For the next two weeks, a team from the Iowa City Catholic community will be visiting five states to promote awareness of poverty and hunger in the United States.
Thirteen Catholic youths and young adults, including members of Iowa City-based Leap of Faith Ministries, will offer 10 musical performances March 7-20. A kickoff show was scheduled March 3 in Bettendorf.
The 60-90 minute performance will feature original acting and music based on Scripture passages about service and poverty, as well as on actors’ experiences working with less-privileged people. Audiences will hear traditional Catholic hymns, too.
Chuck Brock, a member of Leap of Faith Ministries and youth minister at St. Patrick Parish in Iowa City, said organizers wanted their event to highlight needs close to home. “I think people are pretty aware of the global issue of poverty and hunger, but when it comes to concerns in our own neighborhood and community, sometimes we forget about them,” he said.
After each show, information on local food banks, homeless shelters and other social services will be available. Brock said event participants hope audiences leave feeling that they need to be part of the mission to relieve hunger and poverty.
“If one person throws a pebble in the ocean, it doesn’t do much, but if we all throw a pebble in, it makes a difference,” he said.
Admission to the event is a non-perishable food item. Freewill donations will be accepted during the show to offset expenses.
Performance schedule is as follows:
• March 7: Cedar Falls, St. Patrick Catholic Church, 3 p.m.
• March 8: Dyersville, Xavier Elementary Auditorium, 7 p.m.
• March 9: Fairfield, St. Mary Catholic Church, 7 p.m.
• March 10: Iowa City, St. Patrick Catholic Church, 7 p.m.
• March 14: Hermiston, Ore.; First United Methodist Church, 10:30 a.m.
• March 15: Ravenna, Neb.; Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 7 p.m.
• March 16: St. Peter, Mo.; All Saints School, 1 p.m.
• March 16: St. Charles, Mo.; St. Robert Catholic Church, 7 p.m.
• March 17: Glenwood, Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 7 p.m.
• March 20: Indianapolis, Ind.; Nativity Catholic Church, 7 p.m.
