December 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Thank you for your thoughtful participation in the Journey in Faith process. Your feedback—shared through regional and parish meetings, online forms, and letters—has been invaluable. Our team is now prayerfully reviewing and synthesizing everything you’ve shared as we prepare for the next steps in this important discernment.
Beginning in January and the months ahead, we will begin identifying how the insights gathered can help strengthen our parishes and further our mission to bring Christ to others. Rather, this is about building a vibrant and sustainable future for our faith communities. After reviewing all the feedback and data collected, the Core Team will present an updated model for the Archdiocese of Dubuque to the Planning Commission and then to the priests of the Archdiocese for one more round of input. After that process, I will make a decision concerning the future of the Archdiocese.
As we continue through Advent, I invite you to remain grounded in prayer. Please join me for a special Novena from the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus (January 3) through the Baptism of the Lord (January 11), asking the Holy Spirit to guide our discernment and renew our unity as one Church.
We are also setting aside a Day of Prayer each month dedicated to the Journey in Faith intentions. Details and prayer resources can be found at dbqjourneyinfaith.org.
You will find newly added FAQs on that same site. These are updated frequently to reflect questions we receive from parishioners across the Archdiocese. I encourage you to check them regularly for accurate and up-to-date information.
Thank you once again for your faith, your engagement, and your openness to the Holy Spirit. May this Advent season deepen your hope and prepare your hearts to welcome Christ anew.
Walking with you on this Journey in Faith,
Archbishop Thomas Zinkula
NCYC Has a Lasting Effect on Young People... And All of the Church
One of the key moments from NCYC 2025 was a live digital encounter with Pope Leo XIV. Leo responded to questions from teens, including a series of questions from our very own Elise Wing of Waterloo (pictured at right, above), and inspired them to take action now to ensure that their gifts are shared with the world.
Diaconate Ordination Vigil Holy Hour to be held Friday, Dec. 19
All are invited to join a holy hour of Eucharistic adoration with evening prayer at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, at the Cathedral of St. Raphael. During this time of prayer, those to be ordained will make a solemn Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity. Please pray for and with seminarians Peter Binder, Jacob Francois, Thiết Hoàng, and Joshua Krischel as they prepare for diaconate ordination.
Four Seminarians to be Ordained to the Diaconate
Seminarians Peter Binder, Jacob Francois, Thiết Hoàng and Joshua Krischel will be ordained for service in the order of the diaconate by Archbishop Thomas Zinkula at the Cathedral of St. Raphael in Dubuque. The 10 a.m. Mass of Ordination is open to the public and will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend.
The seminarians recently spoke with the archdiocesan office of communications, sharing their backgrounds and vocational stories...
Our Call to be Pilgrims of Hope Extends Beyond Jubilee Year
“Hope does not disappoint.” (Rom 5:5) With these words, Pope Francis announced the Jubilee 2025 Year of Hope. Now, as we approach the close of the Jubilee Year, we reflect on our continual call to journey as “Pilgrims of Hope.”
Jubilee of Choirs Celebrated in November of 2025 Jubilee Year
November saw the celebration of choirs during the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. In Rome, this jubilee was commemorated with sacred music sung by choirs from around the world performing at St. Peter's Basilica and participating in Masses, culminating in a Papal Mass in St. Peter's Square. Meanwhile, in the Archdiocese of Dubuque, we honor and appreciate the voices of the choirs that celebrate our Masses locally.
New Online Resources Help Families Live the Liturgical Year
The Evangelization Team at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center is pleased to offer new online resources designed to help families more fully live and celebrate the liturgical year at home. A new Liturgical Seasons section is now available on ...
2026 Archdiocesan Women's Conference
Women across the Archdiocese of Dubuque will gather to grow in faith and to support and celebrate one another at the annual Beauty In Christ Women’s Conference on Jan. 31, 2026. The theme, Grace for the Journey, is a reminder that "his grace is enough."
Upcoming Public Events
- December 19 – 7:00 PM - Diaconate Ordination Vigil Holy Hour at the Cathedral of St. Raphael
- December 20 – 10:00 AM - Ordination to the Diaconate: Peter Binder, Jacob Francois, Thiet Hoang and Joshua Krischel have been called to ordination to the diaconate at the Cathedral of St. Raphael
- December 28 – 9:00 AM - Jubilee Year Closing Mass with the Archbishop Zinkula at the Cathedral of St. Raphael
- January 31 – Women's Conference at Parishes Throughout the Archdiocese
- March 28 – 9:00 AM - Men's Conference at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids
- March 31 – Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. Raphael
Archdiocesan Conferences
Catholic Women's Conference
Registration is now open!
Please consider joining women at the 2026 Archdiocesan Women’s Conference: Grace for the Journey! Saturday, January 31, 2026!
For more information and to register: https://www.archwomensconference.org/registration/
Catholic Men's Conference
Save the date for the 2026 Archdiocese of Dubuque Catholic Men's Conference on Saturday, March 28th. The 30th annual conference will focus on how we can be inspired by the saints to be rooted in prayer and will feature Gabriel Castillo as the keynote speaker and Keith Nester as a breakout session speaker. It will take place at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids.
Learn more at