Church guide

Ladies are invited to the Catholic Daughters Patriotic Rosary on Tuesday, May 14, at 6:15 p.m.! The rosary will be prayed on the outdoor rosary walk. Please bring a folding chair if you feel it necessary to sit down. The Knights will be joining us for this event and refreshments will be served afterwards. Please come pray with us! :)

It's day 5 of the Divine Mercy Novena! Here are today's intention and prayer to accompany the Divine Mercy Chaplet: Fifth Day: "Today bring to Me THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAVE SEPARATED THEMSELVES FROM MY CHURCH,* and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church, My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion." Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son's Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen. *Our Lord's original words here were "heretics and schismatics," since He spoke to Saint Faustina within the context of her times. As of the Second Vatican Council, Church authorities have seen fit not to use those designations in accordance with the explanation given in the Council's Decree on Ecumenism (n.3). Every pope since the Council has reaffirmed that usage. Saint Faustina herself, her heart always in harmony with the mind of the Church, most certainly would have agreed. When at one time, because of the decisions of her superiors and Father confessor, she was not able to execute Our Lord's inspirations and orders, she declared: "I will follow Your will insofar as You will permit me to do so through Your representative. O my Jesus, I give priority to the voice of the Church over the voice with which You speak to me" (Diary, 497). The Lord confirmed her action and praised her for it.

Come support the local Knights of Columbus at their 44th Annual Pork Dinner tomorrow, April 23! The dinner will take place from 4:45-7:30 p.m. at the Eagles Lodge in Iowa City. The menu is pork chops, kraut, applesauce, scalloped potatoes, and baked beans. Meals are $10 each, and a cash bar will also be available.

It's day 4 of the Divine Mercy Novena! Here are the intention and prayer to accompany the Divine Mercy Chaplet today: Fourth Day: "Today bring to Me THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD* AND THOSE WHO DO NOT YET KNOW ME. I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy." Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen. *Our Lord's original words here were "the pagans." Since the pontificate of Pope John XXIII, the Church has seen fit to replace this term with clearer and more appropriate terminology.

It's day 3 of the Divine Mercy Novena! Here are today's intention and prayer to accompany the Divine Mercy Chaplet: Third Day: "Today bring to Me ALL DEVOUT AND FAITHFUL SOULS, and immerse then in the ocean of My mercy. The souls brought Me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were that drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness." Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wonderous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.

It's day 2 of the Divine Mercy Novena! Here are today's intention and prayer to accompany the Divine Mercy Chaplet: Second Day: "Today bring to Me THE SOULS OF PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS, and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave Me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind." Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service,* that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard—upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen. *In the original text, St. Faustina uses the pronoun "us" since she was offering this prayer as a consecrated religious sister. The wording adapted here is intended to make the prayer suitable for universal use.

The Divine Mercy Novena begins today! Please join us in praying a Chaplet of Divine Mercy for a specific intention each day through next Saturday--the intentions were given to St. Faustina by Jesus Himself! For more information about the novena, please click here: https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/novena.php Here are today's intention and prayer to accompany the Divine Mercy Chaplet: First Day: "Today bring to Me ALL MANKIND, ESPECIALLY ALL SINNERS, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me." Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.

One more reminder of our Triduum schedule—please join us! Note that due to the Easter Triduum, we will not have 7:00 a.m. Mass this Thursday-Saturday. Confessions also will not be heard this Saturday.

If you weren't able to come to Mark Brown's Journeys in Faith talk on marriage last month, it's now available on YouTube! This talk is recommended for all married and engaged couples. (Please note that topics discussed are of an adult nature.) Thank you, Mr. Brown, for sharing your wisdom about how couples can strengthen their marriages in truly awesome ways! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvIflG0jeHM&t=3030s

Looking for a sweet homemade treat? Look no further--AHG Troop IA0928 is selling cookies as a spring fundraiser! Cafe-sized cookies will be sold for $10/dozen. Choose from the flavors of Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate Brownie, Oatmeal Raisin, Snickerdoodle, and Peanut Butter Chocolate (dairy and gluten free). The troop will be collecting orders from now through Divine Mercy weekend (April 28). Order forms are available in the West Entrance and on our parish website. Cookies will be distributed on Mother's Day weekend, so these would be a great gift for any moms or spiritual mothers. :) https://stwenc-ic.com/parish-headlines/401-ahg-troop-selling-homemade-cookies

Happy Holy Week! Take note of our liturgy schedule for the Easter Triduum here. Please join us for Mass and prayer during this sacred time!

The bake sale is on! Be sure to stop by before 11:00 a.m. to get some fresh baked goods—especially these delicious kolaches. :)

Save the date for the Divine Mercy Sunday celebration happening at our parish!

In case you missed last week's edition of The Catholic Messenger, here is a great Lenten reflection by Deacon Kabat! http://www.catholicmessenger.net/2019/04/lenten-reflection-on-the-woman-who-was-caught-in-adultery/

Women high school age and above are invited to tonight's Evening of Recollection with Father Barry Cole at 7:00 p.m.! With meditations, confession, benediction, and time for personal prayer, this is a wonderful opportunity to spiritually prepare to enter into Holy Week. As usual, Father Barry will also hear confessions from 3:30-5:30 p.m. this afternoon.

One more reminder to sign up for the Culture of Life Dinner on April 27! Don't miss this awesome event! https://stwenc-ic.com/kofc/culture-of-life

Our Communal Reconciliation Service is tonight at 7:00 p.m. Many priests from the area will be available to hear confessions! If you aren’t able to come tonight but would like to go to confession soon, here are the upcoming times for confession at our parish: Thursday, April 11—3:30-5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13—2:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 14—7:30-7:45 a.m. & 9:30-9:45 a.m. *No confessions on Holy Saturday, April 20* Easter Sunday, April 21—7:30-7:45 a.m. & 9:30-9:45 a.m.

Just a reminder that the Altar & Rosary Society's bake sale is this Saturday, April 13, from 8:00-11:00 a.m.! Treats will also be for sale after weekend Masses. :)

The Diocese of Davenport Vision 20/20 Convocation will be held just two months from now. Please join us in praying for a renewal of the Church in our diocese! :) For more information about Vision 20/20, please click here: https://www.davenportdiocese.org/vision-2020