Mass will be celebrated on Thanksgiving Day at St. Norbert’s at 8:30 AM. The Little Blue Advent and Christmas Season Books are here. Be sure to pick yours up. They may be found on the table in the lobby or the back of the church.

Catholic Financial Life Chapter St. Jean has received a $1,000 Match Fund check from Catholic Financial Life for its Ham Dinner, making a net profit of $2,093.35 to benefit Our Lady of Fatima. Thank you again to all who helped make the dinner a success.

Stop Prop 5: Proposal 5 is a legislative proposal to amend the Vermont Constitution with pro-abortion language. Proponents of Proposal 5 have stated publicly that their goal is to ensure unlimited, unregulated abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy. Prop 5 equals abortion-on-demand. “People on both sides of the debate over abortion know that ‘reproductive autonomy’ is publicly understood to be a way of referring to an unlimited abortion license, that is, elective abortion permitted through the entire nine months of gestation and pregnancy up to and including the process of birth.” Robert P. George Profession of Jurisprudence, Princeton University.

Catholic Campaign for Human Development, November 20-21: This special collection takes place next weekend. Please be generous. In the United States, one in six people live in poverty, and one out of every five children. With this collection, you support programs that address the causes of poverty and provide a sustainable future for those struggling across the country. In addition, 25% of the funds we collect will remain in our diocese to fund local antipoverty projects. Please prayerfully consider how you can support this collection and work on the margins. More information about the Catholic Campaign for Human Development can be found at www.usccb.org/cchd/collection.

IMPORTANT NOTICE Father Thomas will be on vacation November 15 through November 17. Therefore, there will be no weekday Masses on those days. However, there will be 8:30 AM Mass Thur., Nov. 18, & Fri., Nov. 19.

Sunday, October 24th, noon-1:30 PM. Catholic Financial Life is again sponsoring a Ham Dinner to benefit Our Lady of Fatima. Menu: Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Beans, Squash, Cole Slaw, Pickled Beets, Rolls, Dessert, & Beverage. Cost: Donations. Catholic Financial Life will match a portion of the net proceeds. Scheduled to appear – Bernie Lussier & Friends. If you would like to help, call Jeannine at 586-2899 or email cfli443@gmtmom.com.

One of the goals that Bishop Coyne has had for our Diocese is to encourage individual parishes to become more involved in ministering to and feeding the poor. Our parish has had a long, but quiet, tradition of collecting food for the Hardwick Area Food Pantry. In order to build on this, we are asking for a greater participation, as Bishop Coyne hopes. Starting in October, we will dedicate the second full weekend of the month (both Saturday and Sunday fall in the new month) to highlight and grow this ministry. We are asking families to bring in food to be contributed. During Mass, at the Offertory, people will be asked to bring their food donation to the altar, adding to the importance and the symbolism of this ministry as it has always been in Christ’s teaching and mission. Please note that next weekend, October 9 – 10, is the second full weekend. You may bring in your donations to whichever Mass you will be attending. Please pick up a copy of the HAFP’s “wish list” in the church’s entrance to aid you in buying the most needed and appropriate donations. You also can make monetary donations to the Food Pantry any time. See their website or include a check with your monthly food donation. Thank you for your cooperation and generosity.