Join us on Mondays in Lent for:

Adoration 9am-7pm

Reconciliation 12noon-1pm & 5-6pm

The Chosen Season 3 7-9pm in Mary’s Place

For more information & the full list of Lenten offerings

from Deacon Jeff Boehlert

 Here are this Sunday’s readings.

            Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for faith and believe in God’s love and forgiveness.

“For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life…God did not send his Son into the world to condemn…but that the world might be saved”. John 3:16

            Do you recall the first time you saw a sign or poster depicting “John 3:16”? It was likely on a sporting event on national TV. It started a fad we continue to see even today in 2024.

 [For all you ‘old folks’ like me…remember the tall guy with large rainbow color hair holding the sign “John 3:16” in the stadium seats or sneaking into the background on camera at a golf event?]  Early 1970’s….

 When you saw that sign did it cause you to open your bible to search the scripture reference?

 It’s a core Gospel message that is a great reminder during Lent that God truly does love each one of us so much that the sent is His only Son, Jesus, to save us from ourselves.

 In today’s busy, chaotic, and sometime polarizing world it can be easy to feel uncertain. Maybe you’ve asked yourself “What IS going on with world issues, weather, politics, the economy, healthcare, the legal system, or even the church?”

 Maybe you’ve experienced a family crisis with a spouse, a child, or elderly parents. Maybe your job is driving you nuts. Or you’ve felt separated from others in some manner, either by choice or circumstances beyond your control.

 All these situations can lead us to question our relationships, even with God when we’re frustrated or mired in anger, hurt, or confused. 

 And we all know any relationship requires a commitment to “P.A.T.” ----PATIENCE, ATTENTION & TIME.

 P.A.T. to listen. To forgive. To be forgiven.

 Have you “hungered” or “thirsted” for God this Lent? Have you challenged yourself to change something. Fasted from something? Tried to put more trust in God? Surrendered yourself to Jesus? [that last one is a big one for us Type A personalities]

 Even though we are well into Lent it’s never too late to change.

 Today’s Gospel reminds us that no matter where we are in our journey of life and faith, God is eager to meet us. To welcome us. To listen. To forgive. To heal. To comfort. To strengthen and support us in ways we may not even know we need, or have been afraid to ask for.

 SO…you have a choice. Continue to repeat the ‘same old-same old’ and expect a different result… [which is sometimes referred to as a definition of insanity!]  OR…. You can open your heart and mind and ask God to help you with any challenge you face.

 What will your choice be?

 I am confident that if you trust God, surrender yourself to Him and allow His grace to surround and encompass your life today, you will experience Easter Sunday in ways you’ve never imagined possible.

 Why am I so confident and you should be also?

 Read today’s Gospel carefully again. As often as needed. Especially when you have doubts. Take God at His word. He has a plan for each of us. Take it to your heart. He will take care of the rest.

Funeral Lunches

Each year Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart accompanies around 30 families  through the grieving process and the celebration of their loved one’s life. Part of that ministry has been to provide them with a funeral lunch—a time when they can visit with friends and family to share memories and receive comfort.

This is truly a way to live out our Christian mission— “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord”— by serving our parish family.

Volunteers are contacted and asked to bring items, side salads or desserts, usually, as needed.

To get involved contact Amy Wall in the main office 515-934-3038

Patty Mayer, Director of Adult Faith Formation at OLIH, writes:

In September of 2006 I closed the door on a 12-year career working with juvenile delinquents. Twelve years of individual, group, and family therapy with over 300 troubled teens. At one point someone gave me a picture of a teddy bear that had been ripped apart and told me their image of what I did was take people who had been torn apart and put them back together.

Another person gave me a picture with a baseball glove and flowers and told me it represented how I treated the youth, with both the firmness of a glove catching a baseball, and with the tenderness of a flower.

Leaving counseling was not hard, because I trusted I had a greater calling.

I moved to Marshalltown to work for the church. Shortly after I was there I found people coming to me for advice, comfort, and guidance. Someone slipped a brochure for a Spiritual Direction program into my mailbox at work. Eventually I could no longer ignore the taping on my heart and decided to check into certification programs, thinking I would be able to convince myself that this is not really what God wanted me to do. I kept putting it on a back burner, until it rose to the top again, a never ending cycle.

One day a woman approached me after morning Mass and asked me to be her spiritual mentor for a program she was going through. She gave me the details: meet once a month to review the work she had done, ask her questions about what this all means for her, and discuss where she is feeling called as a result.

At this time my plate was full, I was working at the two parishes in town in an attempt to ideally create one bilingual faith formation program for over 400 students. I felt like this call was bigger than just this one person and agreed to meet with her. As the months went on I came to realize this one hour a month brought me a level of joy nothing else did. I could no longer ignore the call to become a Spiritual Director and began feeling disobedient to God by not pursing it, which led me in my discernment to leave my ministry in Marshalltown.

Once at OLIH, I shared with Fr. Steve Orr my desire to pursue a Spiritual Direction certification, he fully supported helping me make that happen. Although I felt confident that this is what God was calling me to, I also have to admit there was fear.

There had definitely been a level of burnout as a counselor, and I questioned how Spiritual Direction would be any different. I weighed my fear against the level of joy both I, and the woman I accompanied, experienced as I walked with her on her journey. I firmly believed that God’s grace would not allow fear to win. Through my journey towards certification I faced many obstacles, including my divorce and all that I had to unpack as a result, at one point I needed to make a decision and God’s grace gave me the strength to set aside the worldly things that pulled me away from my pursuit of following God’s call in my life.

• Is there anything in your life that you have noticed others coming to you for?

• What brings you, and those around you, joy?

I have been actively serving as a Spiritual Director since the summer of 2019. As a Spiritual Director I put myself aside so that I can listen to the person in front of me. As I listen, my intent is to hear the sacred story of the one who is sharing, my role is to ask questions that will encourage deeper exploration into where God is, and what the Holy Spirit is stirring up, within them.

In the beginning it can feel strange because our society has trained us to listen to respond, instead of listening so a person feels heard. I still sometimes feel awkward as my spiritual director listens and doesn’t respond until I’ve shared all that I need to share. There is something so healing about feeling completely heard and not interrupted.

There are many reasons a person would seek spiritual direction, for example discernment, desire to grow in prayer or relationship with Jesus, or walking through spiritual dryness. I also encourage people who work in ministry to find a Spiritual Director who will walk with them. I would say the norm for meeting with a Spiritual Director is monthly. I also have several who come to see me when there is a need or desire to explore something more deeply in their life.

I always tell people that if it’s not a good fit I am happy to refer them as well. As a Director I am never offended when someone tells me it’s not working for them.

As a Spiritual Director there are three ways I continue to be nurtured so that I am able, by the grace of God, to serve others:

• I go to my Spiritual Director, Gary. He challenges me to go deeper. Gary is not my first Spiritual Director. I’ve seen several over the years, some were not a good fit, and others retired, or moved. It’s okay to shop around until you find the one who fits you and your needs well.  What I like about Gary is he asks the hard questions without hesitation and he is steeped in Ignatian Spirituality.

• I participate in monthly supervision. It’s during this time that we focus not so much on what people bring to us, but on what is happening within me as I listen. Supervision becomes a safe space to recognize what rises up within me so I can begin to deal with it on my own time and in my own Spiritual Direction and prayer time.

• I continue my own personal faith journey through prayer and study. I don’t study so I can have the answers but so that I can be steeped in God’s love and grace as I allow Him to work both within and through me to the person I am sitting with.

We have several Spiritual Directors in our parish & diocese; if you are not sure who would be a good fit you can contact Patty Mayer to discuss and get a recommendation. 

Myself, Patty Mayer

Randy Henderson

Debbie Landuyt

Barb Bennett

Myrna Udelhofen

And coming soon: Tom Primmer

Emmaus House: A Center for Spiritual Companionship & Contemplation (Urbandale)

@ Emmaus House: Kevin O’Donnell & April Young

There are also several Spiritual Directors in our Diocese.

Love Lunches

Love Lunches is an alliance of several Ankeny Churches that feed Ankeny children and their families, who may need a healthy lunch or the fellowship of a group. Our Ladies Immaculate Heart is part of the West side group that serves lunches at Sunset Park on 1320 SW Third St.  Love Lunches is supported solely  by church donations.

To help make sure children and their families are receiving a nutritious lunch when school is not in session. “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much.” Luke 12:48

Volunteers need to be available during summer months, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.  Times are dependent on how you want to help.  You can sign up for 1 day at a time, or as many days as you are available.

Volunteers can help:

o   prepare food at Ankeny First United Methodist Church from 9:00 am – 11:00 am

o   set up, serve and clean up at Sunset Park from 11:00 – 12:30

o   Deliver meals and equipment to and from Ankeny First United Methodist Church and Sunset Park.  Delivery 11:00 Return 12:30  Large car or SUV required

o   Teen Volunteers may earn Silver Cord or Confirmation hours by helping set up, serve and clean up lunches at Sunset Park. 11:000 – 12:30

Monetary, gift cards to grocery stores and food donations are also accepted. 

To get involved contact:

Natalie Francis   515-494-6913

Mary Woolever 515-720-1656

Look for an announcement in bulletin or on website to use the Sign Up Genius to volunteer.

The Liturgy of the Word: Our Hunger and Thirst for God’s Word

Last week, I wrote on the importance of preparation. There are many things we do to prepare for Mass before we arrive. And there are many things we do during the Mass to prepare.

What are we preparing for? We are preparing to hear the word of God proclaimed and to celebrate the liturgy of the Eucharist. The Liturgy of Word is an important part of the Mass but is also balanced out by the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

I love reading scripture. The Word of God is what helped me dive into my own faith as a teenager.  I’ve always loved the verse from Matthew 4:4. Jesus, while being tempted by Satan to turn the stones into bread replies with Sacred Scripture. Jesus quotes Moses who said these words to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 8: 3.

“The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written: ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4: 3-4

 In Genesis, God speaks, and the world is created. There is power in the Word of God! That is why we hunger for it! God’s word creates, reconciles, forgives, heals, and loves. God created humanity by an utterance of His word. That is why hunger and thirst for the Word of God.

After the Collect, or opening prayer, we move directly into the Liturgy of the Word. All sit after the prayer is finished. We sit down in preparation to listen to word of God. It is a sign of our attentiveness to listen to the Word proclaimed. The Liturgy of the Word is the part of the Mass that we hear God’s Word proclaimed.

Christ is present in the sacrifice of the altar, and He is present in word proclaimed. The scripture is not read, but proclaimed! Dr. Jon Stotts, a Catholic writer explains the difference. He writes,

 “To “read aloud” is simply to vocalize the words on the page, and anyone who happens to be listening might hear. But to “proclaim” is to communicate what has been written to an intended group of listeners. The lector proclaims the readings as a message intended for someone in particular: the assembled body of believers, gathering in Jesus’ name to hear the word of God.”  (Stotts)

During the Proclamation of the Word, the first reading usually paired with the Gospel. In Ordinary Time, the first reading is taken from the Old Testament. However, in the Easter season we have readings from the New Testament, especially the from the Acts of the Apostles. The Lector proclaims, “The Word of the Lord” and we respond with “Thanks be to God.” We give God our affirmation and praise for His Word.

Our next reading is always from the Psalms. The Psalms are songs and poems that expresses the human heart in moments of joy, praise, thanksgiving, sorrow, grief, and trials. Many Psalms were written for music. It is fitting and recommended that the Psalms be sung at Mass whenever possible. They are meant to be responsorial with a cantor and congregation singing in response.

The second reading is always taken from the writing of the apostles. We hear a lot from St. Paul because he wrote many of the letters in contained in the New Testament. These readings are arranged in a semi-continuous fashion and progress over a three cycle. And once again we respond with “Thanks be to God.”

The climax of the Liturgy of the Word is the proclamation of the Gospel. The readings beforehand has elements of Christ hidden within them. Christ is made fully present in words of the Gospel. At a Sunday Mass, the Gospel is carried in procession by the deacon and placed on the altar. Before the Gospel, the book of the Gospels is processed from the altar to the ambo accompanied by candle bearers and incense.

After the introduction of the Gospel, the priest or deacon makes a sign of the cross on the passage of the Gospel, the forehead, lips, and heart. He then incenses the Book of the Gospels as a sign of reverence towards the words of Jesus. Once the Gospel is proclaimed, the minister says “The Gospel of the Lord” and all respond “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.” The priest or deacon then kisses the Book of the Gospel where he traced the cross before proclaiming the words of Christ. He says quietly, “Through the words of the Gospel, may our sins be wiped away.” It is because the Word of Christ forgive us our sins.

The homily is given and we profess our faith with the Nicene or the Apostle’s Creed. The Liturgy of the Word ends with the Universal Prayer.

Jesus’ words hold true for us as Christians. “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Our faith is built on the Word of God and the Tradition of the Church. To be spiritually fed, we must turn to Sacred Scripture. I encourage you to feed your spiritual life by reading the Scriptures.

There are many books and reflections on the daily Mass and Sunday Mass readings to choose from. Or there are many Bible reading plans that take you through the Word of God in a year, such as the Bible in a Year podcast by Fr. Mike Schmitz or the Bible in a Year from Augustine Institute.

Works Cited

Stotts, Jon. “The Presence of God in the Proclamation of the Word .” Catholic Bible Press, 4 May 2020

Addison and Brynlee talk about their joy at serving with Love Lunches over summer break.

For more information about Love Lunches be sure to read the blog entry for this Thursday (March 7)

To get involved contact:

Natalie Francis   515-494-6913

Mary Woolever 515-720-1656

Look for an announcement in bulletin or on website to use the Sign Up Genius to volunteer.

Join us on Mondays in Lent for:

Adoration 9am-7pm

Reconciliation 12noon-1pm & 5-6pm

The Chosen Season 3 7-9pm in Mary’s Place

For more information & the full list of Lenten offerings

from Deacon Steve Udelhofen

Here are this Sunday’s readings

Observations about John 2:13-25

We wonder in today’s world why would there be people selling animals in the temple? Why would there be money changers in a church? We agree that, of course, Jesus would be angry with these things. However, it’s more complicated than that.

Jesus’ anger is not just that money changed hands and animals were sold for sacrifice in the Temple. It goes quite a bit deeper. Jewish males were required to travel to Jerusalem for the three pilgrim feasts (Passover, Shavuot/Pentecost, & Succoth/Tabernacles).

Most visitors were poor and did not or could not bring sacrificial animals on their journey. They would need to purchase animals at the temple. The merchants selling the sacrificial animals would sell the “approved” animals at very high prices. Sometimes the animals a pilgrim had managed to bring with them would be declared unfit, which would force them to purchase the “approved”, more expensive animal. It was also Jewish law not to accept coins inscribed with other gods or emperors, so the money changers would exchange foreign coins from visitors with an exorbitant exchange fee.

Jewish historian Josephus estimated that 3 million people, on average, attended Passover in Jerusalem during Jesus’ time on earth. A conservative estimate, figuring 12 people per family, would have it so 250,000 lambs were sacrificed during Passover each year. That would have been big business, especially taking advantage of the poor and foreign pilgrims.

The hucksters and money-changers were profiting from people’s piety. Profit and love of money had taken over from prayer and faithfulness.

Jesus knew taking a stand and casting out the unlawful commerce in the Temple would bring about retribution. He stood up for the truth about God and religion and for the poor.

Quiet reflection on this Gospel this week can give us new insight into how Jesus lived his life, always with the knowledge of his death and mission for this time on earth. This Gospel reminds us that Jesus was always there for others, especially the poor. It underscores for us that Jesus had little tolerance for injustice or exploitation of the poor and vulnerable.

Prayer intention: Remember all those who suffer and are endangered in their commitment to justice. Amen.

Reverse Collection at Our Lady’s:

For more than twenty years baskets have been passed once a month at Our Lady’s, for a reverse collection to benefit local pantries. More than 6,000 items and $500 are collected each year. The majority of the items collected are donated to DMARC Food Pantry Network, which is then distributed around the Des Moines metro area. In an effort to increase our impact in Ankeny, beginning last fall a portion of each month’s donations are taken to the Community Resources Center in Ankeny.

Non-perishable food items like diapers, formula, peanut butter, canned tuna & chicken, fruit in water, cereal, pasta, and more are a wonderful donation - but cash & money donations go further!

FoodBank of Iowa can stretch that money further than we can, so consider making cash donations each month!

Filling a Spiritual Hunger with Retreats

A reflection by OLIH parishioner Kari Seivert:

Longing for peace? Need to step away from the busyness of life?  Do you find God in nature?  Are you desiring to deepen your personal relationship with God?  Then YOU need a spiritual retreat. 

I attend Cloisters on the Platte retreat each year, a retreat center in Gretna, Nebraska (near Omaha).  The retreat center offers 3-day silent retreats based on the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola.

Cloisters is located on 931 acres of beautiful outdoor landscape, including ponds and numerous wooded walking paths. An indoor solarium and chapel add to the peaceful scene.

You are assigned a private room in a log cabin style lodge - I call it a 5-star dining and lodging experience with the amenities of peace, prayer and quiet time to build your relationship with God. No matter your style, there is somewhere on site for you to refresh your mind, body and spirit.  

A Cloisters retreat is a great transition from a CEW experience without committing to a full 7+ day  retreat.  In this setting you are silent, but the weekend is structured. You will attend short conferences, led by the retreat director throughout the day.  Ample time is given for quiet reflection and prayer.

In addition, there are prayer services, masses, group meals and opportunities for reconciliation and spiritual direction. A walking path with life size sculptures is available for a realistic Stations of the Cross experience. You feel the peace of silence, but you’re not alone on this retreat. 

A full 7+day silent retreat is another great option.  There you spend  23/24 hours a day in silence pondering on scripture and spending time in self-reflection and prayer.  A daily meeting with a spiritual director helps facilitate your experience.

For now, for me, Cloisters is a yearly’ must do’ activity.  I hope to someday treat myself to a weeklong retreat. Retreats feed me spiritually and create a focused time and place to connect with God on a deeper and more personal level then I can achieve at home.  

Retreats feed my soul where listening to podcasts, attending bible/book studies and faith sharing groups feed my knowledge and fellowship needs.  They all have a purpose in my lifetime faith journey. 

Give yourself a treat and unplug from day-to-day life and spend time with God.  I personally recommend attending a spiritual retreat.  I find it is in the silence that God reaches my soul. 

Let the Silence Transform You.

Retreat Opportunities

Christian Experience Weekends (CEW)   Our Lady’s Immaculate Church (OLIH)    Ankeny, IA

• Women weekend 1/31/25 to 2/2/15

• Men’s weekend 2/14/25 to 2/16/25

Ignatian Retreat Emmaus House    Des Moines Iowa

Creighton Retreat Center    Griswold, IA

Cloisters on the Platte    Gretna NE

Benedictine  Retreats St Benedict Center, Schuyler, NE

Conception Abbey    Conception, MO

 Franciscan Retreats Prairewoods    Hiawatha, IA

Pacem in Terris Hermitage Retreat Center Isanti, MN

DMARC Food Pantry Network

DMARC is an interfaith organization composed of over 130 congregations of many faiths whose mission is to work together to meet the basic needs for the greater Des Moines community. DMARC manages a Food Pantry Network of 14 partnering pantry sites, a Mobile Food Pantry, and home delivery service.  It is the largest food pantry network in the state with locations in Ankeny, Clive, Des Moines., Johnston, Urbandale and West Des Moines. 

DMARC relies on hundreds of volunteers to fulfill the mission of providing basic needs to the people of the larger Des Moines community.

Volunteer opportunities include:

• sorting food donations at their warehouse

• assisting clients at the mobile food pantry or at the various food pantries

• providing non-contact food deliveries to individuals in need

• picking up donations from the Red Barrels at various grocery stores

• serving on a committee or volunteering at a special event.

It is a unique opportunity to put one’s faith into action. Jesus said in Matthew 25 “ Whatever you do for the least of my brother you do for me”. Here is a chance to help fellow members in one’s community.  It is learning and listening to the stories of those in need. It builds understanding and bridges, cuts through stereotypes and helps to grow one’s own faith. It can lead one to work not only to feed the hungry, but to work for justice in the system so that more people are able to provide the basic needs for themselves and their families.

This volunteer opportunity would mostly require free time during the week, during the hours the food pantries are open for clients.  Collecting produce and donations at the Des Moines Farmer’s Market requires Saturday morning availability when market is being held.

Visit their website for more complete information.

Contact Amanda Parkins the Volunteer & Outreach Manger at aparkins@dmarcunited.org.

If interested specifically knowing more about the Catholic Charities Food Pantry at 1815 Hubbell contact Tom Leto, Program Manger at 515-262-7290.

IMPACT FOOD PANTRY (Ankeny)

The mission is “reducing the barriers and burdens that families in poverty experience by increasing access to essential needs.”   They provide disaster, utility, housing as well as food assistance.

It serves community members in Boone, Warren, Polk, Jasper and Marion counties.  7,462 families received emergency food last year.  4,003 volunteer hours were recorded last year to help serve the needs. The monthly food pantry provides a 2-3 day provision of groceries for families. Families can shop for themselves or chose to have food delivered.

Volunteers are needed to deliver food to families throughout Polk County, assist clients at pantries in Ankney, Drake or Boone, be a front desk greeter at all the pantry locations and be substitute box truck drivers.

It is a unique opportunity to put one’s faith into action. Jesus said in Matthew 25 “Whatever you do for the least of my brother you do for me”. Here is a chance to help fellow members in one’s community.  It is learning and listening to the stories of those in need. It builds understanding and bridges, cuts through stereotypes and helps to grow one’s own faith.  It can lead one to work not only to feed the hungry, but to work for justice in the system so that more people are able to provide the basic needs for themselves and their families.

Daytime during the week when pantry open.

Go to the website to download and complete application or contact the Community Engagement & Volunteer Coordinator at volunteers@impactcap.org.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst.:

Mass: Introductory Rites and Penitential Rite

Last week, I wrote on how Jesus thirsts for the salvation of our souls. He desires us to give Him our sins. So that he can be our Savior. The Sacrament of Reconciliation we can say is a preparation of our own hearts and souls for when we sin after Baptism. It prepares us to receive Jesus in the Eucharist and remain in the friendship with God.

Preparation is important! When we think in terms of a meal, there is a lot of preparation that goes into preparing and serving a meal. Depending on the entrée, preparation can take twenty minutes, an hour or maybe two. You need to wash, clean, and chop the vegetables. Season your choice of meat. To eat, someone must set the table with plates, cups, napkins, and utensils. Those who hunger and thirst must prepare for the food and drink they receive. It is common practice to wash our hands before we eat and to say prayer before a meal.

If we prepare to receive an ordinary meal, why would we not prepare to receive Jesus, the Lamb of God in the Eucharist?  As a priest, I prepare for Mass even before I celebrate Mass. I read and study the Scriptures to be proclaimed at each Mass. I prepare by offering everything to God and praying for all of you. I spend time in the chapel asking God to make me worthy of celebrating the Sacrifice of the Mass. I pray in the sacristy as I place my vestments on.  I pray because I want to be spiritually prepared to celebrate the greatest thing in the world, the Holy Mass.

If we take the time to prepare for Mass, our experience of Mass is much richer than if we don’t prepare. Our own preparations for Mass even begin at home before we arrive to Church. The required one hour fast from food or drink (water and medicine are permitted) helps us prepare our hearts and bodies to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. Perhaps some of us have a practice of reading the Sunday Mass readings beforehand or we say our own prayers before Mass begins.

The Introductory Rites of the Mass help us enter the Mass and prepare our hearts to receive God.  Mass begins with the procession of the cross, candles, book of the Gospels, and priest process to the altar. All stand in reverence for Jesus Christ, who’s presence is brought forth.  

We carry in the cross of Christ as we begin to celebrate the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. Jesus, the light of the world, came to dispel the darkness of sin and death. The candles brought in procession represent the light of Christ.

The book of Gospels represents the Word of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ.  Those serving may genuflect before the tabernacle if it resides in the sanctuary or a simple bow to the altar.

The priest and deacon reverence the altar by kissing it. The early Christians celebrated Mass on the tombs of the saints and would venerate the relics. The priest kisses the altar out of reverence for the tomb of Christ and out of veneration of the tombs of the saints.

Christ is present in three ways within the Mass:

• Jesus is sacramentally present in the priest as he celebrates the sacraments in the person of Jesus Christ the head.

• Christ is present in the Word of God proclaimed from the Old Testament, the Psalms, the New Testament and the Gospels.

• He is present in the community gathered. Lastly, Christ is present body, blood, soul, and divinity in the Eucharist.

The structure of the Mass is ordered in a way that allows us to prepare to receive the sacrament of the Eucharist. Once the procession is over, the Mass begins while calling upon God in the Trinity. “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” We call upon all the persons of the Trinity out of reverence to the Holy of name of God. It is a call of gathering for God’s people to begin praying.

Next the priest, addresses the people in a greeting. The most common greeting is “The Lord be with you.” And the people respond. “And with your spirit.” This simple greeting reminds us that God is always with and among us. We rely on the goodness and graces of God for everything in this life.

The Penitential Act of the Mass is like washing your hands before dinner. The priest begins this part of the Mass with “Brothers and sisters let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.” We are called to prepare ourselves for Mass. It is a calling to mind the ways in which we failed to live up to God’s standards.

It is an acknowledgement of our sinfulness but also it is our cry to God to have mercy on us. We call upon the intercession of the saints and the Blessed Virgin Mary to aid us. It is the effects of the Eucharist that frees us from venial sin, those sins that do not destroy our relationship with God and divine charity. The absolution the priest offers within Mass does not forgive mortal sin. Mortal sin must be confessed in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The Gloria is a hymn of praise to God for the work of His of redemption. This hymn is not sung during the seasons of Advent or Lent.

Lastly, after we’ve prepared for Mass through calling upon God’s name and mercy. We close everything up with the Collect Prayer or opening prayer. All the prep work from the beginning of Mass leads us here. This prayer leads us in preparation to hear God’s word proclaimed and expounded upon.

We who “hunger and thirst”, should prepare to receive the living God in the Scriptures and in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Our preparation allows us to be disposed to receiving God’s grace and mercy in Mass. Next time you attend Mass, how will prepare to receive God’s grace more fully?

Volunteering at local Food Pantries

OLIH Parishioners Kathy Avey and Phil Kohler chat about their experiences volunteering at local food pantries.

Phil shared after filming that one thing he wants people to understand is that although donating food is a great way of helping the food pantries, donations of money helps even more!

Also a shout out to local convenience stores and restaurants that share their abundance. Made my heart feel good when he shared that there are places that donate their prepared foods (sandwiches and salads) and how much this helps out people in need!

If you are interested in volunteering at one of the food pantries in the DMARC Food Pantry Network check the DMARC website or information below:

Food Pantries-Polk County (including River Place, as mentioned by Phil)

Catholic Charities Food Pantry (as mentioned by Kathy Avey)

Join us on Mondays in Lent for:

Adoration 9amp-7pm

Reconciliation 12noon-1pm & 5-6pm

The Chosen Season 3 7-9pm in Mary’s Place

For more information & the full list of Lenten offerings

From Deacon Richard Fetterman

Here are the readings for this Sunday.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for lasting and meaningful transformation.
On this weekend we are presented with the mountaintop experience of Peter, James, and John as they witness the transfiguration of Jesus.

We hear the voice of God the father declaring “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him” We can also glean from this passage the bewilderment of Peter, James and John as they came down from the mountain. They were pondering what all this might mean as they try to make sense of sights, sounds and concepts never presented to anyone else ever before.

Concepts like “rising from the dead” at this point in their lives were nearly impossible for them to properly comprehend. For Peter, James and John this had to be a transformative experience. After experiencing the transfiguration their lives would never be the same.

Compare that experience with what happens to you and me at every mass. Mere bread and wine is transformed, in a way transfigured, into the body and blood of Christ. We hear the voice of Jesus say “this is my body”. At every mass, we are presented with sights and sounds and concepts unique to our human experience.

Concepts like Christ’s body “given up for you” or Christ’s blood “poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins” are impossible to fully comprehend. The transfiguration of the bread and wine into Jesus’ body and blood occurs at every mass.

At mass we are fed Jesus. His body, blood, soul and divinity is offered to us and we are nourished. Pay attention at mass to the sights, the sounds, and the spoken words and try to comprehend their meaning. After truly experiencing the transfiguration of the bread and wine into Jesus it will be a transformative experience for you. Your life will never be the same.

Many of us began our Lenten journey determined to change our lives. As we received the ashes on our foreheads at the beginning of this Lenten season we resolved to repent from our old routines and transform into a new, better and holier version of ourselves.

Jesus knows our human nature. He knows our inclination to quickly return to our old and comfortable way of living. Every new year people make resolutions to make their lives better but most people return to their old habits after only a couple of weeks. I just recently learned that January 17th is known as “Quitter’s day”.

In my experience, the way to a lasting and meaningful change in your life are two-fold. First, seek small and manageable changes. Since Lent is focused on prayer, fasting and almsgiving I can offer a few possible examples.

• Try increasing your time in prayer by one minute per day. If that means you only pray
  for one minute per day, that’s ok, it’s a start.

• How about fasting from your cell phone? Instead, spend a minute or two each day asking a family member how their day is going.

• For almsgiving, how about adding one dollar to the basket at church on Sunday? If everyone did that, just imagine the difference it would make.

One of the keys to making lasting and meaningful changes in your life is to take baby
steps. Wholesale changes easily become overwhelming and after one or two setbacks
most people just give up.

Second, don’t try to change your life on your own. Allow Jesus in the Eucharist to transform you into the person He knows you can be. He is our daily bread. His life was given for you. Take advantage of every opportunity to receive Him.

Show the world by your actions every day that you hunger and thirst for a meaningful and lasting change in your life, in your neighborhood, and in the world. It starts by recognizing the transfiguration of bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Then receiving Him and allowing that experience to change your life forever.

Bread for the World

Bread for the World is an inter-faith Christian organization that advocates U.S. decision makers to work to end hunger in our world. Their mission is to” Educate and equip people to advocate for policies and programs that can help end hunger in the U.S. and around the world”. 

Hunger affects every community; even here in Ankeny we know food insecurity exists.  There is a disproportionate impact on women, communities of color, and rural communities both here in the United States and across the globe.

We ask for people to pray for change in national priorities and to help end hunger here at home and abroad. Parishioners can help by:

• donating to Bread for the World (here’s the direct link)

• writing to Congress using personal stories to show how much you care for an issue as a constituent

• Help to organize OLIH’s Offering of Letters, a parish-wide letter writing campaign to our legislators in Washington DC

Your voice is extremely important in the quest to end hunger!

Opportunity to live out the Gospel of Jesus to care for the poor and vulnerable. Federal nutrition programs provide about 10 times as much food assistance as private churches and charities combined. It is an important and essential opportunity to help end hunger here and abroad. It is a unique to work with people of different faiths also living out the Gospel message in Matthew 25. 

Writing of Letters as a large group occurs yearly at a time that is somewhat flexible and dependent on the church’s schedule. At times a legislation action will be sent out directly to you after you sign up for them and you will be asked to write a personal letter to a senator or representative, depending on what bills addressing hunger issues are in committee or soon to be voted on in House or Senate.

To get involved contact

Jeanette Bauer          jeanettepb29@msn.com      515-494-1046

Kathy Avey                 aveydp@msn.com                  515-360-8996

Heart of Mary Homebound Ministry

Kris Gaspari, OLIH parishioner, writes:

I was born with hip dysplasia (both hips were out of my hip sockets) and a connective tissue disorder. As I got older my joints started collapsing and I had many surgeries over the years. In 2019 my right hip had degenerated considerably and my labrum was torn. My knee was damaged I was in extreme pain, not sleeping and it was getting very difficult to function both mentally and physically. It took months to find a surgeon who could help me.

In November that year, a specialist in Iowa City agreed to take me as a patient and surgery was scheduled for February 5, 2020. I spent the next 3 months isolated, keeping myself healthy for surgery. I was homebound, without really even knowing what that meant.

During those months before my surgery, the pain became so debilitating I broke down and begrudgingly used a cane to get to Mass. Pride got the better of me that day; I was embarrassed and in tears. I sat in my usual spot and grieved who I used to be. I will never forget how I felt; however, I will also never forget how I felt when I received the Body and Blood of Christ that morning

As I approached the Eucharistic Minister, I bowed in reverence and held out my hand to accept Jesus. I was given several pieces of the large Body of Christ that the priest holds up during the consecration. It amounted to more than normal. Tears filled my eyes as I realized that Jesus knew what I needed. That morning, I received an extra dose of healing via the Body of Christ and I finally felt peace and hope.

I learned what it meant to be homebound and be spiritually hungry for the Body of Christ. I learned to completely trust Jesus and rely on the prayers of family and friends. I had to work through pain, sleepless nights, feelings of being left out and learning how to accept help. I successfully had my hip and knee replacements in February and June during the early months of COVID-19.

My good friend Mary was homebound with her husband, whose health was declining. She was homebound as well, providing him with constant care and companionship, and I saw how difficult it was for her. After his passing, God called me to walk with her throughout her journey of grief.

I visited her often, took her shopping, helped her clean out her apartment and donate her husband’s belongings. She was very grateful and we grew very close over the course of these experiences. God was watering that seed he planted in me. I thought of all the other members of our parish who didn’t have someone to lend a hand or an ear. Something was stirring deep in my heart…a ministry of the corporal acts of mercy.

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, known as “the little flower’, is very special to me. She was a Carmelite nun who lived in the late 1800s (read more about her here). For Thérèse it’s not the little things that matter but rather, it’s the little things done with love. Therese's message is about simplicity and love in the ordinary events of life. Placing your trust in Therese when she wills, results in roses or their fragrance appearing.

I needed guidance, so I started a 9 day novena asking St. Therese for her intercession. “When you can’t come to Church, the Church comes to you” kept coming to me during my time of prayer. On the final day of the novena, I met friends for dinner. For dessert, I asked the worker for a frosted sugar cookie and instead of going to the glass-enclosed counter in front, she went somewhere else and appeared with a red rose shaped cookie and asked, “Would you like a rose?”

Instantly I teared up. Therese had indeed interceded and showed me a rose. In that moment it started to become clear when I remembered the Eucharistic ministers bringing Jesus to me when I couldn’t come to Jesus.

I approached Father Michael and asked him if there were any elderly in our parish that needed someone. It wasn’t long afterwards I received an email asking if I would be interested in taking communion to those in nursing homes since Sister Susan, who had previously headed that outreach, had retired. I agreed to di it, but Jesus had a bigger plan.

In my prayer, He used my personal “homebound” experience to inspire more than taking the Body of Christ to nursing homes. I had been homebound, I wasn’t considered elderly and I wasn’t in a nursing home. I remember longing to receive the Body of Christ before my surgeries. The seed God planted had bloomed and I researched putting together a homebound ministry with a much broader scope.

I had been praying about a name for the ministry when on the Feast Day of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (celebrated the third Sunday after Pentecost), the Immaculate Heart embroidered on the priest’s stole/vestment caught my attention. The Heart of Mary Homebound Ministry officially had a name and the names of eight homebound parishioners.

The Holy Spirit and our Blessed Mother guided me through bringing the entire ministry to fruition. They helped me identify what constitutes being homebound and who are our homebound in the parish. A training program and handbook for homebound ministers was developed to make it easy, consistent, and within the teaching of the Catholic Church. Volunteer and homebound assessments were created.

Some of our homebound struggle with memory issues so calling cards were created for each ministry to leave for family letting them know they had a visit. Pocket prayer shawls and crosses were crocheted by the Knit One, Purl Two ladies at OLIH. St. Therese prayer beads were created to help the homebound reflect on 10 blessings.

These single decade, 10 bead rosaries are given to the homebound to remind them that when you hold the rosary, you’re holding Mary’s hand. I also knew it would be important to develop a way to track both volunteers and homebound information online and automate the process. Tracking the information allows a connection to other ministries in our parish, such as Stephen Ministry and youth volunteer projects.

In addition to homebound ministers we also have “Comfort Callers” who visit our grieving parishioners to bring them comfort and a booklet to start the “Journeying With Grief” series. Every 3 months for a year, they are mailed booklets to help navigate the stages of grief.

Being homebound is not restricted to the elderly in nursing homes. We serve those who are facing surgery, healing at home, or in the hospital, caregivers who can’t leave their loved ones to get to Mass, those enduring cancer treatments, and people of all ages, including the young.  

One particular day I was a little frustrated and I found myself questioning my sacrifices. I read a devotional intended to inspire the homebound but instead, it was clearly intended to speak to me. I read, “I don’t want your sacrifice, I want your mercy.” Talk about a forehead slap! It’s changed how I approach others in need. It has made me think differently about the corporal acts of mercy in the following ways:

• Feed the hungry—not food but the Gospel.

• Give drink to the thirsty—not a thirst for water, but quenching a spiritual thirst.

• Clothe the naked—not with clothing, but with the Word.

• Visit the imprisoned—prison can be many forms such as a home, hospital, nursing home or compromised health or a disability.

• Shelter the homeless—shelter the homebound with love and connection to the church.

• Visit the sick—not just physical but spiritual sickness. Bring Jesus to heal.

• Bury the dead—help heal from loss of any forms, not just human loss.

A homebound visit consists of a short communion service of about 15 minutes, followed by reflecting on the gospel, a time of prayer, devotional reading and good old-fashioned face-to-face friendship. Trained homebound ministers are matched according to the assessments of both the minister and the homebound. We are focused on connecting the homebound with Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart family.

For whatever reason you might be homebound or grieving, we come with Jesus, with mercy and compassion to perform acts of kindness with love and prayer. We don’t judge; we serve. A homebound visit can be tailored to meet varying needs. Visit frequency range from every week or once a month, temporary or until they are called home to Jesus. You might be meet at home, outside, in a nursing home or assisted living, or in a hospital or other recovery facility.

Maybe you’re not comfortable having someone in your home— accommodations can be made. If you have others in your household they are encouraged to receive the Body of Christ, too. If your loved one needs sacraments such as Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick or Last Rites, we can arrange for one of our priest to administer.

I have been so blessed in this ministry by serving the homebound. One of the gifts of this ministry is to offer the Body of Christ to the dying, often referred to as ‘food for the journey’. Even though a person may not be able to consume a whole host, even the tiniest crumb is Jesus.

Another blessing is the relationship that forms and the increase of awareness of the needs of others. God used my being homebound to remind me of my baptismal promise to bring Jesus to others. “The King will reply:

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

If you have a desire to spiritually feed the hungry or know of someone who needs to be fed, please contact Kris Gaspari at 515-306-7838 or email heartofmaryhomeboundministry@gmail.com. There are brochures in the gathering space information center, east of the main doors with information about becoming a homebound minister and referring someone homebound to the ministry

“When you can’t come to Church, we’ll bring the Church to you.”

Bread Ministry

From Panera’s website:

Day-End Dough-Nation®

Bread is better when shared. We believe no loaf should go uneaten when we know there are neighbors in need. That’s why we donate our unsold baked goods to local non-profits at the end of the night through our Day-End Dough-Nation® program. We partner with over 3,300 charities nationwide, including food pantries, veteran services and youth shelters, to provide bread and bakery items to those in need and to reduce food waste.

Instead of throwing away all the unsold ‘bread items’; Panera donates all the items to the Catholic Charities Outreach center in Des Moines. Volunteers pick up the items from Panera, cut and/or repackage items into smaller bags for a family, then deliver them to the center, Monday thru Thursday at 8:30-10:00am.

Volunteers usually cover one or two shifts a month with a partner.

The Catholic Charities Outreach Center (1815 Hubbell Ave. Des Moines) supports/helps residents in Des Moines who are in need of food and personal care items. For further information about Catholic Charities Des Moines, please visit their website.

To get involved contact Amy Wall (admin assistant at OLIH) 515-964-3038

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst.”: Reconciliation

This Lent our theme is: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst.” The phrase should be very familiar to us because it comes from St. Luke’s recording of Jesus’ words on the Beatitudes in Luke 6: 21. St. Matthew records Jesus adding, “for they shall be satisfied.”

What kind of hunger and thirst are Saints Luke and Matthew talking about? Is Jesus talking about a physical thirst or hunger? Or is it spiritual?

When I hear the phrase, “Blessed are those who thirst.” I think St. Teresa of Calcutta’s story of her encounter with Jesus. On a train to Darjeeling on September 10, 1946, Mother Teresa felt Christ’s words from the Cross: “I thirst”. This event in her life she described as her “vocation within a vocation,” calling to serve Christ “among the poorest of the poor.” Thus, her call to establish the Missionaries of Charity.

In a letter to her community written in 1998, Mother Teresa explained the phrase “I thirst”:

"I thirst" is something much deeper than Jesus just saying, "I love you." Until you know deep inside that Jesus thirsts for you - you can't begin to know who He wants to be for you. Or who He wants you to be for Him.”

The phrase “I thirst” is found in every chapel the Missionaries of Charity as a reminder.

You may be asking what does Jesus' thirst for? It's not a question of what but who does he thirst for? St. Faustina has the answer to that question in her Diary on the private revelations she received from Jesus. During Holy Week in March 1937, she writes about a vision of the crucified Jesus hearing the words, “I thirst.” She wrote:

“During Holy Mass, I saw the Lord Jesus nailed upon the cross amidst great torments. A soft moan issued from His Heart. After some time, He said: I thirst. I thirst for the salvation of souls. Help Me, My daughter, to save souls. Join your sufferings to My Passion and offer them to the heavenly Father for sinners (Diary, 1032).”

Jesus thirsts for the salvation souls. He is thirsting for my soul and your soul!

Why does he desire our souls? He desires the salvation of our souls because he desires to bring forgiveness, mercy, and healing to our woundedness due to our sins. That is His mission! Jesus doesn’t want us to be stuck in the grossness of our sins. Jesus is the Divine Physician, a healer of soul and body. He longs to bring us forgiveness, mercy, and healing.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is where we experience the graces of Jesus, the Divine Physician working in our souls. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the extension of the graces and merits that Christ’s received for us on the Cross.

There is the story of St. Jerome, one of the early Church Fathers, who was responsible for the translation of the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into Latin. St. Jerome was in Bethlehem Christmas Eve night and Jesus appeared to him asking Jerome what it was that he would give him for his birthday. Jerome offered Jesus the translation of the Bible he had just completed. Jesus said to him, “No, Jerome, that is not what I want.” St. Jerome was hurt by this and began to offer Jesus something different. Jesus again said, “No, Jerome, that is not what I want.” Finally, Jerome asked Jesus what he wanted, and Jesus said, “Give me your sins.”

“Give me your sins.”

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is where we give Jesus our sins. Remember the words of Jesus to St. Faustina, “I thirst for the salvation of souls.” When we give Jesus our sins, we give Him the joy of being our Savior. When we confess our sins and receive forgiveness, we can enter a deeper union with Him in the Eucharist.

Jesus is always waiting to meet us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Whether we have a regular practice of going to confession or if we haven’t been in years, Jesus is waiting for you! He is waiting to forgive you of your sins. He is waiting to bring healing in your soul. Will you allow Him to be your Savior? Will you give Him your sins and satiate His thirst for you?

Reconciliation available at Our Lady’s:

• Mondays in Lent 12noon - 1pm & 5-6pm

• Saturdays in Lent 9am-10am & 4-4:45pm

• Communal Service Thursday, March 21 7pm