THE CATHOLIC MIRROR Vol. 53, No. 2 February 15, 2019 Lent kicks The New Moment off soon Chariton woman teaches girls Ash Wednesday on March 6 kicks off Lent, a period of 40 days of prayer, fasting ‘lost arts’ in the name of charity and charity, which prepares the faithful and newcomers to the faith to celebrate Easter with By Kelly Mescher Collins renewed hearts. Staff Writer At Ash Wednesday services, people are traditionally marked with the ashes of burnt Sewing, crocheting, and craft- palm branches as a sign of their ing has bonded a small group of young recognition of their human frailty girls and their leader at Sacred Heart as well as sinfulness and need Parish in Chariton. And it’s all done in for repentence in their lifelong the name of charity and faith. journey of conversion. Their leader, Vicki Nace, cre- Ash Wednesday and ated the group over five years ago. Good Friday (April 19) are days “The idea is to teach them dif- of fasting within the Church for ferent skills,” Nace said. “The purpose those between the ages of 18 is to teach them lost arts, but it’s also and 59. They may eat only one for charity.” full meal and two other meals They meet weekly in the base- consisting of substantially less ment of the church after school. food. There should be no food One of their early projects was taken between meals. Anyone crocheting lap blankets to give to the whose health is threatened by elderly in the nursing home. They also fasting is exempted. made rosaries out of tough yarn for sol- Catholics age 14 and diers and held bake sales to raise mon- older also abstain from meat on ey for the poor. Recently, they under- Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and took their biggest project yet – sewing all Fridays of Lent. dresses out of pillow cases for girls in foreign countries. They donated them to the organization, Little Dresses for Africa. “The girls really enjoyed this sewing project,” Nace said. They are creative with their supplies and endeavors. “We are currently working on mats for the homeless using plastic grocery bags,” Nace said. “We loop [the bags] into a chain and weave it to- Back row: Renee Pederson and Vicki Nace hold the quilt the group sewed. Continued on page 12 Front row: Hannah Schlutz, Jessica Metzger and Haddon Anderson Father Ross Parker helped distribute ashes last year. Men: Get out of the house Father Gene Merz, co-founder of Emmaus House, dies at age 87 and connect with other guys chapel at the Bishop Drumm Care By Anne Marie Cox Center in Johnston. Iowa Catholic Men’s Conference is Saturday, March 30 in West Des Moines Staff Writer Father Merz entered the Jesuits in 1948, professing final vows at Emmaus House in Des ish in Des Moines. Jesuit Father Gene Merz, Moines in 1977. By Kelly Mescher Collins The day will begin at a cofounder of Emmaus House, After his studies, he Staff Writer 8 a.m. with Mass celebrated by died on Jan. 16 at age 87. He was served at St. Francis Mission in Bishop Richard Pates. The con- a Jesuit for 70 years, and a priest South Dakota and taught theology Men – mark your calen- ference runs from 9 a.m-3 p.m. for 57 years. at a high school in Wisconsin be- dar for an event created just for Deacon Harold “Father Gene was a fore becoming a spiritual director. you. Burke-Sivers, Catholic author, loving servant of God,” wrote In 1974, he moved to Des Moines The seventh annual Iowa speaker and co-host of EWTN’s Claudette McDonald on an Em- where, with Father Gary Brophy, Catholic Men’s Conference will “Morning Glory,” will be giving maus House memorial page. “His he created Emmaus House to of- be March 30 at St. Francis Parish two talks. heartfelt listening, and keen in- fer spiritual direction, retreats, in West Des Moines. “The first talk is about sights guided me to deep self-un- and counseling. This year’s theme is encountering Christ….,” Deacon derstanding and interior freedom. Father Merz served in “Glorify the Lord by Your Life,” Burke-Sivers said. “[The second May all those whom he touched Des Moines until 1979, when he said conference coordinator and talk] focuses on Ephesians Chap- carry forth his rich legacy.” became a master of novices for event emcee Deacon Tom Brad- A memorial service will ley, of St. Mary of Nazareth Par- Continued on page 10 Keynote Deacon Burke-Sivers be Feb. 24 from 3-5 p.m. at the Continued on page 12 2 The Catholic Mirror February 15, 2019 www.dmdiocese.org In the Heartland with Bishop Pates Bishop delivers prayer Do we need Jesus? at dedication service Central to the vision, The ever so evident! We do need Jesus! New Moment is Jesus. He is the Very recently, the signs center of history. He is the Father’s of the times have become even revelation of love. He provides the more distressing. In response to guideposts to our ultimate destiny By the liberalizing abortion legislation of salvation. Bishop recently enacted by the New York On the personal level Richard State legislature and signed into with each of us, he is the source Pates law by Governor Cuomo, Cardinal of peace. It is the assurance of his Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of unfailing companionship that we New York wrote: manage the disappointments, the sisters requiring assurance of their “I’m thinking of, for struggles, the complexities of life. life and dignity. example, the ghoulish radical At the same time, rooted in a mutual Within the social fabric so abortion bill . This chilling law, relationship, he sparks the joy, the many of the “signs of the times” are if you have not heard, insists on the hope that emerges as we embrace discouraging. demand for an abortion up to the the revelation that constantly • How many of our moment of birth, drops all charges unfolds before us in the Gospel. fellow humans suffer from hunger, against an abortionist who allows We recognize how essential his exploitation, violence, corruption, an aborted baby, who somehow presence is at all moments. We do extreme poverty? survived the scissors, scalpel, saline need Jesus. and dismemberment, to die before Bishop Richard Pates on Jan. 17 delivered a prayer • So many of our school from the Christian tradition at a dedication service for Gov. Kim This same dependent children live in fear and uncertainty his/her eyes; mandates that to make spirit generated in Jesus engages an abortion more convenient and Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, pictured above with Bishop in the era of mass shootings caused Pates. The prayer is as follows. the immediate circle we associate by the availability of weapons to easy, a physician need not perform with. We are encouraged by the those unfit for their possession. it . .” At the heart of the Christian tradition is love. Jesus support and sacrifice of those who • Traced to the very roots No longer does there exist clearly assured us: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. constitute our personal community. of our country, the plague of racism a so-called justifying argument of a When we are sick or in trouble, their remains to be overcome. We are yet certain time in gestation as to when Remain in my love.” (John 15; 9). This attribute is further compassion, their selflessness and called to fully implement the truth life begins. In fact, all of us began extended: “This I command you: love one another.” (John 17) outreach in true human solidarity of the founding documents of our our journey of life at conception. This love has an objective dimension insofar as civil touch us deeply. We need these country and its ongoing legislation. Moreover, around every corner in governing. The standard for such is based on truth, justice friends because they point the way We assert the fact that all people are the United States there are lines and peace. As Gov. Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Gregg take on the to that which is truly meaningful. equal. Our consciences, hearts and of loving couples eagerly desiring executive reigns of Iowa government may they lead Through our coming together in minds have yet to fully actualize to open their homes to adoption. in truth so that government is transparent with the faith with them, we build God’s this reality. There will never be a shortage. outcome that trust is built on every level of society; kingdom. We do need Jesus. • 90% of the worlds’ Light conquers darkness. Life . in justice embodying the unbending teaching that all In the broader community scientists attest that there is overcomes death. people are equal. They stand before God as children and with us eventually expanding to embrace climate change owing to human No one, neither Bishop as brothers and sisters. May all injustice and inequality be erased the entirety of the human family, we behavior. An epidemic of universal Pates nor Governor Cuomo, has within the Iowa family; benefit from the vision that comes the power to legislate the death of a suffocation is now anticipated . in peace quashing debilitating fear so widespread from the teaching of Jesus – that vulnerable human being depriving within decades, if the present today because of the presence of evil and the exercise of self- which recognizes each individual that individual of the foundational activity remains unabated . serving dominance. as created in the image and likeness As we reflect on these and human right: The right to life.