News - December 2024 RSS Feed

By Barb Arland-Fye The Catholic Messenger Hotel Blackhawk in Davenport knew that the next bishop of the Diocese of Davenport would be checking into the hotel June 24 but the staff didn’t know his name. Vatican protocol required his identity to remain a secret until the official announcement June 25. Six months later, Bishop Dennis Walsh described his accommodations at Hotel Blackhawk as “the best room I’ve ever had in my life.”

DAVENPORT — Chad Pregracke might have delivered the most humorous acceptance speech in the 60-year history of the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award ceremony but concluded with a powerful message for St. Ambrose University students in the audience. “We’re all counting on you. Find out what you want to do and do great things for the world,” he said during the Dec. 3 ceremony in the university’s Rogalski Center.

By Barb Arland-Fye The Catholic Messenger DAVENPORT — Chad Pregracke might have delivered the most humorous acceptance speech in the 60-year history of the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award ceremony but concluded with a powerful message for St. Ambrose University students in the audience. “We’re all counting on you. Find out what you want to do and do great things for the world,” he said during the Dec. 3 ceremony in the university’s Rogalski Center. Pregracke, a Quad-Citian recognized worldwide for energizing people to join him cleaning up the Mississippi River and other rivers, recycling, planting trees and educating students, added another unique aspect to the Pacem award’s history. The founder and president of Living Lands & Waters, an environmental organization, he was the first recipient recognized for work on environmental justice and care for creation.

DAVENPORT — For her efforts in sharing her gifts and her passion for justice, peace and integrity of creation, the Pacem in Terris Award Committee honored Barb Arland-Fye with the One Among Us award Dec. 3 at St. Ambrose University. She received the award during the ceremony honoring Chad Pregracke as Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award recipient for his work in environmental justice.