On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, God’s Word reminds us that the Savior, who offers us salvation, is already knocking at our door. The psalmist implores the Lord to come and save us and to visit his ...

When fifth-grader Harrison Dardis of Regina Catholic Education Center in Iowa City learned he was the winner of the 2024 Catholic Mess­enger Christmas Card contest, his smile was “from ear to ear,” ...

Father Robert Lathrop blesses a new statue of St. Joseph with the infant Jesus at St. Mary Catholic Church in Sigourney last month. SIGOURNEY — Father Robert Lathrop believes a misunderstanding of ...

Our new bishop has unique experiences to share of Christmas past and what Christmas might be like in Iowa. Renew Our Hearts, copyright 2019 by Joe Mattingly. All ...

Q: I have heard that Jesus may have been born at a different time of year and that Dec. 25 was a pagan holiday celebrating the sun god. Can you shed some light on this? A: I have been saving this ...

Images from last Sunday’s Christmas pageant linger. One of the youngest children, wearing the cutest cow costume, sucked on a pacifier. The boy who portrayed Joseph appreciated his role because he ...

In the past month, I have had two thyroid procedures. The first procedure resulted in complications and a lot of pain during and after. I was really struggling with the failure of the procedure and ...

A widower sat on a memorial bench in the Mary garden of his parish after Mass this past Sunday, praying the rosary aloud, oblivious to the damp, dreary weather. A parishioner, preparing to leave the ...

Bishop Dennis Walsh braced himself on a couch in his Davenport apartment, waiting for his playful puppy, Rosa, to pounce. The bishop smiled as the 5-month-old golden retriever jumped onto his lap and ...

DAVENPORT — Bishop Dennis Walsh will open the Jubilee Year on Dec. 29 with opening rites at St. Anthony Parish at 2 p.m. followed by a procession (weather permitting) to Sacred Heart Cathedral where ...

When asked the question about where God is, an ancient sage said simply, “God is wherever we let God in.” There is great truth here. We actually have to invite God in, rather than expect that God will ...

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Looking from the outside, Christianity can seem pretty odd! We make quite a bold claim: God came to us at a specific time, in a specific place, in a specific ...