We are always looking for talented musicians to perform during our Masses.
If you are interested in sharing your time and talents please contact Michele Miller, Director of Music, at the email below.
chelem_50@yahoo.com
Coffee & Donuts are held most Sundays after the 9:00 Mass in the Social Hall. Volunteering is a great way to meet fellow parishioners. If you are interested in volunteering please contact the Parish office.
Thursdays from 4:00 to 6:00 The Blessed Sacrament is exposed and adored by volunteers who sign up for one hour or more to pray before the Lord Jesus present in the Monstrance.
Advises the Pastor on financial matters of the parish and school. Responsible for monitoring all income and expenses, and approving the annual budgets.
The Finance Council recommends policy after studying matters of financial concern. The council offers financial advice, planning, and direction. It helps to find and manage the resources to fund parish projects and programs under the Pastor’s leadership.
Finance Council Members:
Bryan Arndt
Stacie Wright
David Leo
Glenn Soyer
James Nowasell
Joni Swedenhjelm - trustee
Mike Winfrey - trustee
A group that counts the funds collected at Mass each week. Each group volunteers about once a month.
Would you like to help out in the parish office? Do you have special office talents you feel would be beneficial to our parish? Let us know! We may call upon you to help us out when needed. If you are interested please contact Alayne Pieper at alaynepieperstjohns@hotmail.com.
The Parish Council provides pastoral planning for the faith community it serves. Through extensive prayer, listening, and learning the council assists the pastor in identifying and assessing the gifts and needs of the faith community; to clarify the parish’s mission: and to develop and initiate pastoral plans to serve this mission for the kingdom of God.
Paarish Council Members:
Jane Soyer
Katera Nowasell
Barbara Bellizzi
Mallory Metzger
Tim Schulte
Sean Belby
Todd Langel
Throughout the year we call upon parishioners to assist us in different parish cleanup projects. Volunteering is a great way to help the parish and to assist us in keeping our expenditures down. If you have a special talent please let us know.
Volunteers who assist people to their seat if necessary. They also take up the collection.
Contact the parish office for more information.
What is Altar & Rosary?
Altar & Rosary is the organization for the women of St. John the Apostle. The organizations mission is to support the parish and persons in need through fund raising and community works.
How does Altar & Rosary help our parish and community?
* Purchasing items for the parish such as communion hosts, voties and candles.
* Serving and providing salads and desserts for funeral.
* Distributing care packages for the sick, shut-ins, and people in nursing facilities.
* Organizing the holiday giving tree to provide support for area families in need.
* Baking foir Connection Cafe, bake sales and church events
*Providing funds for Vacation Bible School, St Joseph Emergency Shelter and other community organizations.
* Organizing parish events such as the Holidy Craft Auction, Soup Supper, Advent Concert, and Cinnamon Roll Sunday.
Why should I join Altar & Rosary?
All women of St John the Apostle are encouraged to join and participate in Altar & Rosary. It is a great opportunity for fellowship and to give back to the community. If you are new to our parsih it is a terriffic way to get involved and to meet others.
If I join, How much of a time commitment will it be?
You decide how much time and effort you can commit. There are no pre-defined expectations. Our goal is to ensure you enjoy being part of our organization.
Meetings are the second Monday of Feburary, April, June, August, October and December. The meeting time is 6:30pm.
Altar & Rosary Officers:
Co-Presidents :
Marcia Quinn
Patty Smolen: patricia_smolen_3@msn.com
Secretary :
Treasurer :
Carol Knoblauch: 515-981-4409 or 515-210-6584
Altar Servers should be mature enough to understand their responsibilities and to carry them out well and with appropriate reverence. They should have already received holy communion for the first time and normally receive the Eucharist whenever they participate in the liturgy.
Servers should receive proper formation before they begin to function. The formation should include instruction on the Mass and its parts and their meaning, the various objects used in the liturgy (their names and use), and the various functions of the server during the Mass and other liturgical celebrations. Servers should also receive appropriate guidance on maintaining proper decorum and attire when serving Mass and other functions.
Since the role of server is integral to the normal celebration of the Mass, at least one server should assist the priest. On Sundays and other more important occasions, two or more servers should be employed to carry out the various functions normally entrusted to these ministers.
Servers should normally be vested. This is within the tradition of the Church and prevents difficulties regarding appropriate dress for these ministers. All servers should wear the same liturgical vesture.1
Servers carry the cross, the processional candles, hold the book for the priest celebrant when he is not at the altar, carry the incense and censer, present the bread, wine, and water to the priest during the preparation of the gifts or assist him when he receives the gifts from the people, wash the hands of the priest, assist the priest celebrant and deacon as necessary. When appropriate, a server may also ring a bell as a signal to the faithful.
Servers respond to the prayers and dialogues of the priest along with the congregation. They also join in singing the hymns and other chants of the liturgy.
Servers should be seated in a place from which they can easily assist the priest celebrant and deacon. The place next to the priest is normally reserved for the deacon.
Servers may not distribute holy communion unless they have been mandated for this function by the bishop.
Altar Server training at St John the Apostle is typically held the first part of January.
Contact the parish for more information.
Preparing parents for the formation of their child’s faith. Contact the parish office to register for the baptism class.
Extraordinary Ministers of Communion who serve the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass and to the sick and homebound.
Volunteers who coordinate social activities and gatherings of parishioners during the year.
Volunteers who care for and beautify the grounds and church.
Help make our sanctuary look beautiful by helping us decorate! If you are interested please contact the Parish office at 515-981-4855.
Reader who proclaim the Scriptures at Mass and other services.
Responsible for the preparation and care of the altar linens. This includes the washing and ironing of purificators, corporals, and altar linens.
Rite of Christian Initiation – preparation of adult candidates for Catholic sacraments.
Duties include preparing the altar for Mass and cleaning the altar following Mass.
Provides hot meals on a monthly basis to the homeless.
Connection Cafe serves lunch five days a week to individuals and families in need downtown Des Moines. Under the direction of a paid coordinator, volunteers from more than 30 churches, schools and civic groups donate and serve an average of 146 meals to 114 people on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. In 2011, more than 2150 volunteers served 38,675 meals.
The Connection Cafe is a program created by The Bridge, a collaboration of four downtown Des Moines churches as part of their mission to minister to the poor. St. Ambrose Cathedral, St. John’s Lutheran church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral and First United Methodist church created The Bridge. The Connection Café became a program of The Bridge as it sought ways to accomplish the goal of enriching the lives of those living, working or worshipping in downtown Des Moines. The Bridge is governed by a Board of Directors representing clergy and members from the collaborating churches.
Connection Café food preparation is always the second Tuesday of each month. Food is prepared at St John the Apostle and taken to the Connection Café serving site downtown. To become involved with Connection Café here at St John the Apostle please contact Tom Smolen at smolent144@gmail.com.
Catholic Charities USA is a national organization founded over a century ago by men and women who believed that the collective efforts of the church to faithfully serve people in need could change the course of poverty in our nation.
While each of the 167 local Catholic Charities agencies serves that mission, each is unique in the programs and services offered depending upon the needs within its diocese.
Founded in September of 1924 by Bishop Thomas W. Drumm, Catholic Charities of Des Moines has grown and expanded in its 99 years of social ministry service to those in need within the Diocese.
Five cornerstone programs exist to empower individuals and strengthen families and are delivered with care and compassion.
Refugee Services
Catholic Charities Refugee Services works through the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the U.S. State Department. Our partnership with these entities affords us 90 days to resettle clients who have family or close friends living in our area. Every family is unique, and requires a variety of services ranging from health exams to job placement assistance to school enrollment, language classes, and bus training. Between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022, we resettled 452 refugees. Because we are devoted to ensuring the entire family has a great start in their new lives here in Iowa, the post-resettlement program, which cares for refugees beyond the initial 90-day service, is a critical component of Catholic Charities’ program that elevates our level of service.
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
Abusive, violent or threatening situations happen in every part of the community to men and women of all backgrounds. The Catholic Charities Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program, located in Council Bluffs, provides services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking. A 24-hour crisis phone line, emergency shelter, court advocacy, educational classes and materials, counseling, and support groups are a few of the ways we help men, women and children feel safe and empowered. Catholic Charities’ program serves nine counties in southwest Iowa: Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby. Our 24-hour crisis line is 888-612-0266.
Food Pantry
Without basic nutrition, it is difficult to think beyond day-to-day needs. Catholic Charities wants to help our clients fulfill their basic needs and help explore other barriers that our clients face. Nearly 20% of all people living in central Iowa are food insecure. Those in need can receive a three-day supply of food once per month at no cost. Additionally, our daily food counter is open to anyone during our business hours: Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. and Friday 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. We distribute approximately 35,000 pounds of rescued food every month. Visit us at 1815 Hubbell Ave. in Des Moines.
Counseling
The Catholic Charities Counseling Program offers help and hope. Our licensed, professional therapists work with clients of all faiths and backgrounds to address issues including depression, anxiety, stress, marital issues, relationship problems, child behavior problems, trauma, abuse, and more. We deliver services from a trauma-informed perspective and our clinical staff are trained in evidence-based practices and interventions. We provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere for clients in Des Moines and Council Bluffs and offer telehealth for those in need of services in more remote areas of the diocese. Bilingual services are also available. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call 515-237-5045.
Family Shelter
Often when individuals and families least expect it, life takes a turn and a roof over your head is no longer something that can be guaranteed. Shelter is a basic need that can often be taken for granted.
Catholic Charities Emergency Family Shelter keeps homeless families together during a very difficult time in their lives. Our experienced staff understands that homelessness is not a simple issue. The goal is to help each family leave the shelter with stable housing, financial stability, and empowerment to live a successful, sustainable life.
The facility provides a safe environment for up to 10 families at a time, with clean and modern amenities. Evening meals are cooked and served by volunteers. All families seeking shelter should contact Primary Healthcare Outreach, the centralized intake agency in our community: 515-248-1850.
Support the mission
At Catholic Charities of Des Moines, we actively pursue grant funding to support each of our programs, but financial contributions from parishioners and donors is pivotal to our efforts. The infrastructure we have built allows us to deliver programs and services to those who find themselves in need – putting your generosity into action to connect people with exceptional life-changing experiences that inspire full human potential and growth.
To learn more about Catholic Charities programs and services or how your time, talent or treasure can become a life-saving mechanism for those in need, visit www.catholiccharitiesdm.org.
Norwalk Area Food Pantry
New Life Lutheran Church
4380 Wakonda Dr.
Norwalk, IA
A ministry of the Norwalk Area Ministerial Association, hosted by New Life Lutheran Church.
Adjusted pick-up times due to COVID19 concerns and need:
OPEN (for drive thru delivery to vehicles)
Wednesdays 4:30 - 6:30 pm
Thursdays 9:30 - 11:30 am
All residents of Warren County are invited to use the Norwalk Area Food Pantry
When you visit, please bring a picture ID with your current address.
Families are provided 2-3 pre-filled bags of food plus meat and fresh produce as available.
If you cannot come on Wednesdays from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Please call the church office at 285-5965 to arrange an alternate time or use the form below to contact us through email.
Food insecure individuals and families are invited to use the food pantry twice a month. Proof of residency is required, proof of income is NOT. Individuals utilizing the food pantry can expect to be treated with dignity and respect and can expect to receive several days of food for themselves and/or their family. Produce and some perishable items are frequently available. Children and youth receive a kid’s bag filled with snack and sometimes personal hygiene products too. An "emergency pantry" is stocked for emergency situations and is accessible 24 hours a day outside the food pantry entrance.
The Norwalk Area Food Pantry began in the 1980’s as a way to feed hungry individuals in Norwalk and surrounding communities. The food pantry relies on the generosity of the community and is fully self-sufficient. As a ministry of the Norwalk Area Ministerial Association each partner church helps to stock the shelves by adopting the food pantry each month. In addition, many local business provide donations for distribution, especially Capital City Fruit, Fareway Meat & Grocery in Norwalk, and the Norwalk Area Chamber of Commerce.
The food pantry is staffed by many volunteers on distribution nights and are needed throughout the week for sorting, stocking, organizing and cleaning.
We are always looking for volunteers to be Communion Ministers to our homebound or nursing home residents. If you are interested in this special ministry please contact the parish office or Carol Knoblauch at carol.knoblauch@gmail.com