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.

The USCCB is looking for comments on the RCIA text and process, and on the National Statutes. Please click on the link to learn more.

A course from LTP and NPM on the essentials of the RCIA.

By Lindsay Steele The Catholic Messenger On the first day of Catholics In Action (CIA), 15 youths and seven adult leaders visited Catholic Worker House in Iowa City where they heard the firsthand stories of several immigrants and refugees. Participants listened to a woman from Honduras share her story of seeking asylum in the United States after her husband was killed by gang members. Other speakers included a Mexican native who cofounded the Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa, and a man from Congo who won the diversity visa lottery.

By Lindsay Steele The Catholic Messenger On the first day of Catholics In Action (CIA), 15 youths and seven adult leaders visited Catholic Worker House in Iowa City where they heard the firsthand stories of several immigrants and refugees. Participants listened to a woman from Honduras share her story of seeking asylum in the United States after her husband was killed by gang members. Other speakers included a Mexican native who cofounded the Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa, and a man from Congo who won the diversity visa lottery.

In response to President Trump’s policies of overturning asylum protection for victims of domestic violence and of separating children from their families at the border, the Bishops of New Mexico “pray the United States Department of Justice will reverse these practices, as they constitute human rights violations and an offense against the most important unit in society, the family.” Please click on the link for resources that we can use to join them in prayer.

Let us pray for immigrant and refugee children, especially for those being separated from their parents at our border.... Please click on the link above to access a prayer from the USCCB.

By Barb Arland-Fye The Catholic Messenger Families whose lives were disrupted by the immigration raid earlier this month in Mount Pleasant desire one thing above all: to get their detained loved one back. For many, that means securing the funds needed to post bond, usually set at $10,000, an almost impossible dream. That’s where the Eastern Iowa Community Bond Project comes in. The Bond Project, established a year ago, “exists to support families seeking the release of their loves ones from detention,” according to its website. “Immigration bond has been set at $10,000 for most cases, and while many workers will be requesting a hearing to lower the amount, the bond will still remain out of reach for many families.”

The Spanish translation of the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal for use in the US has been approved and is in the process of being published. Regional workshops are now open for registration. Click on the link above for more information.

The first of two classes introducing Class VIII to the study of Philosophy. La primera de dos clases que introducen la VIII Clase al estudio de la Filosofía.

By Lindsay Steele The Catholic Messenger A mother in Malawi, Africa, was in despair. Her newborn son’s weight had dropped from 6 pounds to 3 pounds, despite her efforts to fortify him through breastfeeding. She feared for his life but wasn’t sure what to do. CRS Rice Bowl representatives in the area came to her aid, offering rations of supplemental infant formula. Three months later, the baby boy was thriving.

Our country’s determination to protect our southern border comes with tangible costs. We lose the talents, skills and dedicated labor of hundreds of thousands of productive immigrants. We lose their participation in our parishes — 40 percent of all growth in registered parishioners in Catholic parishes between 2005 and 2010 was from Hispanic or Latino/a Catholics, according to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. We lose their attendance in our schools and engagement in our neighborhoods. We lose their diversity, one of the most positive traits of these United States.

By Barb Arland-Fye The Catholic Messenger DAVENPORT — A police report detailing threats on the lives of a family from El Salvador is one of the documents on diocesan Immigration Counselor Gricelda Garnica’s desk. She is striving to assist the Illinois family to prevent the deportation of two of their loved ones — the wife of one of the siblings and the sister of the siblings, both of whom are undocumented.

By Barb Arland-Fye The Catholic Messenger FORT MADISON — Thirteen inmates rise from their chairs inside the Iowa State Penitentiary chapel and sing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” during an early Christmas Mass Dec. 20 with Bishop Thomas Zinkula. “The inmates obviously can’t leave the penitentiary to attend Mass at a church somewhere, so we, the Church, need to bring the Mass to them,” Bishop Zinkula says later.

By Anne Marie Amacher The Catholic Messenger DAVENPORT — Three weeks of visits to schools, orphanages, hospitals, clinics, a minor seminary and more were part of a needs assessment missionary trip to Africa for Pat Cannaday and Maribeth Green of Holy Family Parish. The two spoke to a group at the parish in late December about their trip earlier in the year to Tanzania, Africa. “Asante,” Cannaday told the group. “That is the Swahili word for thank you.”

As the 45th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision approaches, Catholics are encouraged to take part in “9 Days for Life,” a digital pilgrimage of prayer and action focused on cherishing the gift of every person’s life.