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.

y Barb Arland-Fye The Catholic Messenger In his temple nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, more than 7,200 miles from Davenport, Iowa, the Dalai Lama received the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award from Bishop Thomas Zinkula on March 4. The journey culminated a years-long dream of the interfaith Pacem in Terris Coalition of the Quad Cities to honor one of the world’s most respected peacemakers. Usually, the award’s distinguished recipients — including Martin Luther King Jr., Desmond Tutu and Dorothy Day — travel to Davenport to accept the award. “It’s important to have world leaders accept the award in person so that they can share their message face to face with the people,” said Kent Ferris, who leads the Pacem in Terris Coalition. “But the Dalai Lama’s travel limitations meant that we needed to take the opportunity to go to India to honor him.”

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.

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 Thanks to the generosity of those who donated money to Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rice Bowl during the Lenten season, 18 organizations in the Diocese of Davenport are receiving grants to help with hunger-related causes. Altogether, parishes and individual contributors raised $68,421.66. CRS will use 75 percent of the funds for hunger programs worldwide, with 25 percent staying in the Diocese of Davenport.

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.”