By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger
BETTENDORF — As collection baskets were passed in the pews at St. John Vianney Catholic Church on Feb. 28 and March 1, parishioners were asked to take a prayer card. “It’s nice to take something OUT of the collection basket then always putting something IN,” said Father Jim Vrba, St. John Vianney’s pastor.
Julie Panther picks up a prayer card at St. John Vianney Parish in Bettendorf. The parish has cards with pictures of the 11 people seeking to come into the Catholic Church this Easter.
The parish has two members of the elect and nine candidates seeking full communion with the Catholic Church this year. The prayer cards feature a picture of each individual, name and address, the sponsor and a prayer for the Journey of Faith. All the information was printed with permission, Fr. Vrba noted.
“The purpose of distributing the cards is so that everyone at every Mass has an opportunity to pray for them. We do all of the RCIA rites at the 9 a.m. Mass, so people at the other three Masses don’t experience them,” Fr. Vrba said. The prayer cards “will help everyone know that we all have a hand in their (RCIA participants’) formation, especially during Lent,” Fr. Vrba said.
In addition, poster boards in the gathering space display the names, pictures and a short story for each member of the elect and candidate.
Pat Lundquist is a member of St. Alphonsus Parish in Davenport but attends daily Mass and Bible study at St. John Vianney. She picked up a prayer card after daily Mass and said the Prayer for the Journey of Faith is a nice prayer for all.
Parishioner Julie Panther picked up a prayer card after daily Mass since she was unable to attend Mass at St. John Vianney over the weekend. She chose the prayer card for candidate Travis Crowe. “He attends daily Mass with us, so I see him a lot,” she said. She loved the idea of having the cards to support those entering the church.
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