the parishes will be doing Confirmation for youth in BOTH grades 10 and 11 (12th graders who also desire confirmation are welcome). Classes begin in November. Go to: waterloocatholics.org/hs-confirmation to register. Once you are registered, you will receive the class schedule via email as soon as it is available. Contact Annie Zeets with questions: [email protected] or call: 319-239-0163.

Parish Life is sponsoring its 2nd annual BINGO NIGHT on Saturday, October 13 @ 6:00 PM in the Parish Center. Parish Center doors open after the 4:30 PM Mass and games start at 6:00 PM. NO COST to play and this is open to school-ages children and older! Please bring an appetizer/dessert to share potluck style and bring your own beverage. What a great way to unwind after a busy garage sale season. So, dust off your BINGO skills and JOIN US for a night of fun! ALL ARE WELCOME!

The Alpha journey begins NEXT WEEK! The adventure kicks off Sunday evening, October 6, from 5:30pm - 7:00pm. It will then run every Sunday at that same time for 11 weeks. Have to miss a week or two? That's okay - still try it out! Registration forms are in the Gathering Space or sign up on our website. Questions? Contact Maggie England in the office: [email protected]; 319-233-6179.