From the Holy Father, Francis, on the meaning and importance of the Nativity Scene.

On November 12, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the legality of the Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and its attempted rescission by the Trump Administration. The USCCB, along with other institutional Catholic and Evangelical partners, submitted an amicus brief in support of the DACA recipients on October 4.

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Peace and justice depend on respect for the human rights and human dignity of all people. “It is imperative that all religions teach their adherents to see the Image of God in those who are different,” said Bishop Munib Younan, a Lutheran church leader and Palestinian. He delivered that message during his passionate acceptance speech at the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award ceremony Sept. 24 in Rock Island, Ill. The Pacem in Terris Coalition, led by the Diocese of Davenport, chose Bishop Younan as the 49th recipient of the award for his vision and commitment to human rights, world peace and the nonviolent resolution of conflict. Past honorees include the Dalai Lama, Dorothy Day, Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter, Motu proprio “Aperuit illis,” published on 30 September (the Memorial of St. Jerome and, this year, the 1600th year since his death), establishes that “the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God.” It is St. Jerome who reminds us that “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.”

The 2nd edition of the OBC may be used in the Liturgy as of February 2, 2020, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Its use is mandatory as of Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020. From that date forward, no other translation of the rite may be used in the dioceses of the United States.

By Barb Arland-Fye The Catholic Messenger Bishop Emeritus Munib Younan, a Lutheran church leader from the Middle East committed to cultivating peace by building bridges among religions, has been chosen to receive the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award. Bishop Thomas Zinkula of the Diocese of Davenport will present the award to Bishop Younan during a Sept. 24 ceremony that begins at 7 p.m. at Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. All are welcome. Bishop Younan is visiting Augustana as part of a larger tour of colleges and universities affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). He is the past president of the Lutheran World Federation and former bishop of the Evan­gelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.

By Barb Arland-Fye The Catholic Messenger CORALVILLE — Twenty Catholics who volunteer at Iowa correctional facilities or who mentor to adults released from these facilities gathered last month with Bishop Thomas Zinkula to talk about their ministry and to share ideas.

By Anne Marie Amacher The Catholic Messenger Faith community nursing provides a much-needed service in parishes around the Diocese of Davenport, and a training opportunity begins this month for people interested in serving as a parish nurse or health minister. “Spirituality is part of our being. Taking care of the body, mind and spirit is what parish nursing and health ministry is about,” said Linda Guebert, parish nurse manager at UnityPoint-Trinity in Rock Island, Ill.

By Anne Marie Amacher The Catholic Messenger Sixteen organizations have received grants to provide direct services to alleviate poverty and hunger within the Diocese of Davenport. Those grants were funded by Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl funds collected during Lent earlier this year. Two organizations also received grants to advance the common good and protect the lives and dignity of others. Those grants were funded by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development collection held last November.

Eight men called to Candidacy for Holy Orders by Bishop Zinkula (please click on the picture to see the whole story)

Eight men in the Deacon Formation Program have been called to Candidacy for Holy Orders.

We have scheduled two separate, but related, training opportunities on the weekend of August 2-4, 2019 at St. Patrick, Iowa City. The theme for this training is “The Parish As Initiating Community” and will help us recognize how the entire parish serves as the initiating community for those preparing to receive the sacraments. The training has been divided into two portions and we invite you to join us for either or both sessions. We encourage all parishes to have at least one representative at each training. There is a discount for those who participate in both days.

In 2010, frequencies in the 700MHz range were phased out for wireless mics. Beginning in 2017, the FCC started to phase out frequencies in the 617-652 MHz and 663-698 MHz ranges. This may effect your wireless system in your parish.

By Lindsay Steele The Catholic Messenger Each Lenten season, Catholics in the Diocese of Davenport drop coins and bills into Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rice Bowl banks in an effort to help the poor and vulnerable locally and overseas. Last fall, Father David Brownfield, a priest of the Diocese of Davenport and a local CRS board member, had the opportunity to see the work of CRS up close in the Middle East. “I got to see how CRS takes an integral approach to giving aid to people.”

Pope Francis has established that the Optional Memorial of Pope Saint Paul VI be inserted into the General Roman Calendar, to be observed on May 29.

The Apostolic Penitentiary of the Catholic Church has, once again, generously granted a plenary Indulgence for the Christian faithful taking part in the sacred celebrations throughout the course of the March for Life from January 17 through 18, 2019.

By Barb Arland-Fye The Catholic Messenger BETTENDORF — A standing-room-only crowd voiced vigorous support for continuation of the University of Iowa Labor Center during a hearing last month in USW Local 105 Hall. Earlier this summer, the university announced the center’s closing, saying that budget cuts by the Iowa Legis­lature are to blame.