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Vicar General - Rev. Msgr. Thomas Toale

1. Welcome, Anastasia Nicklaus Schmelzer!

We are happy to announce that Anastasia Nicklaus Schmelzer has been hired to be the Director of Worship for the Archdiocese.

Many will know her since she has over 25 years of experience in various roles in the Archdiocese and its parishes and institutions. Currently, she is the Coordinator of Liturgy and Music at St. Edward Catholic Church, Waterloo, Iowa (July 2015-Present). Her goal is to "foster full, conscious, and active participation in the liturgy through careful preparation of liturgical celebrations."

She will begin July 1, 2025.

We take this opportunity to thank Connor Miller for his service as interim Director of the Worship Office.

Catholic Charities - Tracy Morrison

1. Immigration Legal Updates
In an effort to help parishes and immigrant communities navigate the numerous executive orders and policy changes, we encourage you to visit CatholicCharitiesDubuque.org/immigration-updates. This website also offers specific updates and printable factsheets on time-sensitive immigration topics, including immigration protections and the latest information on the travel ban for nationals from countries that will face restrictions or denial of entry to the United States. It also includes a collection of updates from trusted sources including the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice (Iowa MMJ).

If you or a loved one has any questions about their immigration case, please contact our Immigration Legal Services program to discuss your legal options. Our legal consultations are free. Our legal immigration services are focused on humanitarian and family-based immigration law. For more information, please call 319.364.7121 or visit CatholicCharitiesDubuque.org/immigration-legal-services.

2. Jail & Prison Reentry Changes Lives: Volunteer Today!
For people released from jail or prison, Catholic Charities is their lifeline to success. With the help of our dedicated volunteers, over 409 individuals were supported in positive community reentry in 2024 through mentoring and Circles of Support & Accountability. Connections to employment and affordable housing along with social and emotional support are effective in keeping these vulnerable individuals out of jail and finding a new path in life. Join our volunteer team today by calling 800.772.2758, emailing Amanda Baldiviezo (a.baldiviezo@dbqarch.org), or visiting CatholicCharitiesDubuque.org/volunteer.

“It has been very, very helpful to have people around who honestly, truly want to help people like me who have been to prison. I am basically trying to start all over and this program is just what I needed. I have a lot of hope lately." - Jail & Prison Reentry Client

Evangelization and Discipleship

1. Save the Date - Iowa Catholic Youth Conferences

ICYC returns its 5th year with an event for High School students on the night of Saturday, March 21 and a Middle School event on Sunday, March 22. Both events will be held at St. Ludmila in Cedar Rapids. More information will be available in the Fall.

2. Natural Family Planning Awareness Week
Natural Family Planning (NFP) Awareness Week will take place July 20-26, 2025. The theme this year is “Pursuing a Lasting Love…Marriage.” For resources from the USCCB, click here. Please also visit and share the archdiocesan NFP website that includes many resources and a list of NFP Instructors and Providers in the archdiocese: NFP.DBQArch.org. If you would like copies of the “Top Ten Reasons to
Use NFP” brochures, flyers, or posters (in English or Spanish), please contact Matt Selby.

3. NFP Parish Ambassadors

You’re invited to have a volunteer Natural Family Planning Parish Ambassador who can provide introductory presentations on NFP, be a go-to resource for parish leadership to help share NFP, and answer questions about NFP for those wanting to learn more (e.g. engaged couples, married couples, young adults, and parents). If you would like to have an NFP Ambassador at your parish, the Archdiocese’s NFP Training Scholarship fund can cover 100% of the costs for the online ambassador training ($147 per person). To learn more, visit NFP.DBQArch.org/Parish-Ambassadors.

Please share the following message in your parish communications. To request promotional materials, please contact Lynne Chapman.

4. 2025-2027 IMPACT Program for Catholic Adults

IMPACT is a two-year formation program for Catholic adults, which is coordinated by the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The next offering of the IMPACT program will be held at St. Mary Catholic Church in Vinton, starting in September of 2025. IMPACT provides the opportunity to grow in your faith by attending monthly sessions with dynamic presenters, engaging in discussions with other participants, reading spiritual books, and receiving guidance from a spiritual mentor. Through study, prayer, reflection, and conversation, participants are challenged to respond more fully to Jesus’ call to mission—to IMPACT our world! To learn more and apply, visit www.dbqarch.org/impact.

Human Resources - Michelle McDonald

Go to DBQArch.org/jobs for more details on openings listed below and application instructions.

Parish Positions:

Director of Religious Education - Good Shepherd Cluster, New Hampton, IA
Director of Faith Formation - St. Patrick Catholic Church, Clear Lake, Iowa
Liturgy and Music Coordinator - Epiphany Parish, Mason City, IA
Part-time Parish Secretary - Holy Family Cluster, Clarion, IA
Pastoral Assistant - Good Shepherd Cluster, New Hampton, IA
Coordinator of Youth Ministry - St. Joseph’s & Sts. Peter and Paul, Springbrook and St. Donatus, IA
Catechesis Coordinator - St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Marshalltown, IA
Director of Faith Formation - Holy Spirit Parish, Dubuque, IA
Bookkeeper (part-time) - Holy Spirit Parish, Dubuque, IA
Coordinator of Youth Formation (part-time) - Holy Spirit Parish, Dubuque, IA
Youth Minister - St. Ludmila, Cedar Rapids, IA
Business Manager - St. Joseph the Worker Cluster, West Union, IA

Pastoral Center:

Auditor - Dubuque, IA

Vocations - Rev. Mark Murphy

1. Priests, Seminarians, & Discerner Summer Cookouts

The Vocations Office is sponsoring several holy hours of Eucharistic Adoration and cookouts this summer to pray, allow priests and seminarians to socialize with each other, and to invite young men (incoming high school sophomores and older) to pray with us and experience our fraternity. Priests are encouraged to attend cookouts even if they are unable to bring a discerner.

Friday, June 20 - 5:30 PM Holy Hour at St. Anthony in Dubuque, 6:30 PM Cookout at Resurrection Rectory
Friday, July 11 - 5:30 PM Holy Hour at St. Mary Church, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Marshalltown, 6:30 PM Cookout at St. Francis of Assisi Rectory
Friday, August 1 - 5:30 PM Holy Hour at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hiawatha, 6:30 PM Cookout at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Rectory

For planning purposes, please RSVP to Julie Feldhake (dbqcvosec@dbqarch.org) by Wednesday before that Friday's cookout.

2. Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey Come & See
Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey is hosting a Come & See vocation weekend June 20-22, for women ages 18-40. Please promote this event through invitations and with the attached poster. Please contact vocations@olmabbey.org.

3. Other Religious Life Discernment Opportunities are available at dbqarch.org/religious-life

Worship Office

1. Eucharistic Procession Canopy Wanted

Epiphany Parish in Mason City is looking for a Eucharistic Procession canopy to be used for their upcoming Corpus Christi procession. If your parish has one and you would be interested in allowing them to borrow or purchase it, please contact Pat Keenan at p.keenan@dbqarch.org or 641.425.0406.