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.
Month of November
Remember Your Loved Ones
The month of November in the Catholic Church is the “Month of the Holy Souls” and is dedicated to remembering and praying for the souls of the departed who are on their path to heaven.
You are invited to remember your loved ones this month by writing their names in our book near the front of the church. You can also bring photos of your departed loved ones and place them on our table. Please pick these up by the end of November.
Thank you!
NOW – December 1
Parish Directory Photo Appointments
We are working on a St. Ambrose Parish Directory and we need YOU to help us complete it!
Please sign up for an appointment to have your family photo taken. Photos will be taken December 4th, 6th, and 7th here at St. Ambrose by a professional photographer. The photo will be used in our new directory that each family will receive. You will also receive a free 8×10 photo of your family and have the opportunity to purchase more if you’d like.
Please schedule your photo appointment on the Universal Church Directory website: ucdir.com
Click on Photography Session Sign Up
Use the Church Code: ia381
and the Password: photos
Having your photo taken will not cost you any money. We hope to have ALL families in our directory!
Thank you for helping us create a great memory for St. Ambrose Cathedral!
Parish Picnic 2025
“Music to Our Ears” Raffle
We raised $39,700 just from our raffle sales!
$31,760 went directly to the organ fund and $7,940 was given away in prize money.
Congratulations to our raffle winners!
1st Place: Denise Horner
2nd Place: Paulette Reveiz
3rd Place: Mimi
4th Place: Mike Noth
5th Place: Joe and Mary Ann Schupp
6th Place: EJ and Anne Kelly
We appreciate your participation in this raffle to help raise money for our beautiful organ!
Update on Organ Restoration Fund
Raffle donations: $31,760
Private donations: $61,021
Donor match: $70,000
PROJECT TOTAL: $231,533
TOTAL RAISED: $162,781
DIFFERENCE $68,752
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:
- November 1-2
- December 6-7
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:
- October 25-26
- November 29-30
- December 27-28
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.
2025
Jubilee Year of Hope
Pilgrimages
During the year of Jubilee, we are encouraged to make pilgrimages to different churches. Bishop Joensen has identified 5 churches in our Diocese as places of pilgrimage:
- St. Ambrose Cathedral, Des Moines
- Basilica of St. John, Des Moines
- Christ the King Church, Des Moines
- Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Atlantic
- Corpus Christi Church, Council Bluffs
Pick up a passport at any of these churches and begin your pilgrimage to all 5 locations in our Diocese. Stamp your passport at the church when you visit. If you visit all 5 Jubilee churches, the Diocese would like you to post a picture on social media and tag @dmdiocese or send a picture of your passport to them. They will send you a book by Pope Francis to use as you continue your faith journey! See the Diocese website for more information.
Reconciliation Times
During this Jubilee year, St. Ambrose will be offering these reconciliation times:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 10:30-11:30am
Saturday – 2:30-3:30pm
Confessionals are in the sacristy. Go into the short hallway near the West entrance (near the baptismal font) that leads to the sacristy. Lines form in that hallway.
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 2025 parish goal for St. Ambrose is $121,390.
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 (as of 9/22/25):
Goal: $121,390
Total paid and pledges: $103,770
Total donors: 84
Amount remaining to reach goal: $17,620
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.
St. Ambrose Yearly Report
Click below for a look at our yearly report from July 2024 through June 2025.
