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Hello Reader,

There are now only 36 days until Christmas. I just did a Google search because I got a text from my college-aged daughter with a Christmas wishlist app that I needed to download. I wanted to know how much time I have before I need to worry about shopping, shipping, and all the other things. Somehow, the anxiety of it all feels overwhelming. Not to mention all the December commitments that always seem to show up on the calendar.

But don't worry, Advent is coming! In only 11 days, we begin this special season—a time set aside for patient waiting and reflection, as we prepare our hearts for Christmas Day when Jesus appears on the scene. The thought of Advent coming instantly fills my heart with peace. The peace of Advent occurs within the storm of December; we just have to be a bit more intentional about finding it.

That's why we decided that having a night of Encounter on the very first night of Advent was necessary. The night feels like we are in a safe harbour to prepare us before sending us out into the storm. If we are a vessel preparing to enter the sea during a storm, then we need to check that we are well-equipped for all that the storm might bring. Which is exactly what a night of Encounter does.

At the Advent Encounter Event, we are able to come together with those in our community of faith to support each other through this storm of life. After hearing the talk geared towards preparing our hearts for the season from the dynamic speaker, we then head into a full hour of Adoration and confessions. During this hour, we are able to anchor ourselves in the love of God and cut all the strings that bind us through making a heartfelt confession. We are then given a book that will equip us to navigate our way through the storm.

It is a great way to start the peaceful season of Advent within our hearts while the rest of the world is chaotically trying to navigate December.

We hope you can join us for this great event on Sunday night, November 30th. Emily Wilson, the virtual guest speaker, will be Live! starting at 7pm CT / 6pm MT. If there is not an event being offered at your parish, then another option would be to prepare your heart through a day of recollection. Maybe take your family to confession and sit in front of the tabernacle, asking God to fill you with peace before December hits. Then you can grab the Waiting Well Advent Journal and listen to the talk that will be posted on our YouTube page after the event.

Let us continue to grow in Faith + Community together.

Our Lady of Divine Providence, pray for us!!

Blessings,

Natalie

Easter Book Pick Living Easter: 50 Days to Practice Resurrection by Laura Kelly Fanucci​ Living Easter will help you fulfill the vision of St. John Paul II, who said, “We are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song!” As the most significant season of the Church year, Easter deserves to be lived well and celebrated fully, and few voices speak more compellingly about Christian joy than Laura Kelly Fanucci, celebrated author and creator of The Holy Labor newsletter and the Mothering Spirit platform. “Living Easter celebrates joy itself as our Resurrection practice,” Fanucci writes. “Taking up joy as a daily discipline teaches us about feasting as a companion practice to fasting: an intentional sacred act that draws us closer to God." PURCHASE HERE

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Lenten Virtual Guest Speaker ​Mallory Smyth is a Catholic Writer and Speaker. She currently has a podcast titled "The Gospel and ...." ​ She has written for Walking with Purpose and Endow in the past and her book "Rekindled" is our January book pick. You can find out more about Mallory here Substack - Podcast

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Advent Encounter Event On the first Sunday night of Advent, you can host this great event at your parish. On November 30th, the virtual guest speaker will go live at 7pm CT/ 6pm MT FIND OUT MORE HERE Parishes Hosting The parishes hosting this year are: ​St. Agnes Catholic Church - Scottsbluff, NE ​Church of the Resurrection - Grand Island, NE ​St. Patrick's Catholic Church,- Chadron Ne​ ​Holy Spirit Catholic Church - North Platte, NE ​St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church - Burlington, CO ​St. Patrick Church, McCook, NE​ St Mary's - Mullen, NE

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Power of a Praying Woman Retreat There is one more opportunity to join us for retreat in 2026: March 27-28 St Michael's in Central City, NE This retreat will focus on the lives of Saints who were women and highlight Marian devotions that will guide us in praying for our families. We would love to have you join us!! Register HERE

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March is a special time in the liturgical calendar, as it often aligns with Lent. During this time Catholics are encouraged to deepen their prayer life and engage in fasting and almsgiving. Who better to model this to us as Christians than St Joseph. St Joseph, the earthly father or Jesus and the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is revered as a model of humility, obedience and fidelity to God's will. This month for the Rhythm of Prayer we will pray this prayer to St Joseph as we prepare to celebrate The Solemnity of St Joseph on March 19th.

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Blessings, Natalie & Kristin

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PO Box 132, Hays, KS 67601
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