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.
April 13-20
Holy Week Schedule
Palm Sunday, April 13
Masses at 8:30am & 11:00am (Bishop)
Holy Thursday, April 17
Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 6:00pm (Bishop)
Adoration following Mass
No 12:10pm Mass
Good Friday, April 18
Services at 12:10pm (Bishop) & 6:00pm
No Adoration, no confessions, office closing at Noon
Holy Saturday, April 19
Easter Vigil at 8:00pm (Bishop)
No 8am or 4pm Mass, no confessions
Easter Sunday, April 20
Masses at 8:30am (Bishop), 11:00am, & 12:30pm
Easter Monday, April 21
Office closed, no Mass, no Holy Hour
April 20 – September 21
“Music to Our Ears” Raffle
Purchase your raffle ticket for $100 to win cash prizes and help raise money for our Organ Restoration Fund!
Why are we holding this Raffle?
As you might have read in our newsletter last fall, we are in the midst of large project of restoring our beautiful pipe organ. This organ was built and installed by Harry Milliman in 1929. It is now nearly 100 years old and in need of total restoration so it can support the music at our liturgies for decades to come.
This project was estimated to cost $221,000. While we have had some generous donations (Thank You!) and raised funds through various activities throughout the year, we are still in need of $160,000.
How the Raffle works:
Purchase a raffle ticket for $100 (cash or check) from April 20 through September 21. 80% of the total ticket sales will go towards the Organ Restoration Fund and 20% will be given away in cash prizes. Winners will be drawn at the Parish Picnic on Sunday, September 28, and need not be present to win.
What can I win?
Cash! The more tickets sold, the bigger the cash prizes!
For example, if we sell nearly 700 tickets, $55,000 would go to the Organ Fund and $15,000 would be given away in cash prizes at the amounts below:
GRAND PRIZE winner would receive $10,000 cash
2nd place = $2,000
3rd and 4th place = $1,000
5th and 6th place = $500
Note: Prize money will decrease with fewer tickets sold.
How can I buy a ticket?
Look for the envelopes with a music note on them at church entrances. Fill out the ticket stub and tear it off. Put your cash or check for $100 back in the envelope WITH the ticket stub filled out. You can mail it to our office or drop it in the collection basket at Mass. Keep the longer part of the ticket as your receipt. KEEP THIS IN A SAFE PLACE UNTIL 9/28/25.
We appreciate your participation in this raffle to help raise money for our beautiful organ!
Saturday, April 26
Mass for Human Dignity
All are welcome!
Sunday, May 18
Book Fair
The St. Ambrose Walking with Moms Ministry will be hosting a free book fair for children after Mass on Sunday, May 18 in the Parish Hall.
If you have children’s books you’d like to donate, please drop them off at the St. Ambrose parish office now through May 14 between 9am-4pm. Baby board books through teen chapter books are accepted. Books do not have to be religious, but please no books that go against Catholic teachings.
Thank you!
Sunday, May 25
Farewell to Fr. Ambrose
St. Ambrose Cathedral has been blessed with the presence of Fr. Ambrose for over 12 years. He has put in countless hours helping the refugee communities and we are so thankful for his ministry here.
We will be having a farewell party for him on Sunday, May 25 following the 11am Mass at the Pastoral Center. Father will be heading to his new assignment starting in July at Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart parish in Ankeny.
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 4/11/25):
Goal: $121,390
Total paid and pledges: $43,095
Total donors: 49
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.
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.
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:
- May 3-4
- June 7-8
- July 5-6
- August 2-3
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:
- April 26-27
- May 24-25
- June 28-29
- July 26-27
- August 30-31
Check out the Youth Ministry page for more activities for youth!
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 2023 through June 2024.
