By Barb Arland-Fye The Catholic Messenger - Seeds planted and nurtured, now growing into young vegetable plants, spread their aroma during an outdoor blessing at which Bishop Thomas Zinkula presided on the grounds of First Presbyterian Church in Mount Pleasant. The plants, contained in one of 50 garden kits for immigrant families to grow their own produce, sat on a chair as if waiting for the bishop to sprinkle them with holy water on Pentecost.

By Lindsay Steele The Catholic Messenger Many Catholics are familiar with CRS Rice Bowl, a Lenten fundraiser for Catholic Relief Services (CRS), but fewer may be aware of the scope of its humanitarian work. CRS, founded in 1943, is the overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. CRS is more than a yearly Rice Bowl collection and more than “a big organization doing things thousands of miles away,” said Deacon Joe Welter, who was assigned at his 2017 ordination to support diocesan CRS efforts.

By Lindsay Steele The Catholic Messenger - Housing has an impact on “pretty much every aspect of our lives,” diocesan Social Action volunteer Amy Kersten said during last week’s virtual Lunch and Learn that focused on housing stability during the pandemic. “If you have a challenging day out there in the world, you love to come home.” The COVID-19 pandemic has caused housing insecurity for both renters and homeowners, she noted. “It’s especially challenging to hear that, right now, so many people are on the brink of losing their homes.”

State reaches out to Iowa dioceses on vaccine access Barb Arland-Fye The Catholic Messenger DES MOINES — Getting vaccines to underserved populations in Iowa — immigrants, refugees, Hispanic, African American and other communities — needs to happen through their faith communities and other local groups they trust. Representatives of Iowa’s four dioceses emphasized that message during a March 26 conference call with staffers from the Iowa Governor’s Office.

Apply for CCHD internship By Lindsay Steele The Catholic Messenger The diocesan Social Action Office is accepting applications for the 2021-2022 Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) internship. The internship is open to any U.S. Catholic with an interest in solidarity building, participation of the poor and Catholic Social Teaching. An ability to speak Spanish is preferred but not required.

On February 2, Pope Francis added a number of new observations to our liturgical calendar, and changed the Memorial of St. Martha to include her siblings - Mary and Lazarus.

Tune in on the For Your Marriage’s Facebook page Wednesday, February 10, at 2:00 EDT for a live-streamed discussion between the associate director for Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations, Fr. Daniel Hanley, and the director of Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, Mr. Dominic Lombardi as they discuss their reflections on fatherhood and spousal love looking to Saint Joseph as their example.

During this pandemic, the Pope has announced a plenary indulgence for those who participate in devotions on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Pope Francis: "Today I signed the apostolic Letter “Sacrae Scripturae affectus”, on the 16th centenary of the death of Saint Jerome. May the example of the great doctor and father of the Church, who placed the Bible at the center of his life, inspire in everyone a renewed love for the Sacred Scripture and the desire to live in personal dialogue with the Word of God."

The Optional Memorials of St. John XXIII and St. John Paul II have new liturgical texts this year.

By Lindsay Steele The Catholic Messenger “Growing up as an orphan, I’m one of the people who received support from generous people like you,” Father Fortunatus Rwehikiza tells viewers in a video on the Diocese of Davenport’s Missionary Cooperation Plan (MCP) website. In the video, the Tanzanian priest, who recently studied at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, speaks about the needs of his home diocese of Rulenge-Ngara, which include access to clean water, maternity homes and tuition for seminarians.

By Barb Arland-Fye The Catholic Messenger. The state of Iowa is among the top five in the nation for the U.S. Census 2020 response rate with 68 percent. That encourages organizers striving to reach as many people as possible in a campaign hampered by a pandemic. 

Iowa’s bishops are taking a prominent stand on three pressing federal issues, one involving the imminent execution of four federal death-row inmates, another on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the third on the asylum system.

Congratulations to those continuing in formation for the Diaconate.