Year: 2011

My Dear Friends in Christ,

There is something about the holidays that brings memories of years past to mind. I remember that growing up we would go to midnight Mass. I remember that we would visit the crib and point out the statues of the different characters in the Christmas story — the shepherds and their sheep, the Magi and their camels, Mary and Joseph and, of course, the Baby Jesus. I remember the incense and the candles and the sounds of Silent Night and O Come, All Ye Faithful echoing in my ears as I struggled to keep my eyes open. I remember some Christmas Eve nights when the snow gently fell and others when we were treated to a clear and starlit sky.

As the years have passed, I have come to a much deeper appreciation of this night. On this holy night we remember much more than hymns and statues, candles and snowfall — as wonderful as they might be. We remember that God loves us enough to become one of us.

We remember a God who does not hide away in some heaven or is housed only in some temple or church but whom we find in the ordinariness of life: Yesterday, as a baby in Bethlehem; today, under the appearance of bread and wine, water and oil, fire and light and in human touch and speech.

On this holy night we remember the Word truly made flesh; not acting, not pretending for the shepherds and wise men, not putting on a show for Herod and his friends, but real flesh and blood like you and me. A flesh that one day would be broken for us; a blood that one day would be poured out for us.

We remember, as the Creed has it, the one incarnate of the Virgin Mary, the God who loves us so much that he is willing to share in our humanity so we can share in his divinity.

My prayer for all of us as we move into 2012 is that we embrace our call to be more like Christ who showed us what it means to be most human and so glorify the Lord in our lives by all we say and do.

Sincerely in Christ,

Most Rev. Martin Amos

Bishop of Davenport

By Barb Arland-Fye

This year’s Catholic Messenger Christmas contest features two overall winners: fourth-grader Chloe Ciecko of Notre Dame Elementary School in Burlington, and seventh-grader Rachel Thomas of John F. Kennedy Catholic School in Davenport.

Nine-year-old Chloe’s drawing appears on the front cover of this week’s Christmas edition along with 13-year-old Rachel’s essay. Both girls say they were surprised to win because they thought other individuals were worthy of the honors. The Catholic Messenger staff chose Chloe and Rachel’s entries as overall winners because of their originality and the ability to convey the wonder of Jesus’ birth.

Many of the 659 drawings and 65 essays submitted from throughout the Diocese of Davenport also conveyed a deep appreciation for Christ as the focus of the Christmas season.

“I just drew what Christmas means to me, and I think about Jesus,” said Chloe, 9, the daughter of Robert and Teresa Ciecko and sister of Claudius, 13. Chloe loves to draw, especially animals, and hopes someday to be an animal rescuer or a model.

Her mom, Teresa, was ecstatic about her daughter’s achievement. “She’s a hard worker, very diligent in how she works, especially on her drawings. I knew she worked very hard on this drawing … I am very happy and very proud of her that she won.”

Notre Dame Art teacher Nicole Kamrath said all of her students enjoyed participating in the contest and were anxious to learn who’d won. “It’s always fun to have contests where kids get to see the results of it,” in this case, on the front page of The Catholic Messenger, she said. “It’s really an honor for the school to have one of our students selected,” added Principal Bob Carr.

Essay winner Rachel initially thought she was in trouble when John F. Kennedy Principal Chad Steimle escorted her to his office. “When we were walking down the hallway he asked, ‘Do you remember the Christmas article for The Catholic Messenger?’ I said, ‘Yes, I remember the Christmas article for The Catholic Messenger.’ He said, ‘Congratulations, you won!’ I couldn’t believe it!

“I definitely did not think I would win. This is such good news. I know there are a lot of good writers … and I thought, OK, there will be somebody out there who has a better article than mine. But at least I’ve got a chance.”

Her best writing involves rhyming, and that’s what she did with this piece for The Catholic Messenger contest. More importantly, she expressed a heartfelt belief about Christmas that resonated with the judges.

“I don’t think of only getting presents; I think of what actually happened on Christmas and why we have Christmas,” said Rachel, the daughter of Ellen and Rick Thomas and sister of Vincent, 10. Getting presents happens only because Wise Men gave presents to Jesus.”

A family tradition involves one child placing the angel on the tree and the other child placing baby Jesus in the manger. “Whoever puts the angel on the tree one year puts baby Jesus in the manger the next year,” Rachel said. This year, she places the angel on the tree.

Rachel’s mom, Ellen, said she’s proud of her daughter’s first-place honor in the essay contest. “She wrote it all on her own and she wrote it from her heart. Rachel is a very tender-hearted person and is always very empathetic and caring about other people and putting other people first. What she wrote was very true to her nature.”

Christmas contest winners

Christmas essay winners:

Overall winner was Rachel Thomas, a seventh-grader at John F. Kennedy Catholic School in Davenport.

Honorable mentions were Nathan Vander Bleek, a sophomore at Prince of Peace Catholic School in Clinton and Libby Rolf, a senior at Assumption High School in Davenport.

Christmas card contest winners:

Overall winner was Chloe Ciecko, a fourth-grader at Notre Dame Elementary School in Burlington.

First place winners were Sarah Moeller, a first-grader at Prince of Peace Catholic School in Clinton; Jackson Fuegen, a third-grader at Saints Mary and Mathias Catholic School in Muscatine; and Veronica Henderson, a sixth-grader at Riverdale Heights School in Bettendorf.

Honorable mentions were Isabella Maerz, a kindergartner at Keokuk Catholic Schools in Keokuk; Kate McAleer, a second-grader at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School in Davenport; Nicholas Scholz, a third-grader at Saints Mary and Mathias Catholic School in Muscatine; Evan Horak, a fourth-grader at St. James Catholic School in Washington; Rylee McCrery, a fifth-grader at All Saints Catholic School in Davenport; and Faith Bourgeacq, a fifth-grader at Regina Elementary in Iowa City.

What Christmas means to me

By Rachel Thomas

Christmas means a lot of things to a lot of different folks.

To some, it may mean, “Finally, someone to tell all of my jokes!”

To others, maybe presents under that ole green Christmas tree.

Or, maybe, to the little ones, hoping that a glance of Santa is what they’ll see!

But, this is what Christmas means to me:

“C” is for Christ, who was born on this day.

“H” is for Halleluiah, which is what the angels did say.

“R” is for Royalty, who traveled so far. They traveled the land, following the star.

“I” is for Innkeeper, whose stable was quiet and soft.

“S” is for Savior, who was laid in a trough.

“T” is for Teacher, what this babe came to be.

“M” is for Mary, the Holy Mother of both you and me.

“A” is for Angels, who sang of good news.

“S” is for Shepherds, who then woke from their snooze.

All of these things have a big part to play, in the manger scene on the first Christmas Day!

Christmas is about reflecting on the birth of the Lord

By Libby Rolf

Every year, the radiance from the Advent candles can be seen across the faces at the family dinner table, the Advent calendar marks the countdown until the merry celebration, and the Christmas swag suspends across the mantel and along the staircase. Yet, none of this compares to the true meaning of Christmas. To me, Christ­mas is a time of veneration, time to reflect upon the birth of our Lord.

As we prepare, we enter the season of Advent. Advent is a time of eagerness; we await the arrival of the King. When we reflect on the birth of Christ, we remember the struggles our Holy Mother went through. A young teen, Mary was carrying a child that would soon open up the Kingdom of God. This child would eventually bring the Holy Spirit upon his followers. How anxious she must have felt, but she looked upon God, the angels and her husband, Joseph, to guide her. Not only do we reflect on these events, but we also need to spread the account to those who question the truth behind God.

Every year, Christmas passes while many do not give reverence to the actual events that led up to the birth of Christ. As Christians, we must go out of our way to teach others the proper meaning of Christmas. Our job is to teach others to understand Christmas just as we do. So, as we prepare for the divine Christmas season, bear in mind those who have not encountered Christ, and let us find ways to grace them with truth.

Christmas is Jesus teaching us to give, love, celebrate

By Nathan Vander Bleek

As Christians, we all celebrate Christmas. We go to church, we listen to the stories, and we set up trees and nativity scenes.  We all know that we are celebrating Jesus’ birth, but so quickly we forget, and get wrapped up into the nonstop commercial scam that Christmas has turned into.

My vision of Christmas has drastically changed over the years.  It used to be about anticipating what would be under the tree when you woke up in the morning: Santa Claus visiting, the big meal at your grandparents’ house, and the parades all seemed to be part of my own personal trademark Christmas.

We all claim that we don’t get caught up in the commercialism of Christ­mas, but as we know it’s hard.  The nonstop signs, the nonstop commercials and the nonstop sales are all fuel for the “fake” Christmas. This is not what God intended for his son’s birth.

Of course God meant Jesus’ coming was to be acknowledged, and of course, celebrated, but we’re celebrating it in the wrong way. I decided a few years ago that I was going to rethink the way that I think of Christmas. I was going to view it as the coming of our Savior, as well as to spend time with family and enjoy each other’s company.

My hope for this holiday is that others realize the same: Jesus wasn’t born so we can receive gifts and overeat; that’s not what Jesus taught us to do.  He taught us to give, be generous, love our families, and celebrate his life.

By Celine Klosterman

HILLS — It was two hours of crafts, live music, a meal and early Christmas presents. But Laura Westemeyer hopes the party she spearheaded for residents of Regency Mobile Home Park sends a longer-lasting message.

“I want people to know how much we care,” she said. “I hope they understand they’re not alone.”

The member of St. Joseph Parish in Hills helped welcome about 120 people to the church’s basement Dec. 12 for the second-annual Christmas gathering for families at Regency. The Iowa City mobile home community has been fined for drinking-water violations, and media reports have documented safety hazards, decaying structures and sanitation problems there.

Helping oversee the festivities were volunteers from St. Joseph Parish, the Iowa Children’s Museum, Children’s Center for Therapy, Church of the Nazarene and Grupo Manantial, a support group for Hispanic mothers of children with disabilities. Local businesses, organizations and individuals donated gifts and food for the evening.

As children decorated cloth hats resembling snowmen, Sylvia Dubon, a mother of four, voiced appreciation for the family time.

“There’s not much for kids to do at Regency,” said her mother, Olga Perez.

Dubon said her children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder aren’t always treated with patience. “But people here are nice and respectful.”

Westemeyer, founder of the Children’s Center for Therapy, said she was inspired to help Regency residents when she served as coordinator of religious education at St. Joseph’s from 1998 to 2003. During those years Jessie Montgomery, a social worker with Hills public schools, spoke to religious education classes about the challenges low-income families face. Catholic students responded by buying Christmas gifts for Regency families.

For years, Westemeyer prayed to be able to host a Christmas party for people living at the mobile home park as well. Father Bill Kneemiller, St. Joseph’s pastor, and Carol Kaalberg, parish life administrator, who were assigned to the parish in 2010, helped her bring the idea to life.

Fr. Kneemiller is a “godsend,” said Tammie Escher, a Tiffin resident who attended the Christmas party with two teenage sons. She’d lived in Regency for 32 years before she became temporarily homeless this summer. The priest helped her get short-term housing outside of Regency and even inspired her 21-year-old son to begin learning about Catholicism, she said.

Her aunt, Mabelle Frantz, is among Regency residents who’ve benefited from home-maintenance projects led by volunteers from St. Joseph Parish and St. Mary parishes in Lone Tree and Nichols. Frantz voiced thanks Dec. 12 that her family would again receive help, this time in the form of gifts for her grandchildren. She said she shares her home with her son, who has a disability; her daughter-in-law and five grandchildren ages 4-14. “It will be a tight Christmas.”

St. Joseph parishioner Terry Ball said that after living in the area for 35 years, he’s seen the physical, emotional and spiritual needs Regency residents have. So he was inspired to volunteer at the Christmas party for them. “They’re my brothers and sisters in Christ.”

To help with future home-rehabilitation projects at Regency, call Fr. Kneemiller at (319) 679-2271.

By Barb Arland-Fye

If church and civic leaders hadn’t collaborated four years ago to thwart a potential hunger crisis, Café on Vine wouldn’t be preparing to serve its 200,000th meal just three days before Christmas.

Café on Vine serves a meal every day of the week, which points to the “substantial need for people to receive food on a daily basis,” said Sister Ruth E. Westmoreland, OSF, the café’s coordinator. “We are here to meet that need.”

“We” refers to all who contribute in some way to ensure that nearly 50,000 individuals a year receive a warm meal served daily in a café setting. “People are treated with dignity; plus they have great food!” says Loxi Hopkins, a volunteer with the Diocese of Davenport who serves on the café’s board.

She worked with the late John Kiley, then the diocese’s social action director, two of his predecessors in that position, Msgr. Marvin Mottet and Dan Ebener, and other individuals to establish Café on Vine. They were responding to a crisis when John Lewis Café closed in 2007 because of financial difficulties.

One year after Café on Vine opened the economic recession hit and demand for meals increased substantially, Sr. Westmoreland said. The café served 54,631 meals in fiscal year 2008-09, the highest number to date. “The next year the number was down, and now it’s slowly coming up again. We estimate this year (2011-12) we’ll serve between 48, 000 and 49,000 meals. We plan for 4,000 or a bit more every month,” she added. “For many people, it may be their only meal. For most people, it’s their main meal.”

The café employs just two full-time and two part-time workers. Approximately 32 volunteers help serve meals each week while members of church and civic groups volunteer on weekends. Having paid staff “ensures that we have a staff member here every day. It’s important for planning,” she said.

Food costs — about $100 per year — are minimal because of generous donations of food and money, she added. So far, donations have been covering the café’s annual operating costs; the current budget is $113,000.

“It’s impressive the number of people who volunteer both money and time at the café,” Hopkins said. She and Ebener remain on the board, but Msgr. Mottet, its former president, and another founder, Sister Bea Snyder, CHM, have passed on the baton. They left a legacy that “helped us to build to the pace we wanted to, and now we’re carrying on,” Sr. Westmoreland said.

New board president, Jim Tiedje adds: “Due to the circumstances under which the café was reopened, it was important that Msgr. Mottet assemble a strong contingent of board members to ensure that all funds are properly accounted for. The board continues to work at being good stewards of the money that the community graciously gives.”

Café on Vine is the only free meal site that serves a meal every single day, Sr. Westmoreland said. The café also provides sandwiches, chips and cookies to people staying at the Humility of Mary Shelter in Davenport on holidays because the Salvation Army does not provide an evening meal then. Meal sites in the area strive to coordinate efforts and share food donations when possible, she added.

Guests express gratitude for Café on Vine, and rarely does someone behave in an inappropriate or violent manner, Sr. Westmoreland said. “We’ve only had three people barred from here,” two of whom threatened or behaved in a violent manner toward her. “We don’t want to not allow a meal, but we want to keep everybody safe,” she said.

Cash donations and volunteers are always needed at Café on Vine. “Unfortunately, our job will never be done. We hope the community will continue to provide the support needed to keep the café going,” Tiedje said.

Donations may be sent to: Café on Vine, P.O. Box 3375, Davenport, Iowa, 52808. To volunteer, call (563) 324-4472.

By Anne Marie Amacher

DAVENPORT – With the congregation gathered, Bishop Martin Amos blessed Our Lady of Victory Parish’s newly completed building project that opened up much needed space in both the church and John F. Kennedy Catholic School. The dedication Mass took place Dec. 18 during the 9 a.m. Mass.

Judy Johnson, parish administrator, said the $3.4 million building project included a gathering space of approximately 5,000 square feet attached to the church, a permanent baptismal font inside the church, new church roof, new offices for the school and parish faith formation, four new school classrooms, renovation and expansion of the Early Childhood Learning Center, new restrooms in the school’s lower level and parking lot repairs for the parish and school.

The gathering space has an Americans with Disabilities Act restroom, kitchenette, multipurpose meeting room, open area where tables can be set up, an elevator and an unfinished room in the lower level. The church’s Marian window was relocated because of the building project, which converted the area into the entryway between the gathering space and church.

The permanent baptismal, which can accommodate infant and adult baptisms, has a stone tile font with wood accents to match the wood in the church.

New offices for the school and faith formation staffs and teachers’ lounge were added at the north end of the school. Four classrooms were added to the east side of the school. One will accommodate band and music, which previously used the cafeteria for practice.

“Thanks to a $50,000 Scott County Regional Authority grant, we were able to get rid of all the mobile classrooms,” Johnson said.

Downstairs a classroom was expanded for the Early Childhood Learning Center, which houses daycare for 3-5 year olds during the day and when school is not in session. Another area, once used as a priest’s residence, was converted into new restrooms.

Johnson said the parish took advantage of the construction time to take care of maintenance and safety issues that arose or would need addressing in the near future. The parish budgeted 5 percent for contingency work, but needed to use only about 1 percent.

Distressed areas of the parking lot were patched after the heavy construction equipment left. Because that work was finished later than expected, a new layer of asphalt and striping will be done in the spring.

The parish kicked off its campaign in March 2008. Architect and fundraising fees were included in the total. Architect for the project was Larrison & Associates; general contractor was Precision Builders, Inc.

In the dedication pamphlet, Msgr. James Parizek, pastor, said: “I believe that the Lord has been helping us in every way, from the original inspiration to create a gathering space and design the needed additions to our school, to the planning and implementing of our campaign of Growing Our Faith … Shaping Generations, and through the many facets of architectural development and actual construction of our beautiful additions.

“Today we give the Lord thanks and praise for what he has allowed us to build together.”

By Celine Klosterman

 

IOWA CITY – In religion class, students at Regina Junior/Senior High School study the importance of charity and generosity, noted Kathy McCue, religious studies teacher.

In one effort to live out those ideals, students spent the past month working to make Christmas a little brighter  for 18 local families in need. For the school’s 11th annual Christmas Basket Project, students donated, collected and purchased gifts that Regina seniors were slated to deliver Dec. 20.

“A lot of times, people think Christmas is about receiving. It’s nice to be part of the giving,” said senior Danny Pacha, a member of the project’s communications group.

The project began in late November, when each of 18 groups of seniors was matched with an area family facing unemployment, medical issues or other struggles. Most recipients were found through the Crisis Center of Johnson County, but Regina accepts applications from other families as well.

Students interviewed the families to make up Christmas wish lists. Each group of seniors then took the lists back to each of the 18 religion classes at Regina Junior/Senior High School. Those classes worked to get items on the list for their assigned families.

Toys, clothes and furniture are top requests. Area parishioners donate money to the project, and Regina holds jean days as a fundraiser. In mid-December, seniors use the money raised to buy gifts that weren’t donated.

During annual prayer services held before seniors deliver the gifts, the floor in the high school gym is usually covered with presents, Pacha said. “It’s always been a fun project.”

For the family of Patty Schulte and Brian Stark of Tiffin, Regina’s generosity came at the right time last December. Schulte, who was battling health issues, had just lost her job in internal technology at a credit union. Stark wasn’t working due to his own medical problems, she said. “We were living off savings.”

The couple weren’t sure how they’d buy Christmas gifts for 13-year-old twins and a 3-year-old. But the Crisis Center put them in touch with Regina, and students later met with Stark and Schulte to find out their needs. A few days before Christmas, Regina seniors delivered enough toys, clothes, laundry soap and other household items to cover a couch.

“Three of them were unloading a vehicle; they just kept coming and coming. We were flabbergasted,” Stark said.

“We were so grateful. It meant a lot to us,” Schulte said. Now receiving disability benefits, she bought numerous personal care items to donate to this year’s Christmas Basket Project.

“Talking to the families lets you know how excited they are and how much they need our help,” said senior Emma Seaman, family coordinator for the project. She and fellow students helped get items including tires for a family’s car and a laptop that a mother needs for work. “Just seeing what we’re able to provide shows that everyone cares.”

“This project has been a wonderful opportunity for all of us to take the time to reflect on the true spirit of giving,” McCue said.

By Barb Arland-Fye

While operating a brand new snow blower at St. Mary Parish in Pella last winter, Father Jeff Belger had the misfortune of bending a shaft on the machine. He mentioned the mishap during a homily the following Sunday.  A parishioner who owns a manufacturing company offered to make a new shaft for the snow blower. The parishioner, Pat Weiler, told the pastor that Weiler Co. in Knoxville could make anything.

Months later while thinking of new ideas for an Advent wreath, Fr. Belger remembered Weiler’s comment. “At that time, I needed an Advent wreath more than I needed a snow blower,” the pastor said.

So he shared his ideas during discussions about Advent and Christmas décor at a liturgy commission meeting.  Dave Langenfeld, an engineer by profession, serves as president of the pastoral council and is a member of the liturgy commission. The new church is “a large modern space that doesn’t lend itself to easy decoration. We were looking for something new and Father suggested a large wreath hanging somewhere,” Langenfeld said.

“We were all involved. Once Father had the idea, he asked us if we thought we could do it and we said, ‘Sure,’” Weiler said. Langenfeld enjoys playing with computer software and had fun designing the Advent wreath. “Knowing what it was going to be used for made it all the more special,” he said.

They selected aluminum for the wreath because of the need for something lightweight to hang above the sanctuary. Fr. Belger suggested incorporating into the wreath’s eight-panel design the “O Antiphons,” the seven antiphons recited during the Gospel Canticle of the Liturgy of the Hours Dec. 17-24. The antiphons give titles for Christ: Wisdom, Lord, Root of Jesse, Key of David, Rising Sun, King of Nations and Emmanuel. One title would be laser cut into each panel. For the eighth panel, the priest envisioned the Greek letters “alpha” (beginning) and “omega” (end) referring to Jesus’ words in the Book of Revelation: “I am the alpha and the omega.”

Just before Advent, Fr. Belger, Langenfeld and another parishioner, Joe Michaels, hung the Advent wreath from chains attached to shepherd hooks. “I like to think of it as simple, but elegant,” Langenfeld said of the wreath. “The idea was that people would reflect on the titles for Christ. I feel that if they do, it was well done.” The versatile wreath will remain hanging above the sanctuary during the Christmas season; white Christmas candles will replace the purple and rose-colored Advent candles.

The ultimate compliment about the wreath comes in the form of a complaint, Fr. Belger said. He’s heard some people say it’s absolutely irresponsible to purchase such a beautiful Advent wreath when parishioners are still paying off the new church.

“It cost us nothing,” Fr. Belger said. All labor, talent and materials were donated. And to think it all came about because of a bent shaft on a snow blower, Fr. Belger marvels.

Wreaths available

Aluminum wreaths like the one created to celebrate the Advent and Christmas seasons at St. Mary Parish in Pella may find a home in other parishes in the Davenport Diocese. Pat Weiler, whose company Weiler Co. of Knoxville manufactured the first wreath, would be willing to create additional wreaths if parishes are interested in purchasing them.

Call St. Mary Parish in Pella at (641) 628-3078 if you’re interested in having a wreath made.