Events & Opportunities
Advent Reflection Resources
Ten days left — it’s not too late! We have a few books on the table to help you on the remainder of your Advent journey. Diocesan Advent resources at dmdiocese.org/living-advent.
Food Pantry Collection
Our collection the weekend of December 20/21 for Catholic Charities Family Emergency Shelter. Your monetary donation will help them purchase the needed supplies for those staying there. Thank you for sharing with those who are having a difficult time.
It Is the Season!
Could you help with weekend and/or week day snow removal of sidewalks, etc., at St. Mary? We have the equipment, but need the people power! Thank you in advance! Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409094EA4A722A2FB6-60961940-sidewalk. Questions, please contact Bill Schmitt, 515-291-8005 / isucui@isualum.com. Many thanks to all who helped last year and a grateful thank you to Nick and Todd Volz for snow removal from St, Mary’s parking lot and Laurie Phelan for snow removal at Holy Cross. We appreciate you!
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. Dec. 14, 11:15am-12:15pm
Thurs. Dec. 18, 6:30pm-7:30pm
Sun. Dec. 21, 11:15am-12:15pm
Parish Music Coordinator Opening​
We thank Aubrey Sigmund for the wonderful work she has done as Music Coordinator. She will continue as coordinator through January; we are looking to hire another parishioner to be our 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.
Two Upcoming Vacancies on Our Parish Council
Our Council is representative of the Parish Community. If you know of anyone you would like to nominate (including yourself) or would like more information, please contact Father Ross, rparker@dmdiocese.org or 515-720-3434. Term begins January 1, 2026. Attributes such as faithfulness, integrity, generosity, compassion, and actively deepening a personal relationship with Jesus Christ are desirable in all members of the Council. Skills for effective communication and listening, creative discernment and verbalization of a vision, and working collaboratively with others are essential elements. Thank you for considering serving your Parish!
“Keep Christ in Christmas” Ornament Contest
The Christmas season is here and the Knights of Columbus offer this contest. This is an opportunity for SMHC children in grades Preschool - 6th to recognize that Christmas is a special season of love and peace because of God's gift to the world -- the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ. Ornament entries are to be placed on the Christmas tree located in the Social Hall at St. Mary’s. They will be collected on Sunday, January 4, after our Mass celebrating The Epiphany of the Lord. Winners to be selected at the January 19 K of C meeting and awarded the following week. Contest information
Retirement Fund for Religious
This collection provides support for tens of thousands of elderly sisters, brother and religious order priests who ministered for years for little to no pay. Their sacrifices now leave their religious communities without adequate retirement savings. Your gift helps to provide medications, nursing care, and more. Thank you for giving back.
Envelopes are on the table at both Churches. Please return your donation in the next few weeks. Thank you.
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 in 2026 for April, 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.
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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.
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!
