Events & Opportunities
It Will Snow Again
Winter is here, and we need your assistance to keep the sidewalks and steps at St. Mary safe and accessible.
Could you help with weekend and/or weekday snow removal? Thank you in advance! Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409094EA4A722A2FB6-60961940-sidewalk . Or use this QR Code
Questions, please contact Bill Schmitt, 515-291-8005 / isucui@isualum.com.
Food Pantry Collection​
Please bring non-perishable food items to Mass the weekend of January 17/18; we will also take up a monetary collection. Thank you for your continued generosity to those in need. Your donation this month will assist the Huxley Food Pantry.
Blood Drive
​Thursday, January 22, 3:00-7:00pm in the Social Hall. More than 100,000 units of blood are needed yearly—donate and save lives! Go to www.lifeservebloodcenter.org/ to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome!
Parish Music Coordinator Opening​
We are looking to hire a Music Coordinator. This is a very flexible job—work some from home! Training provided! It’s a paid position averaging 10 hours most weeks, though more around Christmas and Easter. If you are interested or would like additional information, please contact Fr. Ross at rparker@dmdiocese.org or 515-367-2685.
​The Super Bowl just wouldn’t be the same without our S.TO.R.M. Youth Group’s snack packs! Order forms will be available in the pews weekends of January 24/25 and January 31/February 1. Snack Packs will be distributed after Masses on February 7/8. Thank you for supporting the young Church!
Chili and Cinnamon Rolls!
Calling all Chefs...SMHC will be having their annual chili and cinnamon roll tasting contest on Saturday, February 7 after 5:00pm Mass. Everyone is invited to attend/vote, but we need entries!! If you have a knack for making chili or baking cinnamon rolls, please plan to prepare a pot of chili or a dozen cinnamon rolls to share. Let Tammi McClain know of your entry by emailing her at tammimcclain71@gmail.com. Prizes will be awarded and FUN will be had. Come share fellowship and a meal together with us.
This Lent
Fridays of Lent we pray the Stations of the Cross at 6:00pm followed by a Lenten meal in the Socia Hall. Please think about leading the Stations one Friday or hosting a meal on Friday, February 27, March 13 & 27. A signup will be available at St. Mary the weekend of Jan. 31/Feb. 1 or email the Office to volunteer or if you have questions. Thank you!
Knights of Columbus fish frys are Feb. 20, March 6 & 20.
Keep the Christmas Spirit Alive in 2026!
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 June, July, September and December. 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.
Grow in Your Catholic Faith through OCIA
All adults in our Parish are invited to join us on Monday evenings ( check the calendar for dates) 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.
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!
