Contributed Timothy Walch reviews “A Garden Catechism” by Margaret Rose Realy, Obl OSB.
By Tim Walch
Book Review
“A Garden Catechism: 100 Plants in Christian Tradition and How to Grow Them.” By Margaret Rose Realy, Obl OSB, Illustrated by Mary Sprague. Our Sunday Visitor, 2022, 333 pp. $34.95.
Walch
“The earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord.” This passage from Isaiah (11:9) begins a beautiful book that will be valued by anyone who sees the wonder of God’s work and the wisdom of Christianity in flowers, trees and other plants.
Author Margaret Rose Realy, a Benedictine Oblate and an advanced master gardener, has a gift for combining Christian traditions with practical advice on growing a wide variety of plants. She has channeled her skills into this book and a wide variety of other publications.
“A Garden Catechism” focuses on creating faith-based gardens that are more than landscaping. As noted in the subtitle, Realy focuses on a hundred plants, most of them flowers. Not to be overlooked is the practical advice on how to grow and maintain these plants.
Some readers may be curious about the title. “A catechism,” Realy notes in her preface, “is a way of teaching the Faith that strengthens the bonds of unity in our Church and, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, enlivens the faith of the People of God.” Realy reaches this goal by showing us all how plants reflect our faith.
The book is divided into chapters on flowers, herbs and edibles, grasses, trees and shrubs. Practical sections on gardening basics, supplemental Catholicism and an introduction to prayer gardens are among the offerings. The book concludes with reference charts, a bibliography and an index.
Each of the four chapters on plants are arranged alphabetically. The first entry in the chapter on flowers, for example, begins with “Anemone” and ends with “Yarrow.” For each plant, Realy offers a section on the Christian references to each plant and a second section on the growing culture for that plant. Just as important, each entry features a beautiful illustration by Mary Sprague.
Realy was almost born to preach the gospel in the garden. “Flowers had been a part of my childhood,” she writes in her introduction. “Plants and nature defined who I was and brought me great happiness.”
As her love and understanding of nature matured, she also grew in her faith. “I soon realized that there was a need to instruct the faithful in how to connect the Creator through his creation and historiated Christian symbolism.” Her work has guided the faithful in determining what garden elements would lead them into contemplation and prayer.
Realy stresses the natural synergy between faith and nature. “Spiritually dedicated gardens,” she writes, “are those that attend to the interior need of our heart, mind and soul, offering a place where both people and plants can grow.” Plants can be portals to drawing us closer to the Creator through his creations.
So how does a novice begin a spiritual garden? Realy offers a simplified way that emphasizes discernment, design, and development. For discernment, the new gardener needs to assess the environment and location of the new garden. Realy advises a space with privacy and shade.
On design, Realy uses a “three-by-three rule.” She advises that spiritual gardens find harmony when the plants come in three heights, three textures, and three colors. She also cautions gardeners to remember that the plants will transition through four seasons.
Finally, on development, Realy advises gardeners to begin with a conceptual map for the location of the plants and the icons to be featured. Begin where you enter the garden, decide where you will place statues or shrines, and then draw in the plants you have selected to fill out the garden.
The result will be satisfying beyond expectation — even if you are struggling with your own faith. In fact, in the words of Sherry Weddell, “the spiritual impact of nature — including the natural beauty in a garden — can be another bridge to faith in Jesus Christ for the unchurched and unbelievers.” And wouldn’t that be a wonderful thing for all of us.
(Timothy Walch is a lay director at St. Thomas Mare Parish in Coralville and a member of The Catholic Messenger’s board of directors. He reviews books for the “Messenger” and other publications and is the author or editor of many books including “Irish Iowa” (2019).)
Contributed Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary fifth-graders Logan Henrich and Brooklyn Scheetz write in Lenten prayer journals earlier this month in West Point. Seventh-grader Cooper Boylan developed the prayer journals with help from his mom, family and youth minister Cortney Boylan.
By Lindsay Steele
The Catholic Messenger
WEST POINT — Seventh-grader Cooper Boylan wasn’t sure what to “give up” for Lent this year. “I wanted it to be something that really challenged me to grow closer to my faith, not just giving up sugar or video games, but something meaningful that would be a learning experience for me,” he recalled.
Cooper, who attends Holy Trinity Junior/Senior High School in Fort Madison, asked his mom, Cortney Boylan, for advice. “She recommended praying on it, so I decided to do just that.” He decided to create a prayer journal in which he could reflect on daily Scripture readings during Lent.
Cortney Boylan, director of family and youth ministry for parishes in West Point, Houghton, St. Paul and Farmington, loved the idea. She thought other youths would want to do something similar. With only a few days before Lent would begin, she helped her son develop his idea into a Word document. In addition to Scripture readings and reflection questions, she included space to set goals for practicing the three pillars of Lent — praying, fasting and almsgiving.
Cooper’s younger brother, Brody Boylan, and his fifth-grade class at Holy Trinity Elementary in West Point are also using the journals. They take time in class each day to write in the journals and are encouraged to take them home on weekends and breaks. “We are very excited about this project,” co-teachers Jessica Moore and Sydni Foecke said in an email to The Catholic Messenger. The journals are “an amazing resource that can be used in our classroom to help our fifth-grade students strengthen their prayer life. We love that we have this opportunity to help our students grow in their personal faith journey. In addition to that, we love that we can complete this journey with our students in hopes to create a Christ-centered atmosphere in our classroom!”
Fifth-grader Anna Rempe thinks the journals are a great idea “because we get to express our feelings and thoughts about what the reading is trying to tell us.”
Classmate Charlie Scheetz enjoys reflecting on “amazing Bible verses and it feels so good to read those and to be able to do the Lent prayer journal.”
“You can use your imagination and figure out different thoughts for the readings,” said fifth-grader Nolan Peitz.
Classmate Maddy Kieler believes the journals are “a great way to reflect during Lent, and (they) help us learn about the Bible.”
Cortney Boylan said her sons are “very excited” to be sharing this with Brody’s classmates, and there is potential to develop and expand the journals to more classrooms and age groups in the future.
Barb Arland-Fye Father Apo Mpanda wears a chasuble from an African papal Mass at Our Lady of the River Parish in LeClaire last month.
By Barb Arland-Fye
The Catholic Messenger
A diocesan priest and a refugee, both from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and now longtime residents of the Davenport Diocese, say Pope Francis’ recent visit to their beloved homeland draws much-needed attention to a nation ravaged by conflict.
Pope Francis traveled to the Congo and to South Sudan for an apostolic visit Jan. 31-Feb. 5 aimed at fostering peace and reconciliation in both countries. In the Congo, the Holy Father listened to the stories of survivors who described horrific experiences of rape, who witnessed loved ones murdered in front of them, who watched helplessly as oppressors snatched their parents from them.
The Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi told the Holy Father during their meeting Jan. 31 that in the past 30 years “the enemies of peace, as well as terrorist groups, mainly from neighboring countries” has undermined the welcome and harmony that characterized Congo for centuries (OSV, 1-31-23).
The Congo is torn by war because of its minerals — among them gold, copper, diamonds and coltan, a key ingredient in electric car batteries and cell phones — says Father Apo Mpanda. He also
Nduhirahe
said this country in central Africa has a vast rainforest, second only to the Amazon. The pastor of Our Lady of the River Parish in LeClaire and Church of the Visitation in Camanche knows the Congo well because it is his homeland and he was ordained a priest there in 1988. He and Veve Nduhirahe, a Congolese refugee and member of St. Thomas More Parish in Coralville, both ask the people of the Davenport Diocese to learn more about the Congo and to pray for peace there.
Father Apo was among 2,000 priests and hundreds of bishops and cardinals who concelebrated Mass with Pope Francis on Feb. 1 at the Ndolo Airport in Kinshasa, the Congo’s capital. Father Mpanda said he planned his trip to coincide with the pope’s visit. “When I heard the pope was going to the Congo and praying with the people for peace in the Congo, I said it was a good time to go,” he told The Catholic Messenger.
“The turnout to welcome the pope was overwhelming in Kinshasa,” Father Mpanda said in a column he wrote for “The Lighthouse,” the LeClaire parish’s newsletter. He described highlights from each day’s events. Summarizing Pope Francis’ message to youths at Martyrs Stadium, Father Apo said, “he urged young people to work for a better future in their nation by reflecting on five ingredients: prayer, community, honesty, forgiveness and service.”
Father Mpanda also shared his deep concern for the suffering the people of his homeland endure. He said, “almost all of the Congo minerals end up in the hands of foreign powers and neighboring countries of Rwanda and Uganda. That is the source of the unfair war imposed on the Congo. Over 20 million people have been killed, and women and children raped.”
He said the “Catholic Church has always played a role in the Congo, especially in promoting democracy, human rights and health care. More than half the population is Catholic. That is why the pope’s visit was a great opportunity for advocating for an end to this unfair war and for security in the Congo.”
Pope Francis’ concluding message especially resonated with Father Mpanda: “Hands off the DRC, hands off Africa! Stop choking Africa. It is not a mine to be stripped or terrain to be plundered.” The Holy Father also addressed the international community, which “has practically resigned itself to the violence devouring” the Congo. He called for a renewed effort to support development and peace in the African nation (Vatican News, Jan. 31, 2023).
Nduhirahe, who fled the Congo in 1999 with her husband and seven children, emphasizes the need to make known what is happening in the Congo. “What concerns me is the welfare of the mothers and children and the family as a whole,” she said.
During her visits to the Congo (she was not there for the pope’s visit), she has met the survivors of rape. In a conservative society such as in the Congo, rape brings shame and stigma to the survivors, some of whom become pregnant and endure ostracism as they raise the children of their rapists, Nduhirahe said. “Dignity and respect are gone. When you have a child (born as a result of rape) that child has no identity.”
She referred to the pope meeting with survivors of the atrocities, including a 17-year-old mother carrying twin babies, conceived as the result of rape. The teen said her rapist, who abused her repeatedly, treated her like an animal. This situation “is destroying the community,” Nduhirahe said. “In the African community, when you silence a woman, you kill the family and the whole clan collapses.”
She and Father Mpanda, who know each other, ask for prayers for the people of the Congo. “Let’s continue to pray for peace in the world, especially in Ukraine, the Congo and the USA by participating in adoration, Stations of the Cross and daily Mass,” Father Mpanda said. Nduhirahe adds, “Pray for people to understand what is going on in the world.”
Sixteen priests and four deacons will see assignment changes beginning July 1 when four priests are retiring and one religious order priest is moving out of the Diocese of Davenport, Bishop Thomas Zinkula announced.
Retirements
Fr. Herold
Father Anthony Herold, 69, will retire. The Fort Madison native graduated from Northeast Missouri State (now Truman State University) and St. Ambrose College in Davenport. He completed his theology studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Bishop Gerald O’Keefe ordained him to the priesthood July 14, 1979 at St. Mary Church-Fort Madison. Father Herold served at St. Paul Parish-Burlington, St. Mary Parish-Clinton and as spiritual director, diocesan vocations director and rector of the former St. Ambrose Seminary-Davenport. He served at St. Mary Parish-Iowa City, St. Patrick Parish-Ottumwa, St. Mary Magdalen Parish-Bloomfield and St. Mary of the Visitation Parish-Ottumwa and in pastoral management for corporate affairs at St. Aloysius Parish-Eldon. He served at Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace Parish-Clinton, Immaculate Conception Parish-Petersville, Ss. John & Paul Parish-Burlington, St. Paul the Apostle Parish-Davenport and as diocesan vicar general. He currently serves as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish-Newton and dean of the Grinnell Deanery.
Fr. Regan
Father Timothy Regan, 73, will retire. A Wisconsin native, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and completed theology studies at Pope John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts. Bishop O’Keefe ordained him to the priesthood May 30, 1991 at St. Anthony Church-Knoxville. Father Regan served at University Hospitals in Iowa City, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish-Bettendorf, Holy Trinity Parish-Keota, Sacred Heart Parish-Lost Nation, St. James Parish-Toronto and Sacred Heart Parish-Oxford Junction. He served as priest chaplain at Genesis Health System in Davenport and at St. Paul the Apostle Parish-Davenport. He currently serves as a chaplain at University Hospitals in Iowa City.
Fr. Wilkening
Father David Wilkening, 74, will retire. The Sigourney native graduated from the University of Northern Iowa-Cedar Falls and completed his theology studies at St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Bishop O’Keefe ordained him to the priesthood June 9, 1979 at St. Mary Church-Sigourney. Father Wilkening served at Sacred Heart Parish-Clinton, St. Mary Parish-Iowa City, St. Mary Magdalen Parish-Bloomfield, and St. Aloysius Parish-Eldon. He also served at St. Joseph Parish-What Cheer, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish-Keswick, St. Joseph Parish-North English, St. Mary Parish-West Point and St. Boniface Parish-Farmington. He also served at St. Mary Parish-Solon, Holy Family Parish-Fort Madison and St. Joseph Parish-Montrose. Currently, he is pastor of St. Patrick Parish-Marengo, St. Joseph Parish-North English and St. Mary Parish-Williamsburg.
Fr. Witt
Father Stephen Witt, 74, will retire. The Clinton native graduated from St. Ambrose College-Davenport and the University of Iowa. He married Patricia Finkenhoefer in 1974 and was in the workforce for 45 years. Ordained to the diaconate in 1982, he served parishes in Clinton before moving to Grinnell and serving at St. Mary Parish. After his wife’s death in 2001, he discerned a call to the priesthood. He completed theology studies at Sacred Heart School of Theology-Hales Corners, Wisconsin. Bishop Martin Amos ordained him to the priesthood Dec. 15, 2012 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Witt currently serves as pastor of St. Mary Parish-Iowa City and has served that parish and the Newman Catholic Student Center-Iowa City in various roles.
Assignment changes
Fr. Betzen
Father James Betzen, C.PP.S, 69, is being reassigned outside of the Davenport Diocese by his community, the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. Father Betzen currently serves at St. Mary of the Visitation Parish-Ottumwa.
Fr. Beckman
Father Gary Beckman, 64, will become pastor of Holy Family Parish-Fort Madison and St. Joseph Parish-Montrose. The Burlington native studied at Southeastern Community College-Burlington, Western Illinois University-Macomb, Illinois, and graduated from St. Ambrose University with a degree in criminal justice. He worked in law enforcement before studying theology at St. Paul Seminary-St. Paul, Minnesota, and completed theology studies at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary-St. Louis. Bishop William Franklin ordained him to the priesthood June 4, 1995 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. He served at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish-Bettendorf, Holy Family Parish-Davenport, Assumption & St. Patrick Parish-Charlotte, Ss. Mary & Joseph Parish-Sugar Creek and St. Joseph Parish-DeWitt. He also served at St. John the Baptist Parish-Houghton and St. James Parish-St. Paul. He currently serves as pastor of St. Wenceslaus Parish-Iowa City and St. Bernadette Parish-West Branch.
Fr. Flattery
Father James Flattery, 33, will become pastor of St. Mary Parish-Tipton, St. Mary Parish-Mechanicsville and St. Bernadette Parish-West Branch. The Colfax native graduated from AIB College of Business-Des Moines and went to work for Target Corp. in Altoona and Ankeny. He graduated from Conception Seminary-Conception, Missouri, and completed his theology studies at University of St. Mary of the Lake–Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. Bishop Thomas Zinkula ordained him to the priesthood June 6, 2020 at Immaculate Conception Church-Colfax. Father Flattery currently serves at Divine Mercy Parish-Burlington/West Burlington and St. Mary Parish-Dodgeville.
Fr. Foley
Father Scott Foley, 38, will remain as pastor of St. Mary Parish-Grinnell and add the assignment of pastor of St. Patrick Parish-Brooklyn. The Williamsburg native graduated from the University of Iowa with a BSE in civil engineering and a minor in business. He completed his theology studies at the Pontifical North American College-Rome. He worked as an engineer before entering the seminary. He also served as an English teacher at Mokpo Catholic University in Mokpo, South Korea, and worked with the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India. Bishop Zinkula ordained him to the priesthood June 1, 2019 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Foley has served at St. Paul the Apostle Parish-Davenport, Our Lady of Victory Parish-Davenport and Assumption High School-Davenport. He currently serves as pastor of the Grinnell parish.
Fr. Goetz
Father Marty Goetz, 54, will become pastor at Sacred Heart Parish-Newton. The Keokuk native attended Southeastern Community College and St. Ambrose University. He completed theology studies at Mundelein Seminary-St. Mary of the Lake. Bishop O’Keefe ordained him to the priesthood May 29, 1992 at All Saints Church-Keokuk. Father Goetz served at St. Patrick Parish-Iowa City, Our Lady of Victory Parish-Davenport and Prince of Peace Parish-Clinton. After a leave of absence, he returned to active ministry in 2001. He also served at Holy Trinity Parish-Keota, St. Mary Parish-Sigourney and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish-Keswick and as diocesan director of vocations. He also served at Holy Trinity Parish-Richmond, St. Mary Parish-Riverside and St. Joseph Parish-Wellman. He currently serves as pastor of Divine Mercy Parish, formed by the merger of Ss. John & Paul Parish-Burlington and Ss. Mary & Patrick Parish-West Burlington. He also serves as pastor of St. Mary Parish-Dodgeville.
Fr. Greiner
Father Jacob Greiner, 41, will become pastor of Divine Mercy Parish-Burlington/West Burlington and St. Mary Parish-Dodgeville and continue as diocesan director of seminarians and of vocations. The Keota native graduated from the University of Notre Dame and completed theology studies at St. Paul Seminary-St. Paul. Bishop Amos ordained him to the priesthood May 25, 2013 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Greiner served at Ss. Mary & Mathias Parish-Muscatine, St. Anthony Parish-Knoxville, Sacred Heart Parish-Melcher and priest moderator of St. Andrew Parish-Blue Grass. He currently serves as pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish-Davenport.
Fr. Hilgendorf
Father Patrick Hilgendorf, 53, will become pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish-Davenport. The Clinton native graduated from Mount St. Clare College-Clinton, St. Ambrose University-Davenport and completed his theology studies at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. Bishop Franklin ordained him to the priesthood May 17, 1997 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Hilgendorf has served at St. Paul the Apostle Parish-Davenport, St. Patrick and St. Wenceslaus parishes in Iowa City, Ss. John & Paul Parish-Burlington and Ss. Mary & Patrick Parish-West Burlington. He currently serves as pastor of St. Patrick Parish-Ottumwa and St. Mary Magdalen Parish-Bloomfield.
Fr. Lamansky
Father John Lamansky, 32, will serve as pastor of St. Wenceslaus Parish-Iowa City with ministry to the Hispanic community at St. Patrick Parish-Iowa City. A Fairfield-area native, he graduated from Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, completed advanced studies at Mundelein Seminary, and completed theology studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas-Rome. Bishop Zinkula ordained him to the priesthood June 30, 2018 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Lamansky served at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish-Bettendorf and currently serves as parochial vicar of Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace Parish-Clinton and chaplain of Prince of Peace Catholic School.
Fr. Lathrop
Father Robert Lathrop, 64, while remaining pastor of Holy Trinity Parish-Keota and St. Mary Parish-Sigourney, and administrator of Ss. Joseph and Cabrini Parish-Richland, will add duties as pastor of St. Joseph Parish-North English. Born in Orlando, Florida, he moved around the country as his father served in the military. Father Lathrop served in the military from 1977-1995 and took early retirement to pursue undergraduate studies. He graduated from St. Ambrose University and completed theology studies at Mundelein Seminary. Bishop Franklin ordained him to the priesthood June 9, 2001 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Lathrop served at Ss. Mary & Mathias Parish-Muscatine, Our Lady of Victory Parish-Davenport and All Saints Parish-Keokuk. He also served at St. Joseph Parish-Montrose, St. Patrick Parish-Georgetown, St. Peter Parish-Lovilia, St. Patrick Parish-Melrose and All Saints Parish-Keokuk. He currently serves as pastor of the Keota and Sigourney parishes and as administrator in Richland.
Fr. Le
Father Khoa Le, 40, will become parochial vicar at Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace Parish-Clinton. Father Le, a native of Vietnam, graduated from the University of Hue with a bachelor’s degree in physics. He studied for the priesthood at Major Seminary of Hue. Bishop Francis Xavier Le Van Hong ordained him to the priesthood June 12, 2015 at Phu Cam Cathedral in Vietnam. He later earned a master of pastoral theology degree from Seton Hall University in New Jersey. He has served at Ss. Mary & Mathias Parish-Muscatine since arriving in the diocese in 2021.
Fr. Lemaster
Father Scott Lemaster, 66, while remaining as pastor at St. Bridget Parish-Victor, will be relieved as pastor of St. Patrick Parish-Brooklyn and assigned as pastor of St. Patrick Parish-Marengo. The Muscatine native graduated from St. Ambrose College, Aquinas Institute-St. Louis and studied theology at St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, St. John’s School of Theology and Seminary, Collegeville-Minnesota, and Aquinas Institute-St. Louis. Bishop O’Keefe ordained him to the priesthood June 22, 1985 at St. Mary Church-Muscatine. Father Lemaster has served at Our Lady of Victory Parish-Davenport, Sacred Heart Parish-Kinross, Holy Trinity Parish-Richmond, St. Joseph Parish-Wellman, St. Patrick Parish-Melrose, St. Patrick Parish-Georgetown and St. Peter Parish-Lovilia. He has also served at Assumption & St. Patrick Parish-Charlotte, Ss. Mary & Joseph Parish-Sugar Creek, Immaculate Conception Parish-Petersville and St. Patrick Parish-Delmar. He currently serves as pastor of the Brooklyn and Victor parishes.
Fr. Lopoke
Father Symphorien Lopoke, 54, will become pastor of St. Mary Parish-Iowa City where he currently serves as parochial vicar.
Fr. Mallory
Father Dale Mallory, 31, while continuing to serve as parochial vicar of St. Mary of the Visitation Parish-Ottumwa, will also serve at St. Patrick Parish-Ottumwa and St. Mary Magdalen Parish-Bloomfield. Born in Massachusetts, he graduated from the University of Iowa and worked several years before discerning a call to the priesthood. He completed theology studies at St. Paul Seminary School of Theology at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Bishop Zinkula ordained him to the priesthood June 4, 2022 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport. He assisted at St. Anthony Parish-Davenport and currently serves at St. Mary of the Visitation-Ottumwa.
Fr. Mensah
Father Francis Mensah, 40, while remaining pastor of St. Peter Parish-Cosgrove, St. Mary Parish-Oxford and serving as defender of the bond for the diocesan marriage tribunal, will add duties as pastor of St. Mary Parish-Williamsburg. He grew up in Ghana, Africa and earned degrees from St. Paul Seminary-Accra, and St. Peter Seminary-Cape Coast, the Pontifical Urbaniana University-Rome, Pontifical Gregorian University-Rome and Pontifical Lateran University-Rome. Bishop Matthias Kobina Nketsiah ordained him to the priesthood Sept. 25, 2010 in Cape Coast, Ghana. Father Mensah has served at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana; a senior high school in Agona Swedru, Ghana; in radio evangelization in Ghana; and as a parochial collaborator at St. Barbara Parish in the Diocese of Rome. He came to the Davenport Diocese in 2022.
Father Okumu
Father Richard Okumu, 66, will serve as a senior priest at St. Thomas More Parish-Coralville and St. Patrick Parish-Iowa City. Born in Uganda, East Africa, he attended Katigando National Major Seminary and earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. He also studied at Cambridge University in England and did theology studies at Gregorian University in Rome. Bishop O’Keefe ordained him to the priesthood Aug. 8, 1981 at Sacred Heart Church-Newton. Father Okumu served at Assumption High School-Davenport, St. Patrick Parish-Iowa City, Sacred Heart Parish-Kinross, Holy Trinity Parish-Richmond and St. Joseph Parish-Wellman. After a leave of absence for studies, he served at St. Peter Parish-Cosgrove, St. Michael Parish-Holbrook, St. Bridget Parish-Victor, St. Patrick Parish in Brooklyn and Church of the Visitation Parish in Camanche. He currently serves as pastor of St. Mary Parish-Mechanicsville and St. Mary Parish-Tipton.
Fr. Paintsil
Father David Paintsil, 44, recently arrived in the Davenport Diocese and will become parochial vicar of St. Mary Parish-Iowa City. A native of Africa, he attended St. Peter Regional Seminary at Cape Coast, Ghana, did theological studies at the Pontifical Urbaniana University-Rome and advanced studies at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Cardinal Peter Turkson ordained him to the priesthood Nov. 12, 2005 at St. Francis Cathedral at Cape Coast. Father Paintsil has served at Mary, Queen of Peace, St. Edward and Immaculate Conception of Mary Grotto parishes, all in Cape Coast.
Fr. Phung
Father Joseph Phung, 65, will become pastor at St. Patrick Parish-Iowa City. Born in Vietnam, he began theology studies there before his school closed. He immigrated to the United States in 1993 and studied at St. Ambrose University. He completed his theology studies at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Bishop Franklin ordained him to the priesthood June 24, 2000 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Phung served at St. Mary Parish-Iowa City, Sacred Heart Cathedral-Davenport, where he also served the Vietnamese Catholic community, and St. Alphonsus Parish-Mount Pleasant. He currently serves as pastor of Holy Family Parish-Fort Madison and St. Joseph Parish-Montrose.
Fr. Sia
Father Joseph Sia, 48, will become pastor of St. Patrick Parish and St. Mary parishes in Ottumwa and St. Mary Magdalen Parish-Bloomfield. Born in Manila, Philippines, he earned a BS in basic medical sciences and a doctor of medicine from the University of Philippines. Before entering the priesthood, he was a university research associate at the Institute of Human Genetics, University of the Philippines. He served as a graduate research assistant at the University of Iowa before completing theology studies at Mundelein Seminary. Bishop Amos ordained him to the priesthood May 10, 2008 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Sia served at Ss. Mary & Mathias Parish-Muscatine; St. Joseph Parish-Columbus Junction, St. Joseph Parish-West Liberty and as the diocesan director of vocations. He also served at St. Mary Parish-Davenport and as minister to the Hispanic community there, and at St. Bernadette Parish-West Branch. Currently he serves as pastor of St. Patrick Parish-Iowa City and as diocesan director of recently ordained.
Dcn. KabatDcn. MontgomeryDcn OsbornDcn. Rohret
Deacon Christopher Kabat, while remaining at St. Wenceslaus Parish-Iowa City, is relieved of duties at St. Bernadette Parish-West Branch.
Deacon David Montgomery, while remaining at St. Peter Parish-Cosgrove and St. Mary Parish-Oxford, will also serve St. Mary Parish-Williamsburg.
Deacon John Osborne, while remaining at St. Mary Parish-Grinnell, will also serve St. Patrick Parish-Brooklyn.
Deacon Joseph Rohret, while remaining at St. Peter Parish-Cosgrove and St. Mary Parish-Oxford, will also serve St. Mary Parish-Williamsburg.
CLINTON — The Mount St. Clare Charitable Education Trust continues its mission to award college scholarships to area students for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Prospective applicants may contact area high schools and Clinton Community College or access the application on the Clinton National Bank website at www.clintonnational.com/scholarships or from the Clinton National Bank Trust Department.
Successful applicants must have graduated or will graduate from a high school in Clinton County, Iowa, or Whiteside County, Illinois, and currently attend or will attend a two- or four-year college or university physically located in Iowa.
An independent selection committee will review applications, which are due by May 1, and the trustee will notify successful applicants in late June. The scholarships are paid directly to each recipient’s college or university in the fall. The trust will award approximately $190,000 in 2023. In past years, awards have provided support for 75 to 80 students per year.
Scholarship funds were established for the benefit of students attending Mount St. Clare College and, later, Ashford University. In 2012, the scholarship funds were combined into a single trust with Clinton National Bank as the trustee. The primary purpose is to provide scholarships recognizing the long-term commitment of the Sisters of St. Francis to the value of education.
JOHNSTON, Iowa — Sister Mary Kayleen Heffron, CHM, a retired nurse, died March 6 at Bishop Drumm Care Center. She was 91.
She was born Mary Catherine Heffron in Georgetown to Michael and Agnes (Murphy) Heffron, entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in 1959 and professed vows in 1962. She completed her RN degree from the St. Joseph School of Nursing in Ottumwa, her associate’s degree from Ottumwa Heights College in Ottumwa and her BSN in nursing from St. Ambrose College in Davenport. She also spent a summer taking graduate courses at the University of Iowa.
Sister Heffron worked as a nurse in the Monroe County Hospital in Albia. After entering the CHM community and completing her BSN, she served at St. Joseph Hospital in Ottumwa for 23 years as a nurse, working in the operating room, the ICCU and as an emergency room supervisor. After St. Joseph Health and Rehabilitation Center closed in 1987, she took a year’s sabbatical before working as an RN in the skilled nursing facility and physical rehab unit at the Ottumwa Regional Health Center until her retirement. She also served on several hospital committees and was a member of both the Iowa Nurses’ Association and the American Nurses’ Association.
Sister Heffron enjoyed reading and traveling to places such as England, Wales and Ireland; Adrian, Michigan; and Massachusetts. She also served on the Integration Formation Committee for the CHM community from 1988-1993.
Visitation took place at Our Lady of Peace Chapel in Johnston and Humility of Mary Magnificant Chapel in Davenport. Her funeral took place March 11 in the Humility of Mary Magnificat Chapel with burial afterwards in Mt. Calvary Cemetery-Davenport.
Memorials may be made to the Congregation of the Humility of Mary.
COLUMBUS JUNCTION – El obispo Thomas Zinkula se reunió con cerca de 20 trabajadores de una planta empacadora de carne, el pasado 27 de febrero, para escuchar sus objeciones a los cambios propuestos en la ley de trabajo infantil de Iowa.
La legislación, que ha sido aprobada por los comités de la Cámara de Representantes y el Senado de Iowa, permitiría que los menores de 14 a 17 años, realicen trabajos –como en fábricas-, que en este momento están prohibidos; como parte de un programa de capacitación a través de su escuela o empleador. El proyecto de ley también ampliaría las horas de trabajo para los adolescentes y, por otro lado, permitiría que los jóvenes de 16 y 17 años puedan servir alcohol (Iowa Capital Dispatch, 3 de marzo).
El 6 de marzo, los partidarios del proyecto de ley agregaron una enmienda al Archivo 167 del Senado, que no permitiría a los directores de los departamentos de Trabajo y Educación, extender exenciones; para que los estudiantes trabajen en minería, explosivos, radiación, tala o matanza/empacado de carne. Sin embargo, el proyecto de ley sigue siendo un trabajo en progreso, dijo Tom Chapman, director ejecutivo de la Conferencia Católica de Iowa.
El grupo de defensa Escucha Mi Voz, que agrupa a líderes de diferentes denominaciones religiosas, fue el anfitrión de la reunión del 27 de febrero; durante la cual Claire Lewandowski, organizadora de Escucha Mi Voz, tradujo los testimonios de los trabajadores para el obispo Zinkula. Sus preocupaciones se centraron en trabajos en plantas empacadoras de carne, que son peligrosos e inadecuados para menores, con posibilidades de lesiones relacionadas con el trabajo, duras condiciones de trabajo, una amenaza percibida para la seguridad laboral, discriminación/favoritismo y el impacto perjudicial en la educación de menores.
Un trabajador de una planta empacadora de carne dijo, que la planta en la que trabaja tiene algunos trabajos simples; pero también algunos trabajos muy peligrosos. Dijo que los trabajadores están “mal enseñados” en sus trabajos. Le preocupa que los niños se enfrenten a un riesgo aún mayor de lesiones debido a su corta edad. También afirmó que los supervisores de planta; muestran trato preferencial y discriminatorio. “Ninguno de nosotros quiere que nuestros hijos estén en esa situación”. El obispo Zinkula pidió un ejemplo de discriminación. El trabajador dijo que los empleados de diferentes países son tratados de manera diferente.
La esposa de un trabajador, también empleada en una planta empacadora de carne, dijo que la planta afirma, que la seguridad es lo primero; pero no lo demuestra. Expresó su preocupación por la probabilidad de lesiones y que los empleadores, no serían responsables de los trabajadores jóvenes lesionados en el trabajo. (Más tarde, los legisladores eliminaron esa disposición, luego de una publicidad nacional negativa). También expresó su preocupación sobre la posibilidad de que los jóvenes conduzcan vehículos en la planta, particularmente maquinaria pesada, por la noche. Ella predijo: “Habrá muchos accidentes…. “Creo que tenemos que alzar la voz y decir: ‘Esto debe terminar aquí'”.
Otra empleada de una planta empacadora de carne dijo, que tuvo que ausentarse del trabajo debido a una hinchazón en las manos; que le provocó un dolor considerable. Ella piensa que los supervisores usarían a los trabajadores jóvenes, como una herramienta para amenazar la seguridad laboral de los trabajadores adultos. Otros trabajadores expresaron preocupaciones similares.
Los trabajadores hablaron de empleadores en varias industrias, que emplean ilegalmente a niños, en trabajos tan peligrosos como limpiar cuchillas afiladas o usar productos químicos potentes de limpieza (según informes de noticias, que citan al Departamento de Trabajo). “Nos entristece pensar en los niños en estos trabajos”, dijo un trabajador.
Un trabajador citó la carta pastoral de 1986 de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de EE. UU. “Justicia económica para todos”: “La economía debe servir a las personas, no al revés”. El diácono Kent Ferris de la oficina de Acción Social de la Diócesis de Davenport le pidió al trabajador que compartiera la carta resumida con el grupo.
Después de la reunión, dijo que la carta se alinea con los principios rectores de Escucha Mi Voz y subraya “las profundas preocupaciones, que expresaron los trabajadores acerca de que a los niños más pequeños, se les permita trabajar en sus entornos laborales”.
Cuando el obispo Zinkula preguntó a los trabajadores si les preocupaba, que la legislación propuesta pudiera hacer; que los jóvenes no continúen con su educación, el grupo asintió con la cabeza. Le agradecieron por tomarse el tiempo para reunirse con ellos y escuchar sus preocupaciones.
El obispo Zinkula le dijo al grupo, que compartiría sus preocupaciones con los otros obispos de Iowa y la Conferencia Católica de Iowa (ICC) y recomendaría, que la ICC se oponga a las partes del proyecto de ley, relacionadas con los menores que trabajan en las plantas empacadoras de carne.
La CPI continuará monitoreando el proyecto de ley y asesorando a los obispos sobre los cambios.
