Please join us on Sunday, January 23, from 1-3pm, for an afternoon on reflection on the place of the Scriptures in a Synodal Church. The session will be presented online by Drs. Matthew Coomber, Ella Johnson, and Micah Kiel from St. Ambrose University. Click on the title to learn more about resgistration.
On the occasion of the USCCB Fall General Assembly, Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General for the Synod of Bishops sent a video-message to the US bishops gathering in these day in Baltimore.
“Indeed, both synodality and ecumenism are processes of ‘walking together’ ”. In fact, “as ecumenism can be understood as an 'exchange of gifts', one of the gifts Catholics can receive from the other Christians is precisely their experience and understanding of synodality”.
In 2016, Pope Francis added a new corporal work of mercy, Care for our Common Home, and a new spiritual work of mercy, Contemplation of Creation. Now we have eight of each instead of seven!
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.