The plastic bag collection to make mats for the homeless has resumed and they appreciate your contribution! The committee from St. Patrick’s in Anamosa is asking for help to gather plastic grocery bags for a project to make sleeping mats for the homeless. It takes between 600 and 800 bags to make one mat, woven or crocheted. There is a box in the Gathering space to collect these bags. (sometimes it is in the hallway) Please be sure your bag is free of receipts debris.
The Feed the Hungry for the Catholic Worker House is held multiple times throughout the year. At times we prepare the meal entirely but we have also started to provide the ingredients and receipes so that residents there can learn to prepare the meals themselves. (teach a man to fish...)
We organize the RESPECT Life programs in October and in January we plan the prayer service on the Anniversary of Roe V Wade.
Throughout the year we respond to needs brought to us by Catholic Charities—whether financial or bringing awareness of volunteer opportunities and needs around the Archdiocese. Fortnight for Freedom is a great example of this—with information provided in the bulletin during the month of June.
We are tasked with determining the recipients of our tithing (the amount is set by Finance Council) and select various local charities.
Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the Unborn Children
Although the Supreme Court’s Dobbs vs. Jackson ruling in June 2022 overturned Roe vs. Wade, the Church’s advocacy for life remains as vital as ever, especially as our country remains staunchly divided on the issue of abortion. There are many resources available from the USCCB to utilize in recognition of this date at usccb.org/resources/
Birthright Newsletter New Year 2023
Prayer crosses are available for distribution to parish members that have been hospitalized, are underoing medical treatment, have become homebound, moved to a care center or entered HOSPICE care. The crosses are handmade by and have been blessed by Father Andrew and we hope can bring comfort andencouragement to those they reach. Contact any member of the Social Justice Commission if you have a recommendation.
The last program was held in 2019 If you are interested in setting another date for this program beyond what is available on the Archdiocese of Dubuque website, please contact your Social Justice commission. We will be working with the St. John the Baptist Social Justice commission to continue to provide this information.
This program provided materials for the three various stages of Advanced Care Planning:
1) Persons who are healthy or have well managed medical conditions
2) Persons with a serious chronic condition and/or a progressively debilitating condition
3) Persons with terminal illness or who may be well in the last year of life and persons who are actively dying (including adult children in anyone of these states.
We also covered the following topics:
* Should a Catholic use Iowa’s Living Will?
* Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
* Specific Directives of individuals with serious chronic conditions and/or progressively debilitating conditions
*Considering benefits and burdens of medical treatment
* Medically assisted nutrition and hydration
* Resuscitation
* Pain and Symptom management
* Completing IPOST (Iowa Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment)
Advance Care Planning Workshop
Workshop description
Who should attend
Did you know that Catholic Charities offers a diverse array of programs and services throughout the Archdiocese of Dubuque, including Mental Health Counseling, Crisis Pregnancy and Post Abortion Counseling, Affordable Housing, Refugee Resettlement, Immigration Legal Services, Jail & Prison Ministry, mentoring and support for single parents and Disaster Services? Support these services with your gift to the Catholic Charities Annual Appeal. Learn more at www.CatholicCharitiesDubuque.org.
SANSI (Springville Area Neighborhood Services and Information) falls under Social Justice as the three area churches work together to handle the challenges of the needs in the community. Parish members John Roberts and Al Meyer sit on the board of SANSI and represent us in community projects including the Backpack program and the annual Ecumenical service.
Several sub-committees fall under Social Justice—annual food drive (handled by the RE classes)Angel Tags for Tanager (handled by Julie Meyer)
Mike Courtney and John Kellerman are Parish Council liaisons and volunteer members are John Roberts, Elaine Jacobson, Julie Meyer and Lisa Hackenmiller.