S.M.A.R.T. NEWS Saint Mary's Active Religious Teens Saint Mary's Parish Iowa City, Iowa APRIL 2017 Web Site:

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1 S.M.A.R.T. NEWS Saint Mary's Active Religious Teens Saint Mary's Parish Iowa City, Iowa APRIL 2017 Web Site: Dear Friends, Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there. And since Jesus is not dead, people can encounter him today. You can know him through a personal relationship. I could point to lots of people who can testify what Jesus has done in their lives to bring them from the brink of disaster to peace and meaning and joy. He changes people for good. While religious leaders have come and gone, the fact remains: only One stepped forth from the tomb. Only One has risen from the dead. Only One has conquered death. Only One offers the promise of eternal life to those who follow him. Jesus is the won. Patti McTaggart We are Easter people and hallelujah is our song. John Paul II - Saint Pope LIVES OF THE SAINTS By Jacinta Hamilton - Homeschooled

2 April 29 is the Feast Day of Saint Catherine of Siena. St. Catherine was born in 1347 as the 25 th child in her family. She resisted an arranged marriage at age 16. She ultimately joined the Third Order of St. Dominic, which allowed her to associate with a religious order while still living the life of a lay woman at home. She attracted many followers as she served the poor and sick. She is known for her intense spiritual life, and having experienced a mystical marriage to Christ. She received the stigmata that is, she experienced the sufferings of Christ s crucifixion in her own body. During her lifetime, she was influential in persuading the Pope in Avignon to return to Rome. The impact of her spiritual writings on the Church led to her being declared a doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI in In 1999, Pope John Paul II declared her one of the six patron saints of Europe. She is also the patroness of sick people, nurses, people ridiculed for their faith, and against fire, miscarriages, and sexual temptation. How did a simple lay woman in the Middle Ages have such a huge impact on the Church? Throughout her life St. Catherine practiced the outstanding and dynamic virtues of humility and courage. Saint Catherine of Siena s virtues allowed her to influence not only her family, but the entire universal Church. Because of Saint Catherine of Siena s humility, she did the most undesirable work for her family and took the smallest of the rooms in her family s home. She submitted humbly in obedience to her parents--even when they treated her poorly because she resisted an arranged marriage. St. Catherine s acts of humility teach us to be obedient to those who exercise authority over us. She shows the beauty of hard work when it is done for the honor and the glory of God. Saint Catherine of Siena practiced great courage in her confrontations with Popes. Saint Catherine of Siena showed enormous courage when she went to Pope Gregory and told him that he should leave Avignon, France and return to Rome to restore peace in the Church. Catherine also boldly displayed courage in opposing the anti-pope and declaring that Pope Urban was the true Pope. Throughout her life, Catherine always performed the missions God gave with faith, hope, and utter abandon to His will and purpose. She had the courage to do her seemingly impossible missions because she put her trust in the One who asked these things of her. Thanks to the holy life of Saint Catherine of Siena, we have been given a great role model in the practice of the virtues of humility and obedience. Let us strive to perform the tasks of our daily life and our Catholic Faith with the same utter abandonment to God. St. Catherine s life and mission inspires me to pray for all the priests and religious who are especially called to safeguard our Catholic Faith and in particular, to pray for the Holy Father. St. Catherine of Siena, pray for us! ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL

3 SENIOR GIRLS! CATHOLIC DAUGHTER SCHOLARSHIP The Catholic Daughters of Americas Court Craigie #94 of Iowa City will award a scholarship of $500 for the college/university years. The applicant must be a practicing Catholic senior girl graduating from high school this year (2015) and be a member of one of these parishes: St Mary s, St Patrick s or St Wenceslaus, Iowa City; St. Thomas More, Coralville, St Joseph s Hills; St. Mary s Oxford; of St. Peter s, Cosgrove. She must be a graduate from a Johnson County high school, or an Accredited Home School. Scholarship money will be applied to tuition of any two year or four year college or university or vocational school. Deadline for submitting applications is April 30. Applications can be obtained from your parish office. ATTENTION GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL ST.MARY'S SENIORS FROM CITY HIGH, REGINA, WEST HIGH, WEST BRANCH, CLEAR CREEK AMANA!!!

4 Each year, a special graduation breakfast is served at St. Mary's in honor of our high school graduates. All graduating high school seniors from St. Mary's Parish and their parents are invited. Please RSVP to the office at if you are planning to attend. WHEN: Friday May 12 th, AM WHERE: St. Mary's Parish Hall AND WHILE WE RE ON THE SUBJECT OF YOUR FUTURE Have you ever considered a call to the priesthood or religious life? It truly is a privilege to communicate the presence of God to people through the sacraments. For help in discerning, call Fr. Jeff, Fr. Steve, Fr. Thom Hennen (vocation director), Sr. Agnes or Patti. The harvest is plenty, but laborers are few. Come with me into the fields. (Matthew 9:37) DO YOU LIKE TO COOK? On the third Thursday of every month, join other youth from each high school and junior high as we collaborate together in St. Mary s parish hall and make four casseroles for the Free Lunch program. This month s cooking class will take place on Thursday, April 20th from 4:00-5:00PM. The casseroles created will be served the next day, Friday, April 21st, at the Free Lunch program. All youth are invited to participate! PARISH SPRING CLEANING DAY Youth helpers are needed to assist with cleaning the inside and outside of St. Mary s Church. With a lot of help, it won t take long

5 to get our spiritual home looking even more pristine! Youth workers would certainly be appreciated! WHEN: WATCH THE BULLETIN! TIME: 8:00AM- Noon WHERE: At the church! UPCOMING EVENTS APRIL April/May PARISH SPRING CLEANING 8:00AM - Noon April 5 th City High Cathedral Concert 7:30PM April 20 th Casserole-Making for Free Lunch 4:00-5:00PM April 30th Deadline for Catholic Daughters Scholarship MAY May 5th Holy Hour for Vocations in the church after 12:10PM Mass May 12th High School Graduation Breakfast 7:00AM May 14 th Mother s Day (kisses and hugs to all Mom s) May 18 th Casserole-Making for Free Lunch 4-5PM May 21 st Graduation Blessing at all Masses MAY-JUNE Graduations (City High, West High, Regina, West Branch, Tiffin) ALL JUNIOR HIGH/HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH THE DIOCESE IS RE-VISIONING FAITH FORMATION WITH ADOLESCENTS AND YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT! Help your parish and the Diocese of Davenport in reimagining faith formation with youth. Complete the survey at THANK YOU!!!!