By Barb Arland-Fye
IOWA CITY — Inspired by the Holy Spirit and her husband’s example, Jessica Gituma of Oskaloosa is preparing to enter the Catholic Church with the couple’s young children. Eldon Thomas of Albia says he’s very motivated to enter the Church after praying for years for God’s guidance. These individuals were among 221 candidates and catechumens from throughout the Davenport Diocese who participated in the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion on Feb. 17 at St. Patrick Church in Iowa City.
Referring to a huge marble relief called the “Universal Call to Holiness” at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., Bishop Martin Amos noted in his homily that the artwork reminded him of the first reading, from Zechariah. “Indeed, the inhabitants of many cities have come: people of diverse nationalities and cultures, people of different economic and social backgrounds, all streaming to the Lord having heard the universal call to holiness.
“You have many different stories of what brought you to this day and many different journeys. Who or what brought you to this day, the bishop asked. “Was it a spouse, a mother-in-law, a friend? Was it something: a search for truth, a religious experience, our liturgy or way of prayer?”
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