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Current Events in our Parish and Community
(this page is updated weekly)
THINGS TO NOTE
Installation of Fr. Spiegel as Pastor of St. Mary's
Sunday, August 15th, 7:00 PM
Join us for Evening Prayer and the installation of our new Pastor, Fr. John Spiegel! Bishop Amos will preside at the ceremony. Following Evening Prayer, an ice cream social will be held in the parish hall to welcome both Fr. John and Fr. Thom to St. Mary's.
Moving Forward in Faith and Hope
CELEBRATION! Weekend July 24th and 25th!
Our Celebration Weekend last Sunday announced our Diocesan Campaign's gratitude for all whose generosity in prayer and financial support has brought us so close to our $22 million goal. This campaign will secure the financial renewal of our diocese and further its good mission within our 80 parishes and institutions. Pledges and gifts here at St. Mary's were increased by over $28,000. As St. Mary's will have a 20% share of all of our pledges and gifts to goal, there will be an increase in funds directly to St. Mary's from these additional gifts and pledges of over $5,600. For all of your prayers and sacrifices, THANK YOU!
P.S. I wish to thank our Fellowship Commission and parish staff for their good provision of my Installation Service as Pastor of St. Mary's Parish. I am pleased to welcome all in our parish, as at our Bishop Amos' request pastors are called upon to celebrate services of installation during the first two months of coming to a new parish assignment. I am pleased that Bishop Ams will be with us for the prayer service shared in Evening Prayer on Sunday, August 15th, at 7:00 PM. All are welcome. Fr. Thom will also receive recognition by the Bishop at this service.
Servant Leadership Institute
Fall 2010
Diocese of Davenport
The purpose of the Servant Leadership Institute is to nurture the philosophy and the practice of servant leadership in order to develop parish servant leaders within the Diocese of Davenport.
The Institute will involve eight sessions during a 16 week period, with readings, reflections, discussion and correspondence about servant leadership.
A variety of approaches will be used to learn about servant leadership, including reading, reflecting and corresponding on Scriptural passages and on eight sections of the book Servant Leadership Models for Your Parish. Opening day will be a diocesan gathering to launch the Institute on August 17th, at St. Thomas More in Iowa City, from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM. If you have questions or would like to register, please contact Sr. Laura Goedken at 563-324-1912 or goedken@davenportdiocese.org or contact Bob Squires at 319-621-6200 or rascoral@mchsi.com
DEFEND LIFE! Speak out on healthcare reform!
Visit Priests for Life
Sign the Manhattan Declaration
US Catholic Bishops On Healthcare Reform
DAY BY DAY EVENTS CALENDAR
2010-2011 CONFIRMATION CANDIDATES
Informational Meeting, Tuesday, September 14th
A Confirmation Informational meeting will be held for all St. Mary's youth in grades 9-12 who would like to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in 2011. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 14th, at 7:00 PM in the church. At least one parent must attend this meeting.
- July 16 - August 13: 2010 Homeless Children's Trust Back to School Collection
- July 31: Altar Server Training
- July 31, Aug 1: Project 53 Book Drive
- July 31-Aug 2: A Vocation Discernment Retreat for Young Women
- Aug 6: HELP IS NEEDED for ToGather Together Back to School Clothing Drive
- Aug 5: Holy Hour for Vocations
- Aug 7: First Saturday Mass
- Aug 7: KCANS for Life!
- Aug 6: YOUTH SERVICE DAY
- Aug 10,12,15: Inquiry Sessions for RCIA & Adult Enrichment
- Aug 14: Take Pride in Your School Work Day
- Aug 15: Vietnamese Mass
- Aug 19: Youth Casserole Making
- Aug 20: Help with Free Lunch!
- Aug 21: Baptism Class
- Aug 21,22: Pantry Sunday
- Aug 22: Monthly free blood pressure checks
- Mondays Sept 13-22: A Study of the PSALMS with Jeff Cavins
- Oct 16,17: International Humanitarian to Speak
St. Mary's Knights of Columbus Newsletter
The Marquette
St. Mary's Knights of Columbus Council 842's award winning monthly newsletter, The Marquette, is available to all members of St. Mary's. Follow the activities of St. Mary's KC Council be receiving the free electronic PDF version of the newsletter. To subscribe, please send an email to kofc842@gmail.com with the word "newsletter" in the subject line.
for Jr. High Students
One Sunday each month
Come join other junior high youth to study scripture in a fun and exciting way! Pizza and drinks will be provided! When and Where? One Sunday each month in St. Mary's Parish hall. Watch the parish bulletin and the S.M.A.R.T. News for dates!
The next Bible Study will be on August 8th from 7:00 - 8:00 PM in the parish hall.
New Translation of the Roman Missal
Did you know that the Roman Missal is being revised? The Roman Missal contains the texts and rubrics for the celebration of the Mass in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, as officially approved by the Holy See. The new translation of the Roman Missal has not been approved for use. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops have created a we site to provide information about the new translation. You can find a link to the USCCB web site and other information here
If you've changed your phone numbers recently, please let us know (icstmary@icstmary.org or 337-4314). This helps us to keep an accurate record.
The Church is in need of dedicated, capable and holy priests. If you know a young man who, in your opinion, would make a good priest, please send his name and address to Father Ken.
Many priests today, including Father Ken and Father Jeff, say that they first thought about a vocation to the priesthood after someone suggested it to them. God may be using you to extend His call to a future priest. Please give this your serious and prayerful consideration. Thanks!
Logan Trumbull, age 10, of our parish has published a book called Logan's Story. Proceeds from the sale of his book will benefit Iowa City Hospice. They can be purchased at any book store and will soon be available at the parish office.
2010 Life Before Birth Calendar
These beautiful calendars feature the pictures of precious babies whose mothers chose life instead of abortion. Purchase your copy at Choices Medical Clinic in Iowa City. If you have any questions, please call the Clinic at 337-0575.
Congress is working on health care reform, but unless abortion funding is explicitly excluded, this could mean the biggest expansion of abortion in decades. Several healthcare reform bills have been introduced in Congress. One of the bills mandates abortion coverage in a "public" plan and some private health plans and expands abortion funding. Please call Representative Loebsack and Senators Harkin and Grassley at 202-224-3121 and tell them that you want the health care reform bill to exclude mandates or funding for abortion. For more information online, visit: www.priestsforlife.org/legislation.
2010 Homeless Children's Trust
Annual Back to School Collection
July 16th - August 13th
Bring your school supply donations to the little red schoolhouses at any U of I Credit Union location, the Dodge Street or Waterfront Hy-Vee, Hills Bank on Gilbert Street, KCJJ, Hawkeye Harley Davidson, Kmart, or the Iowa City Senior Center. Your donations are appreciated!
Saturday, July 31st
Any youth 4th grade and older who would like to be trained as an altar server, are invited to attend a training session. The training session will be held Saturday, July 31, from 11:45 AM to 12:45 PM in the church! Please RSVP to the parish office (337-4314).
Saturday July 31st and Sunday August 1st
July 31st & August 1st at St. Wenceslaus Church, join pro-life efforts in Iowa City to collect 1,000 books per 1,000,000 babies aborted since Roe v. Wade. Please drop off your book donations at St. Wenceslaus. The money raised from the sale of the books will help Iowa Right to Life assist pregnancy centers across the state.
A Vocation Discernment Retreat
for Young Women
Saturday, July 31st - Monday, August 2nd
Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey, Dubuque
This special weekend is an opportunity for you to experience our life of prayer and community. In addition to listening to some of our own vocation stories and hearing about the various aspects of our life, you'll be invited to come inside our monastic enclosure to:
- Pray the Liturgy of the Hours with us in our choir.
- Tour our farm and candy factory.
- Visit with members of our community.
- Arrange to speak privately with a sister if desired.
Please call Sister Martha for more information at 563-582-2595, extension 44.
HELP ToGather Together Back to School Clothing Drive
Friday, August 6th
Help is needed on Friday, August 6th, from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM sorting and tagging clothing in preparation for the ToGather Together Back-to-School Clothing Drives at three different locations the next day (August 7th). If you are able to lend a hand, please contact our parish office (337-4314) for more information. Your help will definitely be appreciated!
Tuesday, August 10th
The Property Management Commission members of our parish are convinced, once again, that the YOUTH are the ones who can come to the rescue! Please join with others in helping "touch up" the pews in our church with stain and polish. Come to Mass at 12:10 PM on Tuesday, August 10th and join in the project immediately following the liturgy (1:00 - 3:00 PM). The more youth who assist, the quicker the service privilege is completed! We hope to see many of you there! Whitey's ice cream will beckon us afterward!
Inquiry Sessions for RCIA & Adult Enrichment
Tuesday, August 10th
Thursday, August 12th
Sunday, August 15th
Inquiry Sessions for adults wanting to learn more about the Catholic Faith are held after the first of each year.
These sessions are for those baptized in another Christian faith, for the unbaptized, and for adult Catholics who were never confirmed. It is an informal opportunity to find out more about the Adult Initiation process at St. Mary's. "Come and see!"
All who are interested in full initiation into the Catholic Church must participate in one of the Inquiry Sessions!
Inquiry Sessions will be held :
Tuesday, August 10th, 7:00 - 8:00 PM at the parish hall
Thursday, August 12th, 7:00 - 8:00 PM at the parish hall
Sunday, August 15th, 11:00 AM - Noon at the rectory (brick building next door to the church).
Inquiry sessions have been held for this season. Contact the parish office for more information.
These sessions are for those who are not baptised, or are baptised in another Christian faith who are interested in joining the Catholic church. They are also for baptised Catholic adults who are not yet confirmed. Any adult who wants to learn more about Catholicism is welcome! Each of the three Inquiry Sessions is the same, so you only need to attend one.
Take Pride in Your School Work Day
Saturday, August 14th
The Regina Home and School Association is inviting all Regina students and their families to bring their wheelbarrows, shovels and rakes to prepare the school grounds for the year. We will meet on Saturday, August 14th at 8:00 AM to spread wood chips, pull weeds, and do anything else that is needed to make the grounds ready for the kids.
Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow
Saturday, October 16th and Sunday, October 17th
Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow intended to make a single mercy mission delivering supplies to war victims in 1992. Eighteen years later, his group feeds over 400,000 children a day. Hear about his journey and how each of us can make a difference at the Christ Our Life Catholic Conference in Des Moines on October 16th and 17th. For more details: www.ChristOurLife.com.