As we mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of St. John Paul II this week, it provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the pontificate of this remarkable Holy Father.
Tag: Iowa
A Christmas crib brought peace to a prison
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The original Christmas crib was built at Bethlehem.
Centuries later, St. Francis of Assisi built another Christmas crib and made it popular.
According to The Life of St. Francis of Assisi by St. Bonaventure, in 1223, St. Francis received permission from Pope Honorius III to set up a manger with hay and two live animals — an ox and a donkey — in a cave in the Italian village of Grecio.
He then invited the villagers to visit the scene while he preached about “the babe of Bethlehem.” (Francis was supposedly so overcome by emotion that he couldn’t say “Jesus.”)
A gift of peace
The Christmas crib inspired a group of German POWs in Algona, Iowa, to build a Christmas crib.
St. Rose helps men’s shelter
CUBA CITY — The St. Rose of Lima School Family in Cuba City raised money and made blankets for the Almost Home Men’s Shelter in Dubuque, Iowa.
Clare from Clare Cares in Dubuque started Operation Warm Toes- Grateful Hearts for Christmas for the 12 men staying there. She reached out to different organizations to help her. St. Rose was happy to be of help for this great cause.
St. Rose helps men’s shelter
CUBA CITY — The St. Rose of Lima School Family in Cuba City raised money and made blankets for the Almost Home Men’s Shelter in Dubuque, Iowa.
Clare from Clare Cares in Dubuque started Operation Warm Toes- Grateful Hearts for Christmas for the 12 men staying there. She reached out to different organizations to help her. St. Rose was happy to be of help for this great cause.
Dodgeville students place second in Odyssey world finals
DODGEVILLE — Amazing, unbelievable, impressive, and remarkable are all adjectives that describe the feelings from the students when they heard their team called for second place at the Odyssey of the Mind world finals.
St. Joseph School sent two teams to world competition recently in Ames, Iowa, at Iowa State University. There they competed against teams from all over the world.
Many teams had gone through multiple eliminations at sectional, regional, and divisional competitions, in order to get to world competition, so the competition was tough.
Dodgeville students return to ‘Odyssey’ world finals
DODGEVILLE — For the second year in a row, students at St. Joseph School in Dodgeville will be taking some of their skills and talents to a worldwide stage.
Two teams from the school are advancing to the Odyssey of the Mind world finals set to take place at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, from May 28 to May 31.
More than 800 teams from around the world will compete in the 35th annual competition which, according to its website, “emphasizes creativity and teamwork and has grown into the largest international creative problem-solving competition worldwide.”
Venerable Father Samuel Mazzuchelli: God’s bridge of love to others
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In 1982, the Dubuque Telegraph Herald newspaper conducted a survey to name the new bridge that connected Dubuque, Iowa, with Wisconsin and the Diocese of Madison.
The name “Mazzuchelli Bridge” received the most votes, perhaps because of ways Venerable Father Samuel Mazzuchelli influenced early Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. It was then submitted to the Dubuque City Council, but the council named the new bridge the Dubuque-Wisconsin Bridge instead.
Plans for new high school underway
DODGEVILLE — A group of parents and professionals in the Dodgeville area in Iowa County is undertaking an effort to found an independent high school in the Catholic tradition.
Michael J. Lancaster, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Madison, said the group has received approval from the Diocese of Madison to name the school Holy Family High School (HFHS).
“While the diocese has and will continue to provide guidance, as is the case with all schools, HFHS will receive no financial support from the diocese,” said Lancaster.
Fr. Theodore Raymond Borger dies
MONROE — A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, Dec. 22, at St. Clare of Assisi Parish at St. Victor Church in Monroe for Fr. Theodore Raymond Borger, 56, who died on December 16 at the Veterans Hospital in Milwaukee.
John Paul II: A model for us all
The first time I saw Pope John Paul II in person was at Living History Farms near Des Moines, Iowa, in 1979. The Holy Father celebrated Mass and preached on a hillside altar.
In his homily, Pope John Paul II reminded us that the land is God’s gift entrusted to his people “as a means of sustaining the life he created.” He called on farmers to be generous with food to help feed the millions who are hungry.