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.
New Year
Looking for a New Year’s Resolution?
Ascension Press has three podcasts to help you grow in faith this new year: Bible in a Year podcast, Catechism in a Year podcast, and Rosary in a Year podcast. Each one of these podcasts is less than 30 minutes per day and will take you on a journey through your Catholic faith. Even though each one starts with Day 1 on January 1, you can start whenever you want and go through at your own pace. Make 2025 a year where you grow in your faith!
Click below to go to the Ascension website or search for the podcasts in your podcast app on your phone.
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.
February 13-25
Eucharistic Miracles of the World banner display
We are excited to announce that St. Ambrose will host the Iowa Catholic Radio’s Eucharistic Miracles of the World banner display February 13-25! This display consists of 40 banners showcasing miracles from around the world that were documented by Bl. Carlo Acutis.
Come and spend some time reading about these miracles in February.
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. This revolving need will be posted in our monthly newsletters, weekly emails, and below.
- October, November, December: napkins
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:
- January 4-5
- February 1-2
- March 1-2
- April 5-6
- May 3-4
- June 7-8
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 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:
- January 25-26
- February 22-23
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.
