LECTURES
Davenport — The Equal Justice Summit will take place at St. Ambrose University on April 8 in celebration of 40 years of legal services for the elderly and poor in eastern Iowa. The event will take place in Rogalski Center, with registration at 8:30 a.m. and the seminar from 9 a.m to 4:30 p.m. The day includes lunch. Students or members of the general public can register by calling HELP Legal Aid at (563) 322-6216. Lunch is $10. Email cbarts4@aol.com for more information.
Iowa City — Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, retired bishop of Detroit; and Joshua Casteel, conscientious objector, playwright and peace advocate; will speak at the Newman Catholic Student Center April 15 at 7 p.m. Their address is titled “Seeds of a Culture of Peace: Non-violence as a Counter-Culture.” The reflections will be followed by discussion and a reception.
Lone Tree — Ken Fuson will speak on “Compulsive Gambling: A View from the Inside” April 9 at 5 p.m. at St. Mary Church. He worked for 24 years as a reporter for The Des Moines Register. He will discuss his personal descent into gambling addiction and his repeated attempts to overcome it. His goal is to help increase understanding of addiction and offer suggestions on what the state and the casino industry might do to help.
LITURGY/PRAYER
Clinton — The Sisters of St. Francis invite the public to join them at Vespers — evening prayer — on each of the Sundays of Lent beginning at 6 p.m. in the chapel of their home, The Canticle, 841 13th Ave. N., Clinton. The 45-minute services include song, reflection on Scripture readings and praying for conversion of heart.
Davenport — Our Lady of Victory Parish’s adult choir will present the Lenten cantata “Harvest of Sorrows” April 10 at 4 p.m. in the church. Attendees will join in reflecting, through music and narrative, on Christ’s journey to the cross.
Davenport — A healing Mass will be celebrated April 14 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Confessions begin at 6 p.m., praise music starts at 6:45 p.m., and Mass will be celebrated at 7:15 p.m. All are welcome.
Rock Island, Ill. — An interfaith prayer service for Japan will take place Sunday, April 10 from 2–3 p.m. at St. Mary Monastery, 2200 88th Ave. W. Freewill offerings will go toward Catholic Relief Services’ efforts in Japan.
RETREATS
Coralville — A Lenten mini-retreat, “Women in the Bible: A Study for All,” will be held on Saturday, April 9, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at St. Thomas More Church. The keynote speakers will be Micah Kiel of Davenport and Marsha Lowe of Iowa City. Women in the Bible: A Study for All will focus on women from both the Old and New Testaments, emphasizing specific women and their faith companionship. To RSVP, please call Carol Lyon at (319) 338-9290, Mary Kay Kusner at (319) 339-1306 or Mary Humston at (319) 337-5916. A suggested retreat donation is $10. A Kalona Kountry Katering lunch will cost $8. All participants should bring a Bible to the retreat. Registration and refreshments begin at 8 a.m.
SOCIALS
Camanche — Church of the Visitation will hold a fundraising breakfast Sunday, April 10, from 7:30-11:30 a.m. in the parish hall. Cost is $6 per adult, $3 per child age 6-12 and free for children 5 and younger. The menu includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, potatoes, biscuits and gravy, cinnamon rolls, coffee, milk and juice.
Clinton — The next date of “Peace Soup” – the annual supper and discussion series held on the Wednesdays of Lent — is April 13 at 6 p.m. in St. Boniface Hall, 2520 Pershing Blvd. Drake University Professor Jody Swilke will present his film, “Little Salsa on the Prairie: The Changing Character of Perry, Iowa,” a documentary that chronicles the rapid ethnic diversification of that community. Details on the series are available at www.jcpop.org and at www.clintonfranciscans.com or by calling Prince of Peace Parish at (563) 242-3311 or Sisters of St. Francis, (563) 242-7611.
Davenport — St. Anthony Church will have a taco night from 4-7 p.m. on April 9 in the parish hall to support its social justice ministry. Menu includes tacos (chicken or beef), refried beans and Mexican rice. Desserts will be extra. Suggested donation is $5 in advance or $6 at the door. Children ages 5-10 will be admitted for $2. Advance tickets are available by calling Mary or Gary at (563) 391-4668.
Davenport — Theology on Tap for young adults will take place April 14 at 7 p.m. at Phil & Larry’s Saloon. Michael Gayman will speak on “Giving It All Up to Open a Catholic Worker House.”
Davenport — The April 16 Run for Renewal will benefit the youth programs offered by Project Renewal. This year’s half-mile Kid’s Treat House Trot starts at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K run/walk for kids 10 and older starts at 9 a.m. Both have a start/finish line at Sister Concetta Park at the intersection of Sixth and Warren streets in Davenport. The trot is for youths ages 9 and younger and has no registration fee. Cost for the 5K is $20. For more information call (563) 324-0800 or visit www.projectrenewal.net. Registration also is available at www.getmeregistered. com.
Fort Madison — Holy Family Parish’s annual spring festival will take place Sunday, April 10. A dinner of Virginia smoked ham or grilled chicken breast, scalloped potatoes, green beans, coleslaw, roll and homemade dessert will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Roling Hall, 2210 Avenue I. Cost is a freewill donation. Carryout meals, bake sale items, Mexican food, 50/50 drawing and children’s activities will also be available.
Iowa City — St. Wenceslaus Parish will hold its spring bake sale April 16 from 8-11 a.m. Kolaches, cinnamon rolls and other baked goods will be available. Bring a container for complimentary coffee.
Iowa City — Fish dinners will be served at the KC Family Center, 4776 American Legion Road, from 5-7 p.m. Fridays during Lent except for Good Friday. Entrée choices are red beans and rice for $5, shrimp jambalaya for $6, catfish for $9, fried shrimp for $10 and salmon for $12. There will be weekly non-fish options. Carryouts are available. For more information, call (319) 351-5370.
Pella — Fish fries take place at St. Mary Church on Fridays from 5:30-7:30 p.m. through April 15. Takeouts are available. Cost is $7 for adults, $4 for children 12 and younger, or $20 for a family.
Newton — Mission Coalition will hold a vendor and craft fair April 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the McCann Center. The fundraiser will benefit RRACAP Utility Assistance in Jasper County, Jasper County Child Abuse Prevention and Domestic Violence Prevention. Breakfast and lunch will be served.