2020 Rediscover the Saints

All Saints: Now is your Time

How can your recapture the wonder of childhood?

Our Guest Blogger today is: Shelley Tegels, Director of Our Lady’s Little Learners Preschool

Be present.  Sounds so simple, doesn’t it.  Yet, I work in a job that requires me to be working on things that won’t happen for months.  By nature, I am a planner – when the youngest of our four children was only a toddler, I had already looked ahead and knew what years I would have First Communions and Confirmations in the same year and then Confirmations and Graduations.  It’s my nature to look ahead. But, apparently, even for sorry control enthusiasts such as myself, God has a plan for me.  He calls me away from MY planning and draws me into what He has going for the day.  In fact, as I write this, I have been called away several times 😊.  I can let that irritate me, or I can see that as His invitation to be present to those with whom I am with and to be open to what He is asking of me.  Perhaps those are Holy Moments, being open to what God brings to us, maybe in the form of interruptions, or simply moments we are sharing space with anyone else.   Particularly moments that we aren’t necessarily with friends or co-workers.  Those sneaky moments in the check-out lane or fender benders or a random question or request by someone passing by.  I can’t plan those moments; I can only be open to the possibility of them. God calls us to be holy, to be saints.  The Gospel this week called us to be perfect -tall orders for the likes of me.  Yet, I hear God’s call.  He intentionally made me and He has an intention for me, for all of us, to bring Him into the moments of our day so that He can inspire and He can work His plan.  So fellow saints 😊, let us take a deep breath, know that God is with us NOW, in THIS moment.  Let us revel in that love, and with that love Be Present to the moments of this day and open to His plan.    

James: Do Not Be Afraid

How often do you forget that we are just passing through this place?

Today’s Guest Blogger is: Becky Robovsky, Business Manager.

St. James the Greater (greater by age or height as opposed to personal value) is one of the first apostles of Jesus and the patron saint of Spain. Legend has it that he traveled to and preached in Spain, returned to Jerusalem after receiving a vision from Mary (the Mother of God) and was beheaded by one of the Herods. His body was returned to Spain and buried there. This burial is at the end of the famous Camino trail.
In addition to being the patron saint of Spain, James is known as a pilgrim, as he traveled far to spread the word of Jesus. He is often depicted as a pilgrim (wearing traveling clothes) in paintings.

I enjoy traveling. I’ve been moved by the Atlantic Ocean, Devil’s Tower, Pike’s Peak (actually both Pike’s
Peak—Colorado and Iowa). I’ve shuddered at the heights of mountains, been amazed at the beauty of
golden fields of grain. I’ve felt the power of Niagara Falls, and the peace of my own back yard. So far none of my travels have involved specifically spreading the Word of God. But they have involved feeling the presence of God, and maybe that’s what gives me what it takes to come back and spread the Word in my
normal daily life.

Pilgrimages are about the pilgrim. They are transformational. You can
expect to receive something, to be moved and changed in some way when you make one. It could be as far as Rome or as close as West Bend. But like the author suggests, start planning one. It may take you a
while to pull it all together, but it will get done. You just have to start the process, take the first step. And believe that most of the time, it’s more about the journey than the destination.

Ralph: Love of Learning

What stimulates your curiosity and desire to learn?

Our Guest Blogger today is: Mary Reichter, Bookkeeper for OLIH

St. Ralph is remembered for his love of learning. Learning has always been important to me. In 5th grade, two of my good friends started their confirmation in the Lutheran church. Questions were asked about why Catholics believe this or believe that. I went searching for the answers. I developed a love of the Catholic faith and to learning. Fast forward almost 25 years and I found another need to continue learning. I was asked by a friend to read the Book of Jonah introduction in her study bible. It said the story of Jonah was a satire written to convey that you cannot hide from God. Isn’t a satire a made-up story? I said yes. So is this just a made up story? Well, I didn’t have the answer. Our priest kindly informed us that as we don’t know if the story was literally true or just a story, but it does let us know that we can’t hide from God. And then he said, we as Catholics do not take the bible literally. Well, I got a little mad that it took almost 38 years for someone to tell me that Catholics don’t take the Bible literally. My need to learn more about scripture grew. We all need to continue to learn as we grow older. Where do you need to continue to learn in your life?

Mary: Beautiful Surrender

What prevents you from surrendering yourself completely to God?

Our Guest Blogger today is: Rose Chicoine-Hartung, Leader of Soulcore, lover of Mary and the Rosary.

Surrender- beautiful surrender. I think of those two words together and wonder how many people would describe surrender as beautiful. Surrendering is such a foreign concept in our society today. It’s ugly and difficult because often times when we are needing to surrender to God and his will the most, when we need to lay all of our prayers and petitions; worries and concerns down at his feet we can’t. We don’t want to. We want to control the outcome. We know what’s best. 

“Let it be done to me according to your word.” - some of the very few words that Mary speaks in the Bible. Her YES! Mary’s complete and total surrender to God the father. What does this look like in our daily lives? How do we surrender? 

Mary became such an amazing confidant of mine when I was truly struggling. She was a mother- I was a mother. All I wanted was another baby. Yet somehow I continued to miscarry. It was in the question “WHY- why does this keep happening” that I found our Heavenly mother. I related to Her. I had zero control of the outcome of my children’s lives. Mary watched her own baby grow knowing, that by saying “yes” to God and raising Jesus His son, her own heart would be pierced. Marys whole role on this earth was to draw people closer to Jesus her son. 

By placing our faith and trust in Mary and knowing that she will intercede on behalf of us to Jesus her son we can find peace, we can let go of our control and we can truly surrender to God. By drawing our hearts closer to the heart of Mary we are able to grow in relationship with God and by placing our trust in him we are able to surrender ourselves and our lives knowing that he will answer our prayers in the most perfect way. We pray “let it be done to me according to your word.” Blessed Mother Mary pray for us. 

Nicholas: Holding Christmas in Your Heart

What can you learn from the real Santa?

Our Guest Blogger today is: St Nicholas and Mrs. Claus

A pillow, a blanket, a bed of my own, for our Daddy to not have cancer any more. When St Nicholas saw a need – not all were joyful. Just as the old man who dreaded what would happen to his daughters when he died. This chapter asks how we can keep the “spirit of the season” alive in our hearts all year.

Why do we make this time of year extra special for helping and giving and then let things fade away as the months go by?  St Nicholas lived in this spirit all year, every day. He would help and do kind things not just during the Christmas season, but all the months of the year.

As we end this season of wearing our red suits and white hair, we have reflected on this chapter quite a bit since receiving this book – we've realized that we don’t need the outer layers to do kind things for others. We just need what’s in our hearts to help when we see or hear of someone in need. This can be done every day by sharing a smile, giving a hug, sending a card, preparing a meal, anything great or small that might make a difference to someone. As stated above, the smallest of gestures can help – a pillow, a blanket. And then maybe during the season of Advent we should rejoice in knowing we have carried the spirit of the season with us all year long. Blessings to everyone.   

Son: "Dad, I think I'm old enough now. Is there a Santa Claus?."

Dad: "Ok, I agree that your old enough. But before I tell you, I have a question for you. You see, the truth is a dangerous gift. Once you know something, you can't unknow it. Once you know the truth about Santa Claus, you will never again understand and relate to him as you do now. So my question is: Are you sure you want to know?"

Brief pause: Son: "Yes, I want to know"

Dad: "Ok, I'll tell you: Yes there is a Santa Claus"

Son: "Really?"

Dad: Yes, really, but he's not an old man with a beard in a red suit. That's just what we tell kids. You see, kids are too young to understand the true nature of Santa Claus, so we explain it to them in a way that they can understand. The truth about Santa Claus is that he's not a person at all; he's an idea. Think of all those presents Santa gave you over the years. I actually bought those myself. I watched you open them. And did it bother me that you didn't thank me? Of course not! In fact it gave me great pleasure. You see, Santa Claus is THE IDEA OF GIVING FOR THE SAKE OF GIVING, without thought of thanks or acknowledgement. When I saw that Women collapse on the subway last week and called for help, I knew that she'd never know that it was me that summoned the ambulance. I was being Santa Claus when I did that."

Son: "Oh."

Dad: "So now that you know, you're part of it. You have to be Santa Claus too now. That means you can never tell a young kid the secret, and you have to help us select Santa presents for them, and most important, you have to look for opportunities to help people. Got it?"

Anthony of the Desert: Be a Rebel

Is the culture helping you or hurting you?

Our Guest Blogger today is: Joyce Clawson, Assistant Director, Grades 1-5

Is the culture we live in helping or hurting you?  Many of us realize how blessed we are:  most of us have way more than we need but have you ever wondered if this truly is a good thing?  We live in a culture where we get what we want, when we want it.  Consumerism and consumption can envelope our lives so much, even to the point of neglecting to recognize what is good for us.  GOD IS WHAT IS GOOD FOR US.  And God has a way of tapping us on the shoulder---and one of these “taps” can be reading our Christmas gift book, Rediscover the Saints.   Reading about the saints and they example can be a refocus for us.  Chapter 20 reveals how Anthony of the Desert rejected his inherited wealth after reading Matthew 19:21.  Look it up---are you willing to reject or give up even some of your possessions?  Let’s challenge ourselves to the possibility of at least denying ourselves one thing that we don’t need and giving that money to the poor with love of God in our heart.  Are  you up to that challenge in 2020?

Mary McKillop: Australia’s First Saint

“How coachable are you?”

Today’s Guest Blogger is: Eric Klingensmith, Parishioner, Catechist, and Coach

The phrase “coaching is in my blood” has never run through my veins, yet I’ve always aspired to be an athlete who learns from my coaches, teammates, and most of all, myself.  Stereotypically, many choose the coaching path as a result of following those who’ve inspired them along their athletic path, for me it’s been the exact opposite. I ran against the grain of those coaches who mocked, ridiculed, and punished me to develop my own routines and methods. Rather than buying a subscription to the “old school” method of motivating through fear forced upon me by my previous coaches--I choose positive coaching to push my athletes and coaching staff.  Each coach I encountered as an athlete, save one in my college coach, always used intimidation tactics to push their teams toward success, yet they always failed to find that success and vowed to not change their strategy. When my time came, I swore to never become the demeaning, heartless, dictating coach, but to be that coach who encourages growth, models positive thinking, and values team cohesion and unity.  

My three tenets of coaching: growth, positive thinking, and unity, elicit God’s support in each team that I have fortunately found the privilege to coach and each coaching staff I’ve served.  Rather than persecuting our team’s diversity of results due to their ability to run slow or fast, we view them in terms of their growth at their own rate. In doing so, they understand that no matter how fast or slow they run, we care about their growth in the exact same manner as the Lord encourages us to grow in our beliefs and faith each day.  Sometimes, we may have setbacks, but our response to not reaching a goal should never be to listen to that pessimistic voice screaming at us to give up or not try again; we should be consumed by finding opportunity in failure, attempting that task until success is finally reached.

Can we do this alone?  The simple response is no, we cannot.  It’s too easy for us to sit back and let our failed outcomes define us, but we must remain positive in our mindset: find a way to succeed.  In essence, that’s being coachable. We must listen not to the naysayers and pessimists of the world, but focus on how we can achieve each and every goal we set before us.  Will success be achieved on every attempt? No, but we must be willing to try, try, and try again, making every effort to inch forward, progressing toward success. If we give up, don’t attempt, or simply quit,  we will never reach our potential. For each of us the potential to succeed is far greater than we think; only the Lord knows how far we can reach. It’s our job to listen to Him as our coach, follow his model, and value His community within the Church as a support system, continuing to place one foot in front of the other.  

Mother Teresa: Truth, Beauty, and Goodness

How do you celebrate truth, beauty, and goodness?

Our Guest Blogger today is: Kyle Lechtenberg, Director of Music and Liturgy at OLIH.

My recent meeting with my spiritual director brought up my longing for a little more order and rhythm (along with my need to look into my life for the rhythms and orders that are present). As a husband and father to a toddler (who prefers entropy to order!), the rhythm and order of our lives doesn’t right now look like a fixed monastic prayer schedule but more like, “after dinner” or “after Sage goes to bed” or “before work.”

My director encouraged me to try to slow down some of the regular and ordinary tasks like cleaning the kitchen or putting toys away at the end of the day and allow God into those moments of stewardship of our home. Instead of “after,” or “before,” perhaps the words “while” or “during” can be helpful at this time in my life, inviting me to open the gifts of each moment as a response to St. Paul’s command to pray without ceasing.  

Right after we hear about Mother Teresa’s consummate life of service and care for those whom the world had expelled and cast aside, we often hear about the decades of deep struggle to know and believe God’s presence revealed in her personal journals. I was surprised that Matthew Kelly made no hint of her great desolation in this reflection, a desolation which tested her deeply and caused her great and private anguish.  

Mother Teresa persisted in faith through her reliance on spiritual practices and rhythms like journaling, prayer, and the sacraments. But she also persisted in each moment of her life as she doubted God and shared God’s healing presence to those suffering terrible diseases or painful deaths. She did have to remind herself and seek the assistance of others each day in order to persist in this work and in her quest for faith in God.  Her routines weren’t magic, she wasn’t free from temptation or error, and her life of service wasn’t an easy one to maintain or to stay committed to. But she persisted, moment by moment, across at least five decades. This is a treasure, a teaching, and an invitation: how can we persist in opening up the gifts of each moment and each day, thereby praying without ceasing, especially when experiencing difficulty, doubt, or despair? How has God sustained us even though we didn’t recognize the sustenance at the time? St. Teresa of Kolkata, pray for us!

Maximillian Kolbe: Will Take Your Place

For whom are you willing to lay down your life?

Today’s Guest Blogger is: Mary Sankey, Assistant Director of Faith Formation, Grades Pk-K and Special Needs

“The greatest poison of our times,” Kolbe said, “is indifference.”

Some might think that I chose to reflect on Maximilian Kolbe because I have a son named Max.  I’ve even been asked if I named Max after St. Maximilian Kolbe.  The truth is I did not name my Max after anyone, rather, I named him for Christ.  My Max, is Maximus Christian, which means “The greatest follower of Christ.”  It is my hope that both of my sons will grow in faith and blessings in their lives and will live for Christ.  Maximilian Kolbe is a saint that did just this.  Through his example of laying down his life in little and big ways, Maximus Kolbe was able to save 3,000 people during World War II.  Each time we receive the Eucharist and pray, we also receive the grace needed to live for Christ.  Life gives us opportunities to lay down our lives each day.  We can lay down our time, our comfort, our pride, our pain, our wants, our justice, and ideals of what we think our lives should entail.  “The poison that stands in our way is indifference.”  Be different…lay down your life and offer it up to Jesus.

Therese of Lisieux: It’s the Little Things

What list of attributes describes your best self?

Today’s Guest Blogger is: Anna Schweers, young adult with a prayerful spirit!

I think so often we misinterpret who St. Thérèse of Lisieux is. For quite some time, I had pictured her as a young girl so simple and humble and minimal in dreams. She was a woman who was content on following the will of the Father, which means she couldn’t have been bright and bold, right?

As St. Thérèse approached death, she was pushed to write a book about her life titled, “The Story of a Soul.” In this book, she describes what it looks like to live a life following the little way. Thérèse says:

“I am not the eagle. I have but the eagle’s eyes and heart.”

St. Thérèse was a humble and simple girl, but her eyes and heart refused to be silenced. She followed the will of the Father through hearing His voice and allowing herself to dream with Him. It was unheard of to join a convent at such a young age but St. Thérèse listened and she was willing to move. In fact, she had heard the Father’s voice so clearly, that she wasn’t willing to take no for an answer. It wasn’t until Thérèse had a private audience with Pope Leo XIII that she was able to join the Carmalite sisters. This is not a young woman without drive and passion.

St. Thérèse teaches us that her Little Way is not something to disregard. In fact, the little way is big in desire, while staying small, hidden, and personal in action. We are called to dream big with the eyes of the eagle, while humbling our hearts to do the small things we are called to do with great joy and passion. In this new season, let us allow our dreams to inspire us to do small actions with abundant joy and purpose.

Bernard: In Search of Excellence

Are you committed to the pursuit of excellence?

Today’s Guest Blogger is: Jenni Gruenisen, life-long learner, mother, and a faith filled woman discerning her charisms!

“Be Excellent at Caring for Others”  

I don’t think God actually expects us to be excellent at everything in life. That’s why we are all unique; we are born with various talents, and given different charisms. (I can’t carry a tune, and I think God is good with that). But I do, however, think God wants us all to seek excellence by having a compassionate heart for others. He calls us to do just that in Matthew 25:31-46. “Amen I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me... Amen I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.” He wants us to be excellent at caring for others in need– to feed them, give them drink, clothe them, shelter them, and to care for them when they are sick or imprisoned. 

As you examine what needs reformed the most in your life, I challenge you to look here first. Most of us are pretty good at striving for excellence in the areas that directly impact us – think work, caring for our families, even our hobbies. But, are you pursuing excellence by living your life with a compassionate heart for all others? Especially those whom are different from you? Strangers? Are you like Matthew Kelly’s father – are you happy for those whom have had success? Can you empathize with those in situations you cannot fathom?   

God calls us to love our neighbor, and if we pursue excellence by having an open heart to care for others, we are simultaneously pursuing God.  

Thomas: We All Have Doubts

Do your doubts unsettle you, or do you see them as an invitation to grow?

Our Guest Blogger today is: Joan “Ski” Sieczkowski, Communications Coordinator for OLIH.

I’ve always been one of those people who mulls things over, who seeks out all the different possibilities. And I can tell myself it’s just because I want to make an ‘informed decision’ but the truth is it also leads to ‘decision paralysis’ and helps fuel my natural inclination to procrastinate.

When it comes to my faith though—being a cradle Catholic—I always just took it for granted. On top of that, since I was raised with Baltimore Catechism, there was no wiggle room—I knew all the answers! And then Vatican II came along as I hit my adolescent years and we were told to ‘question everything’; that a faith without questions is not alive. As Matthew Kelly puts it, ‘One of the essential requirements of faith is the absence of certainty. If you can be certain, there is no need for faith.’

It’s one of the reasons I love that we have so any opportunities for Adult Faith Formation now. You have a question about a topic? You can pick up a book and follow along on a blog (like this!) Or you can join a study, download a course, attend a workshop or listen to a podcast. In fact, you can listen to so many different voices and opinions and then follow it by listening to the words of Jesus put in context and with 2,000 years of Church scholarship behind it. Talk about a mother lode for someone who likes to study all the possibilities!

There is always more to question and more to find out. Isn’t it so like God to set it up so that the more questions you have, the more you strengthen your faith? Maybe that’s why He picked ‘Doubting Thomas’ to be one of the Twelve. Do you know the other question Thomas is attributed with? ‘Lord we do not know where You are going so how can we know the way?’ And I’m sure the answer was, ‘Just ask for directions. Study the map I left you!’

PS—And in one of those ‘God moments’, it wasn’t until I read this chapter that I found out Thomas was the apostle who went to India. As fate would have it, my son announced at New Year’s that he is engaged to a young woman whose family is from India. So I am definitely putting ‘Good Thomas’ on my crew to foster understanding and a strong relationship between us all. (He’ll be right there with St Joan of Arc--fighting my battles!)

John Vianney: Disoriented

Are you open to the possibilities that only God can see for you?

Our Guest Blogger today is: Myrna Udelhofen, Spiritual Director, lover of all things Ignatian and wife of Deacon Steve.

Not so long ago, Steve and I experienced what it was like to experience a flood of disorientation. As Matthew Kelly states in his book, “God is always found in the present moment, but the present moment can seem brutal at times, and that brutality can make him seem very far away.”

We felt that we were on the path God had intended for us to take. Steve was a newly ordained Deacon and I had just received my Masters Degree from Creighton University along with my Spiritual Direction certificate. It seemed we were where we were supposed to be.

It became clear in a very few months that something was happening with Steve’s health over which we had no control. Everyday Steve was having more and more trouble simply getting from one place to another. The simple task of walking was getting harder and harder. Steven’s health was rapidly declining.

Our health professionals couldn’t provide us with any answers. Following months of tests and treatment that provided no answers Steve’s health continued to decline. We finally went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Within days, we knew what the problem was and we were given a surgical plan.

Within hours of the surgery, Steve was walking again. Full recovery was sure and steady. At times the “present moment” seemed brutal. It was just at those times when it was most difficult to feel God’s presence that the “hands and arms of Christ”, through a parishioner or friend would be present to us. Throughout the experience we consistently felt the prayers of many and we were grateful. God was then and is now always present in every moment.

Although we don’t believe God chose Steve’s illness, we believe that God used it. We feel that we are now more trusting, patient, compassionate, and loving. What we received through God and others we try to pass on to others. As Teresa Avila said,” Christ has no body now but yours.  No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world.”

Harry: With Your Whole Heart

When was the last time you did something with your whole heart?

Our Guest Blogger today is: Jenny Wirtz, woman of faith, and the Lay Director for women’s CEW 2020

When is the last time you did something with your whole heart? 

This opening question was an easy question for me to reflect on and answer. As the lay director for the women’s CEW retreat this year, this is where my heart has been for several months. Leading the CEW retreat is a humbling experience. It’s filled with God moments as I’m surrounded by faith filled women on the journey with me, and on fire with the Holy Spirit at work in our hearts. 

One of my biggest blessings of CEW is the relationships you build with team members. Women building each other up, through prayer, discussions, and service to others. I’ve been connected to women that I wouldn’t otherwise know or spend time with. I fully believe that everyone is put in our path for a reason. I’ve been touched by women giving their whole heart to their roles on our CEW team. 

When we love and give with our whole hearts, we experience holy moments, God moments. Our CEW theme this year is based on the verse in Matthew 5: 14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” My personal prayer for months has been, “Dear Jesus, help me be the light that leads others to You.”

How does our light shine? It shines by putting our whole heart into something. 

Interested in coming to CEW?

• Women’s CEW: February 7-9, 2020 Register

• Men's CEW: February 28-March 1, 2020 Register

Vincent de Paul: God Feeds Us to Feed Others

Are your friends helping you become the best-version-of-yourself?

“Do you have a relationship with the poor?”

We here at OLIH host Family Promise multiple times a year. We collect food monthly for the food pantry. We have groups make and serve meals for Connection Cafe and the Catholic Worker House. We have the St Vincent de Paul truck here on the first and third Saturdays of the month from 10:00-4:00 to collect items that are still in good shape and can be of use to others. I know a parishioner who participates regularly in the Urban Bike Ministry, Thursday nights they go out on their bikes (depending on temperature, if too cold they do drive) to share food and conversation. I know people who work with Joppa to help the homeless community.

There are many wonderful ways we as a parish, and as individuals, take part in serving the poor, but the question is what is your relationship with the poor? How do you think about those who are in need, or asking for help? How do you refer to them? Have you sat and spoke with someone who was homeless? When you buy the groceries for the monthly collection do you buy the cheapest option, or do you buy the brand you would get for yourself? Relationship begins with how we see others, and grows into how we treat them.

Learn more about the St Vincent de Paul mission in the Des Moines/Ankeny area:

Mission:

St Vincent de Paul’s mission is to help those in need become self-sufficient through education, community connectedness, and unconditional support.

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW:

Since being established in Des Moines in 1924, the main focus of St. Vincent de Paul's (SVdP) work is to assist those living in poverty in becoming self-sufficient by helping to remove roadblocks as we walk with them on their journey out of poverty.  The Des Moines Council operates two thrift stores, two social services departments, an education center, and a child watch center.  SVdP employs around 30 paid staff and many volunteers.

The approach of St. Vincent de Paul is multifaceted, and intentionally diversified. Our goal is to treat the symptoms that have caused our clients to experience poverty, not just patch the problem.  As such, our social services and education center work hand-in-hand to provide access to resources for those in need.  These resources may include, but are not limited to:

Workforce Development (Back2Work): The Back2Work program is a Nationally replicated workforce development model that focuses on two weeks of employment preparation and training, a six week internship with an employer, and job placement at an employer, typically in the trades, paid at a livable wage.

Prisoner re-entry (IMMERSION): The IMMERSION program is a Nationally replicated reentry program that was developed in Des Moines, IA. Through partnerships with Bridges of Iowa, the Polk County Jail, and three State correctional facilities, we teach courses in the jails and prisons on healthy relationships at home and work, financial literacy, provide mentors, and can utilize our other resources to meet peoples’ basic needs to successfully transition from jail or prison to society. 

Social Services (two locations)-clients may be eligible to receive financial assistance with rent, utilities, hygiene products, infant needs, food, clothing, and furniture. Through the implementation of Food Pantry 2.0, guests in the food pantries are incentivized to choose healthy food items through the utilization of a points system.  Healthy food consumes fewer of an individual’s monthly point allotment, which they are allowed to use at their discretion.  Weekly recipes are provided to these families as well.

Adult Basic Education-With access to a state of the art classroom that includes 14 computers and a high-tech Smart Board, the Education Center offers: high school equivalency diploma (HiSET) preparation classes, assistance with job and apartment searches, financial literacy classes and coaching, tutoring in reading and math, the National Career Readiness Certificate assessment (NCRC), open lab time each week, access to a mentor, and access our Child Watch Center while attending class.  

Thrift Stores-open to the public, individuals from all walks of life come into our store and purchase secondhand items at low cost such as furniture, clothing for men, women, and young adults, shoes, appliances, beds and much more.

We collaborate and partner with many like-minded community service organizations with visions similar to ours: End Poverty Through Systemic Change.  It is also important to know that St. Vincent de Paul serves anyone who walks through its doors, without any requirements to be eligible for services.

You can visit us at www.svdpdsm.org

Steve Havemann, Executive Director

Martha: Our Longing for Belonging

Are you part of a vibrant community?

Our Guest Blogger today is: Desiree Blank, Coordinator of the Welcome Ministry at OLIH

What is hospitality? I feel it is making people feel welcome, comfortable, at ease, important, and valued. How we provide hospitality can be very different for each of us depending on the unique gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit.

For some, you might have the gift of listening. That ability to make others feel they can share their thoughts and open their hearts without fear of judgement. You aren’t expected to solve a problem but simply listen. Our Stephen Ministers have this gift and many others do as well.

I am more like Martha in Luke 10. My time is spent being busy creating a comfortable environment and preparing meals and desserts. I want my visitors to feel welcome and important in a relaxing spot conducive to conversation. They will know they are important by the love and compassion put in the food we share.

Using the gifts given to us to provide hospitality, creates welcoming and vibrant communities. We have opportunities to provide hospitality every day in our families, parish and work.  It doesn’t matter what gifts we have or where we use those gifts. Only that we do.

What are your gifts? How will you use them?

John: Friendship

“Do you allow people to really get to know you?”

Today’s Guest Blogger is: Fr Michael Amadeo, Pastor of OLIH, VIcar General of the Diocese of Des Moines

My younger brother Martin died on a Monday morning ten years ago. I remember the feelings of anguish and helplessness as I held his limp and cold body in my arms. Within hours after contacting my siblings and extended family members, co-workers and friends were present at the house. They offered condolences, but what I recall is not their words but their presence. In the simple act of showing up, my family experienced strength and comfort on a painful day.

A former spiritual director of mine often said, “The most important part of prayer is showing up.” Over the years there were seasons in my prayer life where ´showing up´ was difficult because of busyness or a resistance hearing the voice of God. I have learned that showing up to prayer is more important than what I do in my time of prayer.

John the Apostle, the one whom Jesus loved, was present throughout all of Jesus’ public ministry. John was present at the raising of the daughter of Jairus, the Transfiguration, the agony in the garden, the Last Supper, and was the only apostle who stood with the women at the foot of the cross as Jesus endured crucifixion. In each setting John the Apostle grew in his friendship with Jesus because he first and foremost ´showed up´.

Being ´present´ is the foundation to any deep friendship. I am grateful for those who were alongside me and my siblings when our brother died. Their presence upheld us on a very despairing day. Who has consistently ´showed up´ in your life? Offer a prayer of gratitude for those friends.

Make a decision each day to be with Jesus, for He is our strength, comfort, and joy. Be present to His friendship even if you do not know what to say or are resistant to listening to His voice. ´Show up´ and Jesus will do the rest.

Thomas More: The Gentle Voice Within

“When was the last time you paused to listen to your conscience before making a decision?”

Today’s Guest Blogger is: Sr Susan Widdel, Pastoral Minister at OLIH, and a Sister of Mercy.

When I signed up to do one of the reflections, I chose Thomas More because the title The Gentle Voice Within caught my attention.

I have been doing pastoral care, visiting people, in most of my years of ministry.  There were days when I had this voice, or feeling, telling me it would be good to stop and see a specific person or give them a call.  If I paid attention to this, the person would say to me “how did you know I needed a visit?” 

The reflection by Matthew Kelly draws me deeper.  I see this can be a challenge to me to be more aware of God calling me to deeper reflection in my life.  As I reflected on the decision to go to part time this year, I realized how God was working in my life.  I have the privilege of doing an annual retreat.  During retreat last March, I reflected on how I was feeling about ministry.  I could see that I wasn’t as deeply engaged with RCIA as I once was.  I didn’t have the energy for the ministry I once did.  It was time to make a change.  I do miss seeing the conversion in people as they develop a deeper relationship with God.  I have more energy for what I am doing now.

Thomas More acted on the voice within by not signing a document he couldn’t follow.  It cost him his life.  What is your inner voice calling to you?  Are you willing to listen and take the risk it may cost you?

Francis of Assisi: Dissatisfied

“What are you dissatisfied with at this time in your life?”

Today’s Guest Blogger is Patty Mayer, Director of Adult Faith Formation, Coordinator of the Becoming Catholic (RCIA) process, and Spiritual Director. (Images are from my trip to Assisi, Italy in 2018.)

It never ceases to amaze me how God works in our lives.  Several years ago my ministry felt like a job. I was definitely dissatisfied. I went to a women’s conference in search of renewal.  As the day progressed I wasn’t feeling anything, so I went to the adoration chapel, fell to my knees crying, and asked “what do you want of me, Lord?” I heard a voice say “meet me in the chapel at 4:00.”

Oddly, I knew exactly what that meant. I put if off for a few days, trying to rationalize, but I could not forget that voice, nor could I ignore the deep pull I felt to go to the chapel. Deep in my heart I knew God was calling me to something bigger than I could imagine for myself. I began meeting God in the chapel for an hour at the end of my work day. “What do you want of me, Lord, where do you want me to serve you?” Some days I just sang those two lines over and over until I was ready to listen.  Almost daily I heard, or felt: “there is something better coming, but not yet.” The more I trusted it was in God’s hands, the more peace I felt.

I did my daily holy hour for over a year.  Then one day I walked into the chapel, and in place of my fervent prayer for direction, I fell asleep.  What changed? I had sent my resume to OLIH.  I knew when I awoke that God had put into motion the answer to my prayers.   

What do you do when you are dissatisfied with your life? Where do you turn?    

Ignatius: Emotional Intelligence

“Are you an emotionally intelligent person?”

Today’s Guest Blogger is: Barb Bennett, Barb is a parishioner at OLIH, a Spiritual Director, and a lover of all things Ignatian!

Emotional intelligence sounds pretty lofty and the author refers to reading the Spiritual Exercises. I suggest that, for me, it is more accurate to say I pray the Exercises using Scripture.

When you pray in this way you will learn to think with your heart and begin making choices based on where your heart leads.  I like to say that I always ask before making a decision - will this lead me closer to the heart of God. Am I choosing love?

This is one of many gifts you receive when praying and experiencing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, but it is an important change when you learn to pay attention to what you are feeling or the emotions that well up within you.

Over the years I have been blessed to not only pray the Exercises but also to facilitate and walk with others who are opening themselves to this great gift.  Believe me when I say it is life changing, in a very good way. Not just your heart but your eyes will be opened in new ways and you will not experience yourself, the world, or others around you in the same way again.

Some days paying attention to my thoughts and feelings are harder than others.  Recently my husband has experienced some significant changes in his health.  We are used to that after many years, but this time we were days away from heading south for the next three months.  We had made some arrangements for health care, but I was waking at 3 in the morning day after day stressed and anxious about how we could care for him in the current situation.  I had to find a way. Sunny, 70s and beaches had to be a good plan for us!

However, when I took all this to prayer and really started asking myself why it was so important. If it was the right answer why was I experiencing so much anxiety? It didn’t take very long to realize this was really all about what I wanted, my ego, my needs. When I looked at the situation through the eyes and heart of love I knew what the right answer had to be and acted on it the same day. We are both at peace with the decision.

Paying attention to your feelings and emotions and making choices out of love will move you closer to the heart of God. However, you may have to stay in the cold and snow!