Events & Opportunities
Book of Remembrance
This Book is in the Sanctuary. You are invited to write in the names of your deceased loved ones to be remembered at our Masses during November.
Community Work Day -- DATE CHANGE
Saturday, November 8 the Confirmation students, along with the Knights of Columbus are available to help you, or someone you know, with yard work or anything around the house. Please fill out the form provided at either Church and put it in the box provided. You are also welcome to contact Nicole Cory at 515-313-3014.
Blood Drive
Give the Gift of Life Thursday, November 13, 3:00-7:00pm in the Social Hall. Appointments encouraged; walk-ins are welcome! Sign up at https://donor.lifeservebloodcenter.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/188697. Volunteers and treats are needed, please contact Larry Sauer, sauerld@outlook.com / 515-710-2421.
Help With Veteran’s Day Avenue of Flags
Could you assist with raising the flags at Holy Cross on Saturday, November 8 at Noon and/or retiring them on Tuesday, November 11 at 4:00pm? Weather permitting. Please contact Lynn Schreurs at 515-577-8147 or lschreurs@msn.com, to volunteer or for more information.
We Are Going On a Pilgrimage!
On November 20th, 20 SMHC parishioners will embark on an amazing pilgrimage to Indianapolis to attend the National Catholic Youth Conference, traveling by charter bus for 500+ miles to join 20,000 others! We will participate in daily Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Reconciliation, worship, music and attend sessions featuring incredible Catholic speakers, dynamic story tellers, fantastic musicians and lovers of the Catholic faith. We have been blessed with support; with your generosity we’ve almost reached our financial goal. Our final fundraiser, "Move the NCYC Bus" will be after Masses November 8/9 & 15/16. We ask that you prayerfully consider donating $1 to sponsor "miles along the trip to Indianapolis”. Stop by our table after Mass to learn more! Thank you for your love, prayers and support! God IS good, ALL the time!
Food Pantry Collection
Please bring non-perishable food items to Mass the weekend of November 15/16; we will also take up a monetary collection. Thank you for your generosity in sharing with those in need. Your donation will assist The Blessing Box in Elkhart.
Birthday Cake Kit Service Project
Boy Scouts from our Parish of Ballard Pack 163 are asking for donations of cake mixes, frosting tubs, and birthday candles for this service project for the Ballard Community Clothing and Food Pantry. Scouts and leaders have also volunteered at the Pantry in December along with members of our Parish. A donation box is in the vestibule of St. Mary’s through November 23. If you prefer to donate money for this project, please send to the Ballard Pack PayPal account: ballardpack163@gmail.com (add "cake kits" as a note). Any left over monetary donations will be donated to the Pantry. For questions, please contact Heather Laake, 515-612-4598.
Camino de Santiago Presentation
Join us to hear Mary Snyder’s experience while on her 170 mile walk on the Way of St. James, also called the Camino de Santiago, on Saturday, November 22 in the Social Hall after 5:00pm Mass. The presentation will be about 30 minutes followed by Q & A.
Christmas Eve Choir
Advent will be upon us soon and it is time to form our Christmas Eve Choir. We welcome all adults and children 6th grade and older. If you love to sing we want you - all levels of musicality welcome. Practices will be at St. Mary's in the choir loft or down front by the piano and will last about one hour. It is not required to attend all practices, come when you can. For questions please contact Aubrey Sigmund at asigmund@saintmaryhc.org. Scheduled practice dates are:
Sun. Nov. 30, 11:15am-12:15pm Sun. Dec. 14, 11:15am-12:15pm
Sun. Dec. 7, 11:15am-12:15pm Thurs. Dec. 18, 6:30pm-7:30pm
Tues. Dec. 9, 6:30pm-7:30pm Sun. Dec. 21, 11:15am-12:15pm
Serve Homeless Children and their Families
Our parish families have been preparing a meal for homeless children and their families at Catholic Charities Emergency Family Shelter on the second Sunday of each month for more than twenty-five years. Volunteers are needed for every month in 2026 except March, May, August, October and November. One or more families/groups prepare and deliver a meal (about 10 families — up to 34 people) for the shelter in Des Moines. Volunteers can pay for the meal, be reimbursed by the parish, or receive a Gift-In-Kind receipt for a tax deduction. To volunteer or to find out more, contact Stacey Rooney, rooneyslg17@gmail.com or call 515-490-5034.
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Grow in Your Catholic Faith through OCIA
All adults in our Parish are invited to join us on Thursday evenings at 6:15 in the Social Hall for OCIA. While OCIA is the pathway for those who are interested in becoming Catholic, it is also a wonderful opportunity for lifelong Catholics to deepen their understanding of the faith. Whether you are curious, returning to the Church, or simply looking to grow in your relationship with Christ, these sessions provide prayer, discussion, and learning in a supportive community. Come and journey with us as we explore the richness of our Catholic tradition together.
St. Mary-Holy Cross Knights of Columbus
The Knights are holding a promotional event at St. Mary’s after Masses on November 15 & 16. Council members will be available in the Social Hall to discuss joining the Knights of Columbus and the extensive services they provide in supporting our Parish and nourishing our Catholic faith. Please contact John Roberts at jroberts@huxcomm.net with any questions.
Work of Our Hands
Members of the Parish who are service providers, hobbyists, or willing to provide their services or goods for a fee or barter are welcomed to join Work Of Our Hands (WOOH). Participants offer their goods and services at a WOOH Festival in the Social Hall. If interested in a discussion about the possibilities for WOOH, please contact Monica Kennebeck-Doyle, kennebeckm@gmail.com / 515-238-4180, or Trish Morris, girardifan@hotmail.com / 515-278-4936.
Blessings Offered
If you would like a blessing for your fields, flocks, pets, house or another blessing, Fr. Parker is more than happy to come to your home for any of these. Please email him for more information at rparker@dmdiocese.org.
We hope you become involved in our Parish community.
Click here for our Parish Time and Talent Form to fill out
and return to the Parish Office. Thank you for becoming involved!
Looking For a Way to Become More Involved With Your Parish and Local Community?
Wine & Cheese and Coffee & Donuts: Hosting wine & cheese or coffee & donuts is a great way to meet and get to know other parishioners! If you have not hosted before, we can pair you up with someone who has. Please contact the parish office with questions or if willing to help.
Liturgical Ministers needed: 5:00pm Mass at St. Mary: Altar Servers; 8:00am Mass at Holy Cross: Lectors. 10:00am Mass at St. Mary: Lectors and Ministers of the Eucharist. Please let the office know if you are interested in helping with any of these.
The Blessing Box Food Pantry is seeking volunteers to help box items to distribute to families on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month. Please contact Tammi McClain at 515-290-3904 if interested.
Calling All Musicians! We would love to have you join our music ministry to participate during Mass! We are happy to provide training and have you sing or play with mentors. Teenagers welcome! If interested and would like more information, please contact Sue Schmidt, sschmidt@saintmaryhc.org / 515-689-9949.
Thank you for considering these volunteer opportunities!
History of St. Mary - Holy Cross
Were you married at St. Mary or Holy Cross or had other family historical events related to our parish for which you have photos or documents? Larry Sauer is looking for mementos of these events that we could borrow to have reproduced for preservation and display in future St. Mary-Holy Cross history books. The plan is to find a display case for other historical artifacts that can be displayed too. If you would like to share your history with our parish, please contact Larry at 515-710-2421. Thank you!