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.

Play, Learn & Grow Together! Are you looking for preschool options for your student? Openings still available for 3 yr old & 4 yr old preschool at Blessed Sacrament Early Childhood Center. Registration is open until October 1, 2020. To learn more about preschool programs, please contact Aaron Becker at 319-233-6202 or email: abecker@cvcatholic.org.

Sunday, October 4th at 7:00 p.m. via Live Video Conference. Our speaker, Jenny Hemesath, will speak in our Church for this livestreamed event, which will be carried via our website and Facebook page. The format is different this year dur to COVID-19. The church will be open for those who wish to attend in person, however, there will be no meal. Cedar Valley Catholic Evangelization Outreach hosts this opportunity for Catholic adults and young adults who want to be inspired in their practice of the Catholic faith. Learn more at: www.waterloocatholics.org/catholic-witness-hour.

Christ Our Life Catholic Conference will be held September 26 & 27, 2020 at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students/youth for both days. This year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference will also be live streamed on those two days so that more can be part of this wonderful and uplifting experience. Seating for "in person" attendance at Wells Fargo Arena will be limited for social distancing purposes. Please check the website for information on purchasing tickets for either "in person" or Live Stream, schedules and the protocols for cleaning, seating, etc. For questions, please call Shirley O'Connell at 319.415.4438.

Parents-it is time for sign-ups for religious education for your kids! We want to walk alongside you as you share your faith with your kids. We offer 3 safe and fun options during the school year - a weekly session on Wednesday evenings, a monthly session on Saturday mornings, and a self-paced online version with quarterly in-person sessions. The first Wednesday class will begin on October 7th, and the Saturday session begins on October 3rd. Cost per kid per program is $90 for the year, with a max of $200 per family. Register online by clicking on the graphic or contact Becky McElroy at 319-233-0493 or email: dbqwcff@dbqarch.org for more details.

Saturday, September 12, 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.

Our Tuesday morning Bible Study is meeting again at 9:00 a.m. in front of the Church under the shade trees.. We are studying the book of Matthew. We are practicing social distancing. Bring your own chair and drink - no food or drinks are served. We are a small group and welcome anyone who would like to join us. If you have questions or would like to join us, please call Beverly Seger at 290-9492.

Sunday, August 23rd 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.

In this time of pandemic, our Christian families living in the Holy Land are struggling to survive. With no tourism in the Holy Land and no olive wood carvings sales in our parishes here at home, family olive wood carving workshops are shut down and are not generating any income. Families are facing limited food, water and electricity and they need our continued help and support. One way we can help is to purchase olive wood carvings through the Bethlehem Christian Families olive wood carvings online store. If you are interested in purchasing an olive wood carving, please visit the online store by clicking on the picture accompanying this article. Thank you and God bless!

After careful consideration that included a thorough review of subscriptions, finances, and available resources, it has been decided that the archdiocese will discontinue "The Witness" at 4:30 PM on 30 September 2020. The issue dated 4 October 2020 will be the last. (Click on the Graphic to read the full article)

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.

Boy Scout Troop 29 invites you to dispose of your unwanted cans and bottles in the receptacle by the Anne Sulentic Parish Center. We appreciate your contributions as we use the funds collected for our badge earnings and other expenses. Thank you from Troop 29!

If you're concerned about the faith formation of a young adult in college, the most important thing you can do is to help get them connected to a campus ministry program or the local Catholic parish near their school. Contact cards which you can send to a campus ministry or parish office are available in the Gathering Space. Addresses for Catholic campus ministry programs and local parishes near Iowa college and universities are available online by clicking on the picture accompanying this article.

Are you tired of eating at home? Need some new recipes to wake up your taste buds? There's a solution and it's available in the parish office --the Blessed Sacrament Cookbook! There are 354 mouth-watering recipes, that's almost one new recipe a day for a year! The cost is just $10 (cash or checks made payable to Blessed Sacrament). Get your copy today and how about purchasing a few extra for Christmas gifts? For questions, call the Parish Office at 319.233.6179. Thank you to everyone who has already purchased copies!

If you have designated Blessed Sacrament as a recipient of a gift in your will or estate plan, please let the parish office know. The Father Putz Legacy Society has a gift for you. We would also like to keep you informed of future gatherings and events the Father Putz Legacy Society has planned for its membership.

We welcome Fr. Bernardo Moya Montero, OFM of the General Secretariat of Franciscan Missions the weekend of July 25/26. Fr. Bernardo is here for the annual mission appeal weekend and will preside and preach at all weekend Masses to raise awareness for the missions they serve. If you wish to give to the mission, please make checks payable to Blessed Sacrament Parish and write "mission appeal" on the memo line. Mission appeal contributions can be dropped in the donation drop box in the Church, dropped off at the office, or mailed. To read more, please click on the image.

Blessed Sacrament will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for Blessed Sacrament teenagers who had their Confirmation Mass postponed due to COVID-19. While the public at large is not able to attend this celebration, the Confirmation Mass will be live streamed on our website and Facebook page for the general public to worship and support our youth.