St. Ambrose Newsletter
We send out an electronic newsletter about once a month. If you are a parishioner not on our email list and would like to be, please contact the office.
Now through November 3
Fundraiser for Youth Ministry
Help fund our Youth Ministry program so we can send our youth to events such as Catholic Youth Camp, National Catholic Youth Conference, and World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, South Korea!
Beginning Monday October 5 through November 3, St. Ambrose is partnering with HundredX® to bring parishioners a way to help all of St. Ambrose Cathedral’s youth ministries. St. Ambrose has worked with HundredX® in this way previously, and it was very successful for our youth programs.
WHAT IS HundredX?
HundredX is a fundraiser where supporters raise money for their organization by completing short, emoji-based brand feedback surveys on their phone or computer.
On the HundredX® platform you can submit feedback on the brands you have used in the last 6 months or have knowledge about. If you have used a certain brand of any product – food, soda, soap, clothing, shoes, shampoo, make-up, etc. or gone to a certain restaurant, store, etc. they would love your honest opinion about it, so they can see what customers think and improve their product brands.
Every survey completed will get a donation for St. Ambrose Youth Ministry!
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Sign up on the HundredX website and choose brands you would like to offer feedback on. Each time you submit your feedback about one brand, $1.60 goes towards supporting St. Ambrose Youth Ministry. It only takes 1-2 minutes to submit feedback for each brand you select, and you get to choose the brands! HundredX® wants to know your real opinion about the brands, so please don’t rush.
EACH person can generate up to $120 to support St. Ambrose youth ministries by completing a maximum of 75 surveys. WOW!!
We’re encouraging everyone to submit as many opinions about brands as you can THROUGH THE MONTH OF OCTOBER!
HOW DO WE SIGN UP?
Click HERE to sign up! You can use your phone, laptop, or home computer.
On the sign-up page, you will be asked to identify which organization are you signing up to support. Be certain to select “St. Ambrose Cathedral” as the organization you are supporting! If you select an organization other than St. Ambrose, the funds raised by your surveys will not go to our youth programs.
Once you sign up, you can complete surveys whenever is convenient for you. We have through November 3 to do as many as we can!
TIPS ON SUBMITTING QUALITY FEEDBACK
Make your feedback count!
- Take your time: Read each question and emoji label carefully before answering.
- Pace yourself: Give about 5–10 pieces of feedback at a time to avoid fatigue.
- Be thoughtful and genuine: Provide quality, honest opinions based on your actual experiences.
- Think recent: Only review brands or businesses you’ve interacted with within the last 6 months.
- To protect your privacy, HundredX® does not share your information with external parties or try to sell you anything, and the brands and businesses that you provide feedback on will not receive your contact information.
First Saturday through November 2026
Men’s Prayer Group
The St. Ambrose Knights of Columbus invite all men of the parish to a men‘s prayer group on the first Saturday of each month beginning June 6, 2026. They meet for an hour after the Saturday morning Masses in the parish hall. Registration and attendance for every session is not required. Contact Walt Whitman at 515-745-4937 or mwrm39@gmail.com with any questions.
NOTE: The group will not meet on September 5 due to Labor Day weekend.
Ongoing
Young Adult Bible Study
All young adults are welcome to join a Bible study group that meets every Sunday in the Parish Hall from 12-1pm.
Contact Emlda Tombe with questions: 515-803-0837
Canned and boxed foods of many kinds are given to SVDP to share.
Lots of fresh, nutritious food also available through SVDP.
First Weekend of the Month
Help Those in Need by Donating Items to SVDP
On the first weekends of each month, baskets near the altar will be ready to receive your foods that don’t need refrigeration, or items to clean homes and bodies – or cash gifts to help SVDP buy what’s most needed today for the pantries. See details
“The poor have much to teach you. You have much to learn from them.” St. Vincent de Paul
Upcoming Weekends for 2026:
- January 3-4
- February 7-8
- March 7-8
- March 28-29 (this is moved up a week due to Easter)
- May 2-3
- June 6-7
- July 4-5
- August 1-2
- September 5-6
- October 3-4
- November 7-8
- December 5-6
Do you need food or items for your home?
Nutritious food – including eggs, vegetables, fruit and milk – are available to you FREE at the SVDP food pantries. You choose the items your family likes and needs most.
- You can call SVDP to set up a food pantry appointment: 515-282-8327
OR - Our St. Ambrose SVDP volunteers can go with you and help you make your appointment. Call Anita at 515-249-4490 to begin.
Click HERE to learn more about the St. Ambrose chapter of St. Vincent de Paul
Last full weekend of the month
Bottle and Can Collection
Bring your empty bottles and cans to the St. Ambrose parking lot before or after the weekend Masses and we will recycle them. The deposit proceeds from these recycling efforts will go towards our youth programming.
Upcoming Weekends for 2026:
- January 24-25
- February 21-22
- March 28-29
- April 25-26
- May 30-31
- June 27-28
- July 25-26
- August 29-30
- September 26-27
- October 24-25
- November 28-29
- December 26-27
Check out the Youth Ministry page for more activities for youth!
Ongoing
Connection Café
You may notice white cardboard boxes in the Narthex of the church to be used for collecting items needed by the Connection Café.
- One box will be used to collect clean plastic shopping bags. Our clients will use these bags to take donated food and other items to their homes.
- The other box will be labeled to collect different items each month.
You can help the Café by bringing these needed items and dropping them off each Sunday in the collection boxes.
What is Connection Café?
Connection Café was created by The Bridge, a collaboration of four downtown churches, including St. Ambrose. The Café serves lunch Monday through Friday for anyone in need, right behind us at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Our St. Ambrose group helps out on the first Tuesday of every month.
The members of the Bridge Board greatly appreciate your help in providing services at the Café. The Bridge Board members from St. Ambrose are: Fr. Nivin, Janis Conley, Amy Dagitz, and Becky Naderman.
Annual Diocesan Appeal
The ADA provides more than 70% of the funding needed to support the parishes in the Diocese of Des Moines. Each parish has its own goal to reach for the year based on number of parishioners. Our 2026 parish goal for St. Ambrose is $115,481.
Please click below to read how the ADA impacts our Diocese and prayerfully consider donating today. If you decide to donate online, please choose “Des Moines, St. Ambrose Cathedral ADA” from the drop down menu.
Thank you and God Bless!
St. Ambrose ADA Update (10/26)
Goal: $115,481
Pledges: $5,450
Gifts: $129,436.66
Total donors: 94
Thank you for your generous donations! We have reached our goal, but please know that any amount over our goal stays right here at St. Ambrose!
Sponsor Couples Needed
Would you and your spouse like to assist engaged couples in marriage preparation at St. Ambrose Cathedral? We are looking for sponsor couples who can facilitate the FOCCUS inventory that engaged couples participate in as part of their sacramental preparation requirements.
Contact the Parish Office for more information: 515-288-7411.
Keep Your Info Up to Date
We are working on updating our parish records. If you have moved or changed your email or phone number, please contact the parish office with your new information. Or if you would like to be added to our email list, please contact the office.
Parish Office: 515-288-7411 or secretary@saintambrosecathedral.org
Register for a My Own Church account to keep your information up to date without having to contact the office! See the My Own Church page to find out more.
