Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish was built in 1955 with the first Mass celebrated Christmas Eve of 1955.
The first Pastor was The Most Rev. O. L. Kaufman, who, with the Bishop’s approval, selected the name of our parish.
At this time, we have over 400 families registered at
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish.
Our Mass times are 5 pm Saturday and 8 and 10 am Sunday.
FAITH FORMATION NEWS
It’s here! Classes start this Wednesday (10th) and Sunday (14th). We are looking forward to seeing everyone and getting the Faith Formation year started.
Please pray for our students and catechists as we begin classes.
“Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire” - St. Catherine of Siena
Catholic Daughters - Monthly Meeting & 25th Anniversary Celebration - The September monthly meeting is cancelled so that members can attend the 25th Anniversary Celebration of our Court Saturday, Sept. 20. Please RSVP and purchase your tickets by Sept. 15.
WOMEN’S BOOK STUDY
Do you like to read? Have great discussions? Meet new friends? Deepen your faith life? If you answered YES to any of these questions then join us as we begin a new book study session on Wednesday, September 17th from 8:30 to 9:30. Bring your book ideas and friends with you as we set up the calendar for the year. Women of all ages and wisdom are welcome! If you have questions or need more info, contact Theresa at 712-310-4695.
TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) is coming back to the Diocese of Des Moines. TEC is a Catholic ecclesial movement that evangelizes and accompanies older teens and young adults within an intergenerational community. Participants are invited into this community through a 3-day retreat, drawing them into the heart of the Paschal Mystery. We are looking for current high school juniors and seniors to attend this co-ed retreat. We are also seeking adults who would like to assist with our upcoming retreat. Please note that adults will need to complete Virtus and undergo a background check in order to help. The first retreat is scheduled for Saturday, September 20, through Monday, September 22, at the St. Thomas More Center in Panora, Iowa. If interested, email tecdm@stmcenter.com or call the St. Thomas More Center for all Seasons
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who helped move things back into the church this last week. Lots of hands made fast work! Fr. Dan
PARISH MUSICIANS
You are cordially invited to a morning of music and liturgy hosted by the Des Moines Chapter of the National Pastoral Musicians, on Saturday, September 13, 2025. This morning program features three priests who will provide music and liturgical insights and sing through their original compositions. For more information, and to register for this event, please go to the link below. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/morning-of-music-and-liturgy-tickets-1633024603549
Fundraising with Droppett
The Ministerial Association is partnering with Droppett as a simple way to boost their fundraising. CONTAINERS FOR A CAUSE, allows fundraisers to run a Used Beverage Container (UBC) Drive, virtually year-round, without much effort.
HOW IT WORKS
Bag tags are in the office or on the bulletin board by the bulletins. You place your tag on the bag, return to the center at 306 S Vine St and our account is credited!
Pilgrims of Hope: A Pastoral Reflection on Immigration
by Iowa Catholic Conference | August 22, 2025
A pastoral reflection on immigration to the Catholic faithful in the province of Iowa and to all persons of good will.
I. Introduction: “Wherever you lodge, I will lodge” (Ruth 1:16)
1. The Catholic Church has always proclaimed the inviolable dignity of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God.1 Governments do not bestow this dignity, nor does legal status instill it, but it is intrinsic to every human person as a beloved child of the heavenly Father. In every age, the People of God are called to uphold this truth by welcoming the stranger, defending the oppressed, and standing in solidarity with those who are displaced.
2. Immigration is not merely a political or economic issue; it is a deeply moral matter that calls for a response rooted in faith, justice, and mercy. Sacred Scripture consistently reveals God’s care for the immigrant and the refugee: “You shall not oppress a stranger; you yourselves know how it feels to be a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 23:9).
3. The right to migrate has long been affirmed in Catholic moral teaching. Pope John XXIII taught that “every human being has the right to freedom of movement and of residence within the confines of his own state. When there are just reasons in favor of it, he must be permitted to migrate to other countries and take up residence there.”2
4. More recently, in an address to world diplomats, Pope Leo XIV enjoins us, “No one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, citizens and immigrants alike.” Our present pontiff continues, “All of us, in the course of our lives, can find ourselves healthy or sick, employed or unemployed, living in our native land or in a foreign country, yet our dignity always remains unchanged: it is the dignity of a creature willed and loved by God.”3
5. At a time when political rhetoric often generates division and fear, the Church stands as a beacon of God-given hope. This hope is not mere optimism that ignores where good is absent, but a virtue that sustains us in the work of justice.4 Hope resists the tendency to become indifferent to the suffering of migrants; it prevents us from resigning ourselves to the injustices that force them from their homes. Rather, it demands that we respond with courage and solidarity, recognizing that our faith is measured by the way we treat the most vulnerable among us.5 Our hope spurs us to ensure that migrants can share a life worth living, founded on conditions that enable them, with us, to flourish.
6. The social mission of the Church must always begin with persons who are poor, displaced, and otherwise neglected. These individuals are not simply objects of charity but agents of God’s presence, who evangelize us through their endurance and fidelity.6 We can find inspiration in the Bible’s account of Ruth, the daughter-in-law of the widowed Naomi. When Ruth’s husband also dies, leaving Naomi bereft of children, Naomi decides to return to her native Judah. In the face of tragic circumstances, Ruth remains loyal to Naomi and emigrates with her in order to accompany and support her. Ruth’s pledge, “Wherever you lodge, I will lodge” (Ruth 1:16), reveals God’s universal concern for humanity and the blessing God bestows upon those who care for others who are not affiliated with us by blood relation or nationality.
7. Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that “love for widows and orphans, prisoners, and the sick and needy of every kind is as essential to her the Church as the ministry of the sacraments and preaching of the Gospel.”7 In welcoming the migrant, we welcome Jesus himself. In defending their dignity, we proclaim the Gospel. And in advocating for justice, we embody the love of Christ, in whom “love and truth meet, justice and peace embrace.”8 Jesus desires that all his children live in peace and security.
8. As we reflect on the current state of immigration in the United States and beyond, including extant and pending actions by our government, we must ask ourselves: Are we a Church who welcomes or a Church who excludes? Are we led by faith or by fear? Do we see Christ in the migrant, regarding them as a neighbor in the spirit of the Good Samaritan parable, or do we turn away? May this reflection serve as a renewed call to discipleship, inviting us to see Christ in the faces of those whose life path intersects with our own as pilgrims of hope.