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Always wanted to try a bible study but work or other day time commitments have been n the way of attending? STM will be beginning a second Women’s Bible Study for those ladies that cannot make it to the current morning bible study. This group will meet on Thursday nights from 6:30pm to 8pm. Our first meeting will be on September 17th. No need to sign up. Just show up on that Thursday night. We hope you can come & fill your spiritual bucket with us this fall. For more information contact Kelly Maxcy, Jill Dimon or Sheila Whalen at [email protected]

During August and September, the Dowling Assembly 4th Degree Knights of Columbus members are hosting a flag sale and retirement service. A new 3x5 American Flag - American made with quality embroidered stars and sewn stripes costs $50.00. When your new flag is delivered, we will retrieve any old, tattered, faded United States flags so that they can be properly retired. Flag retirement will be under the supervision of the American Legion and according to the U.S. Flag code. Flag sale proceeds will help fund sending a qualified US Veteran to Lourdes as a part of the international military pilgrimage "Warriors to Lourdes". Order forms are located on the church entry bulletin boards. Orders need to be received by October 1st. Turn in your order form or if you have any questions, contact STM member Pat O'Keefe, [email protected]/515-490-6052 or Tom Stork, [email protected]/515-556-2104.

Beginning in April, we will be implementing new software called Ministry Scheduler Pro or MSP for short. This is a great new tool for volunteers to schedule themselves. MSP is similar to Sign-Up Genius that you have used for special Mass sign ups (Holy Days and Holidays) and we also used this for the March sign-ups. You will be able to schedule yourself to volunteer for Masses in April and May. This will include the Triduum and Easter Sunday. We will be rolling this out soon! If you see an email from us that looks different, please open it. If you get stuck, please call us. You will be able to sign up for Masses in April and May based on your schedule. Several parishes in the Des Moines are use this tool and love it. Stayed tuned!!

Sunday April 12 is known as Mercy Sunday. Sister Maria Faustina was of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. Sister Faustina was Canonized by Pope St. John Paul on April 30, 2000. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught St. Faustina throughout her life in the cause of His Universal and Unlimited Mercy. He instructed St. Faustina to teach the Chaplet of Divine Mercy to the world and that the first Sunday after Easter was to be Divine Mercy Sunday. The weekend of April 11-12 at each Mass the Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be prayed. Pamphlets will be made available to assist in this most blessed prayer from our Lord Jesus.

St. Mary’s will be collecting donations for Agape Pregnancy Resource Center and Mary’s Helping Hands from May 9th to May 17th. Suggested donation items include NEW or GENTLY USED baby clothes – newborn to 4T, onesies newborn to 18 months, baby wipes, hooded towels, washcloths, pacifiers, and diapers. Reusable shopping bags are need as well. Monetary donations are also welcome. You can make checks payable to St. Mary of Nazareth and write “Cradle for Life” on the memo line. CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS

InnerVisions, a local unplanned pregnancy and STD medical clinic, empowers women to choose parenting or adoption. During the weekend of May 9/10 you’ll find baby bottles in the gathering area. Please take a bottle, fill it with change, cash, or checks, and return it May 16/17. Many thanks to Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home for underwriting the baby bottle campaign this year! Thank you for your donation.

We will be serving up Root Beer Flats after all Masses June 6th and 7th so stop by on your way out of chuch!

STM MOVIE NIGHT: Join us to watch Love God's Will on Tuesday, June 23rd at 6 PM in the Hall. This 70 minute movie is a true story about Fr. Ryan Stawaisz and his battle with cancer while choosing to serve God as a priest. Drinks and snacks will be provided or feel free to bring your own. Stay to discuss your reaction and thoughts on the movie's relevance to your life. A freewill donation will be suggested for the benefit of those involved with Palomita Films. SPECIAL BONUS: we'll have a DRAWING for 2 free movie tickets to see Angel Studio's Young Washington coming soon to select area theaters.

Bingo Night will be Saturday, July 11th at 6pm in the Parish Hall! Food & Prizes! Fun for all ages!!

We're excited to bring back a long-standing parish tradition of fellowship and community at St Mary of Nazareth! Beginning on July 26 every Sunday after 9:00 AM Mass we will have coffee and donuts in the Parish Hall. All are welcome.

2026 St Mary's Golf Outing Get your foursomes ready and make plans now for St Mary's Golf Outing on Saturday August 1st at Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny. $75 includes golf, cart, and banquet including meal, free beverages and great raffle prizes back at the church hall. Register early so you don't miss out. We will fill up again this year. Registration forms are in the Gathering Area in the church or parish office. St Mary's Businessowners - Show your support for the golf outing by becoming a hole sponsor for only $200. Promote your business and show your support for St Mary's. Sponsors receive special recognition throughout the event. Questions? Contact Jim Cunningham @ 515-491-1047 or Ken Craig @ 515-707-3878

Is the Iowa State Fair on bucket list of 2027 fun this summer? The State Fair package includes admission tickets, fair bucks and wonderful food. Nearly a $300.00 package total! You can purchase raffle tickets from July 18th to August 9th after each Mass. The winner will be drawn after 11am Mass on August 9th. WooHoo, YOU could be the BIG winner

Please join us for Mass at 9am on Saturday, August 15th.

Teachers, School Staff and Students - Father John will be having a Back-To-School blessing at all three Masses. The backpack blessing will take place at 9am Mass.

The driveways and parking lot here at STM are cleared and ready for visitors!!

Why come to Adoration? This isn’t a devotion for the pious to revere a sacred thing, but this is an invitation for all who hunger to be in the presence of the living presence of Jesus Christ! We can encounter him spiritually anywhere, but there are only two places right now where we can encounter Jesus in his risen & glorified humanity – at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, and in His real presence hidden in the Eucharist. Come spend time heart to heart with Him! Prayer materials are available, but you can simply sit and talk to him from your heart or listen in silence. "This is the wonderful truth, my dear friends: the Word, which became flesh two thousand years ago, is present today in the Eucharist." - St. Pope John Paul II