More than a hundred protestors of all ages came to Sioux City on Tuesday to speak out against a plan in the Sioux City Catholic Diocese to combine smaller parish churches. Two busloads of people and several more in cars came from places like Carroll, Odebolt, Arthur and Kiron. Roger … [Read more...]
Churches adapt Ash Wednesday celebration in pandemic
The concerns about coronavirus continue to have an impact on churches and how they celebrate. The First Presbyterian Church in Oskaloosa is celebrating Ash Wednesday today with a drive-up service. Celebrants receive ashes and a prayer while remaining in their car. "I heard about this over the … [Read more...]
Iowa churches make adjustments to Christmas Eve services
Iowa churches adapted to this year's Covid circumstances on Christmas Eve. A few found larger parking lots for their congregations to gather in vehicles for the very local broadcast of a Christmas Eve service. The congregation of Central Presbyterian church, a few blocks from the governor's … [Read more...]
Epworth pastor calls organization of drive-up Christmas service ‘truly a miracle’
The paster of the Methodist church in Epworth says a Christmas miracle helped bring together plans for a drive-up Christmas Eve church service tonight. Churches belonging to the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church are currently prohibited from holding indoor services through January … [Read more...]
Fort Dodge asked to remember Pastor Henderson with acts of kindness
Residents of the Fort Dodge area are being asked to do something nice on Friday, which marks one year since Pastor Al Henderson was robbed and murdered outside his church, St. Paul Lutheran. T.J. Pingel, a Fort Dodge businessman with Serving Our Servants, is organizing the movement. "Pastor … [Read more...]
UNI project aims to improve ‘religious literacy’
A professor of religious studies at the University of Northern Iowa has landed a $10,000 grant to create what will be called the Iowa Religious Literacy Project. Professor Mike Graziano says the funds will help to organize a professional development seminar to guide Iowa public school teachers … [Read more...]
More in-person worship services added for Des Moines Catholic Diocese
The Bishop of the Des Moines Catholic Diocese is easing restrictions again on in-person worship. Bishop William Joensen instituted a phased-in approach where some parishes could begin weekday public celebration of Mass at the discretion of their pastors with proper precautions implemented. … [Read more...]
Davenport Diocese not yet allowing larger events
Thousands of Catholics in southeastern Iowa are going to have to wait a while longer for the reopening of their churches and public celebration of mass. The churches opened for private prayer last week, but not yet for any larger events. Davenport Diocese Bishop, Thomas Zinkula, says he's taking … [Read more...]
Catholic Diocese in Dubuque to start services at end of month
The leader of the Dubuque Catholic Diocese says churches will be allowed to hold services once again on the last weekend of this month. Archbishop Michael Jackels announced his decision in a video and says it is based on the coronavirus trends for northeast Iowa. "Namely, that there has been a … [Read more...]
Catholic Diocese of Des Moines to allow restart of masses in 15 counties
The Bishop of the Des Moines Catholic Diocese is allowing in-person masses to return in 15 counties beginning Thursday. Bishop William Joensen says the decision comes after looking at information surrounding the coronavirus pandemic for the past month. "We just thought that a kind of gradual … [Read more...]