Rosary in the Park
St. Mary’s Rosary group invites you to join in a Public Square Rosary Rally on
Saturday, October 10, at 12:00 noon at Kohlmann Park in Waverly.
This Public Square Rosary, sponsored by America Needs Fatima, will be one of over 20,000 rallies that will take place all across the United States on that day. Please join us to pray the Rosary together to meditate on the life of Christ and ask for healing in our nation and our world. Please wear a mask and bring your Rosary and a lawn chair. We will observe social distancing.

Resources for at Home
Click on the + to view links.

Stream Masses & Mass readings

• Daily Catholic Mass Readings: cms.usccb.org/bible/
  
• Word on Fire: daily Mass, readings, reflections & more www.wordonfire.org/daily-mass/

Daily reflections & PRayers

• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops page for prayers and engagement: catholiccurrent.org/covid19/?mc_cid=653133a134&mc_eid=7734c10162
  
• Living Faith devotionals, prayers, and Mass readings  for adults and children: www.livingfaith.com/ 

Resources for Families

Resources for Families:

• Illustrated book to explain COVID19 and help children express their feelings: book_oyster___butterfly.pdf
• Children's Bulletin activities:​​ * do_not_worry_lesson_and_activity_sheets.pdf   
• coronavirus_for_parents.pdf
• Living Faith devotionals, prayers, and Mass readings  for adults and children: www.livingfaith.com/
• Subscribe to Family Matters Newsletter from the Archdiocese of Dubuque for additional resources: dbqarch.org/family-matters-newsletter

Mental Health resources

Catholic Charities 800-772-2758

• Catholic Charities Mental Health Minutes on their website: www.catholiccharitiesdubuque.org/resources-1
  
• coping_with_stress_during_outbreaks_samhsa.pdf
• coping_with_disaster.pdf
• how_to_cope_with_sheltering_in_place_samhsa.pdf
• taking_care_of_your_behavioral_health_tips_for_social_distancing_quarantine.pdf
• Suicide Prevention Hotline - 1-800-273-8255 or TEXT - CONNECT to 741741
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) - namiiowa.org
• SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services) - samhsa.gov
• Disaster Distress Helpline - 1-800-985-5990

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We will observe the Archdiocese & CDC guidelines for social distancing & safe practices for Mass.
The dispensation for the Sunday obligation to attend Mass is still in place and will remain in place until a vaccine is available.

• · Arrive between at least 15 min. early for Mass, if possible to avoid crowding in our entryway etc.
• · Masks required; put on before entering building. Limited number of reusable cloth masks available to use, launder & reuse.
• · Hand sanitizer provided at both entrances. Use as you enter.
• · Seating - sit only with those in your household. Ensure 6’ distance between non-household members.
• · No gathering before or after Mass in the building.
• · Children must be kept close to you at all times. This is for their safety & the safety of our elderly & vulnerable  population by reducing contact.
• · Singing will be very limited.
• · Communion (hosts only) will be brought to you in the pew.
• · Holy water font will not be available. Bottles of holy water can be requested from the office.
• · No sharing of the peace, hand shakes,  or other direct contact.
• · Ushers will dismiss by rows. Do not leave until they dismiss you.
• · Offertory & other gifts can be dropped in the boxes at the south or north entrance. We will not pass the collection baskets.
• · Please try to touch as few surfaces as possible. We will prop open doors for entering and exiting Masses.
• · No food or drinks will be served in our facility until further notice. The water fountains & kitchen will not be available.
• · Restrooms will be available. While we will clean between Masses, we  cannot clean between every person. Plan accordingly.
• · High Risk Groups: Those aged 65+, have underlying health conditions, or are nervous about attending, please consider waiting to attend or attend a daily Mass with lower attendance. Stay healthy, stay safe.
• · Thank You! For your patience & cooperation!

 
Schedule & policies subject to change.

Community Events & News

The Derecho…Another 2020 Disaster
If you are interested in volunteering on-site, you must register with an organization and receive an assignment first. Here are some places to look:
Linn Area Partners Active in Disaster (LAP-AID) volunteer info:

DONATE  through our Archdiocese to assist those effected by the Derecho.

https://www.linndisasterinfo.com/storm
 
United Way volunteer info:
https://unitedwayofeastcentraliowa.galaxydigital.com/need/index?s=1&need_init_id=3463
 
Catholic Charities disaster information: https://www.catholiccharitiesdubuque.org/disaster-resources

If the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t bad enough, now a good portion of the Archdiocese is dealing with the aftermath of the derecho that unexpectedly swept through Iowa and neighboring states on August 10th, leaving a wave of destruction in its wake. Many churches and schools experienced damage, while also being out of power for days, resulting in Masses being cancelled (again), the start of the school year and fall programming becoming up in the air (again), and limited means of communication available (which we’ve come to rely on so much during COVID).
 
Many livelihoods have been placed in jeopardy (once again)—for example, just think of all the farmers who lost acres upon acres of crops, along with buildings, and those who have been displaced because of the damage. Parish and school staff members are faced with trying to juggle caring for the immediate needs of their families and homes, while also ministering to their parish and school communities. The news trickling out in the aftermath, especially from places like Cedar Rapids, seems unbelievable and unbearable. Cedar Rapids has been described to be like a “war zone,” with trees and power lines down everywhere, serious damage to buildings and homes throughout the city, and widespread power outages.
 
So, what can we do in the wake of such severe devastation (while also in the midst of a worldwide pandemic)? It may seem like God is absent, suffering is meaningless, and there is no hope. But we know our faith teaches us otherwise. God is present in the midst of our suffering and can bring good out of the worst of circumstances—just think of the Cross, which led to the resurrection and our salvation.
 
Reports coming out of Cedar Rapids, for example, are showing tremendous glimmers of hope even in the midst of dire circumstances. The community, during a time that has been dominated by social isolation, is coming together. Neighbors are helping neighbors, parishioners are helping other parishioners, crews of volunteers are showing up at churches to help clear debris. As one person put it, “Strangers are acting like close friends and friends are acting like family.” As another said, “God has been good to us with the love we have felt from so many.”
 
Now is the time to come together, to be in solidarity with the suffering of others (like Jesus did), and to support our brothers and sisters in Christ, especially the most poor and vulnerable, who have been affected by this disaster. Please pray for all those affected, please provide aid if you are able, and please volunteer to help in-person if available. Please also encourage others in your parish communities to help, and consider ways you could organize a parish ministry group to help out in one way or another (anything from prayer groups, to Holy Hours of adoration, to food/supply/donation drives, to taking a group to a hard hit location to help with recovery).
- Archdiocese of Dubuque