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Eleven men to be instituted as acolytes, continue to final year in formation.

FORT MADISON —Holy Trinity freshman Brooklyn Forsythe recently traveled to Phoenix to represent Iowa at the world’s largest science fair. She was invited to attend the Regeneron International Science and Industry Fair (ISEF) in a student observer capacity after an impressive run at the State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa in March, where she placed second in the power and structural category and earned the Excellence in Global Impact Award. Her science project focused on the potential for piezoelectric walkways in public areas to generate electricity from footsteps.

FORT MADISON —Holy Trinity freshman Brooklyn Forsythe recently traveled to Phoenix to represent Iowa at the world’s largest science fair. She was invited to attend the Regeneron International Science and Industry Fair (ISEF) in a student observer capacity after an impressive run at the State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa in March, where she placed second in the power and structural category and earned the Excellence in Global Impact Award. Her science project focused on the potential for piezoelectric walkways in public areas to generate electricity from footsteps.

IOWA CITY — College student Clare Loussaert is passionate about helping Spanish speakers break through language barriers. She did not speak Spanish growing up — “No one in my family speaks it,” she told The Catholic Messenger. Yet, when she started volunteering at the Iowa City Catholic Worker hospitality house seven years ago, “I saw how it could be useful to learn and help me communicate better with others.” The hospitality house primarily supports Spanish-speaking immigrants as they transition to life in the United States.

The history of pacifism is rich and varied in the United States of America and within liberal-progressive currents in our Catholic Church. Literally, to be a pacifist is to be pacific; to be peaceful. A worthy way, I feel, to express one’s love for God and neighbor.

The diocesan Office of Social Action is now accepting applications for the 2026/2027 Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) internship. This internship provides a unique opportunity to support those who live on the margins of society.

Deacon Kent Ferris, main speaker at the March 3 event sponsored by the parish’s Justice and Peace Commission, began with a six-minute video from the Fifth World Meeting of Popular Movements (Oct. 21-24, 2025). The late Father Guillermo Trevino, a diocesan pastor, was a delegate to the meeting, an initiative of the late Pope Francis to bring together grassroots organizations from five continents seeking to inspire the poor and organized peoples to become protagonists of change.

Project Renewal offers after school and summer programming for youths in grades K-12. “We (give) them opportunities and experiences that they otherwise might not have, a safe place to be, and positive role models,” she explained. Volunteers help participants with homework, lead recreational activities and teach life skills. Snacks — funded in part by the Diocese of Davenport’s CRS Rice Bowl collection — fuel participants in their endeavors.

DAVENPORT — The holy season of Lent is a special time for personal and spiritual growth. “It’s a time to reflect deeply on ourselves and others,” said Deacon Kent Ferris, diocesan director of Social Action and of Catholic Charities. Read more...

DODGEVILLE — By sharing seeds and knowledge of local planting techniques, Squanto helped the starving Pilgrims grow enough food to thrive in a new land. In a similar way, faith-filled farmers in the Diocese of Davenport are making use of their talents to assist people struggling to cultivate crops in other countries.

By Jay Gilchrist For The Catholic Messenger St. Thomas More Parish in Coralville is rolling out a new parish Laudato Si’ Plan during the Season of Creation this year. The parish Green Team has been working the past few months to create an interactive online plan with simple goals that make it easy for parishioners and parish groups to participate (https://tinyurl.com/3rf6nmhd). The plan’s goals are adapted from “Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home,” the 2015 encyclical of Pope Francis. The four goals call the community to Learn from the Earth, Hear the Poor, Live Simply, and Help to Heal the Planet. This 10th year of the Church’s Laudato Si’ mission is a wonderful time to renew our practices of care for creation, and what better time than right after we dedicated a new worship space?