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.
July 15-23
Our Lady of Guadalupe Statue Pilgrimage
The Pilgrim Mother, a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, is visiting the Diocese of Des Moines from July 15 to September 11. The statue is traveling to dioceses around the United States in preparation for the 500th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady to Saint Juan Diego in 1531 in Mexico. At specific times that will be announced later, a 45-60 minute “experience” will accompany people’s visit to the statue that includes a digital retelling of the story of the apparitions, a mystery of the rosary, a song, an opportunity for people to write petitions in white ribbons, and time for prayer and reflection.
The statue will visit six parishes at select dates:
St. Ambrose Cathedral — July 15-23 —607 High Street. Des Moines, IA 50309
Our Lady of the Americas — July 25-August 4 — 1271 E 9th Street. Des Moines, IA 50316
Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart — August 6-13 — 510 E. 1st Street. Ankeny, IA 50021
St. Boniface in Waukee — August 15-21 — 1200 S. Warrior Ln. Waukee, IA 50263
St. Bernard in Osceola — August 23-September 2 — 222 E. Pearl St. Osceola, IA 50213
Corpus Christi in Council Bluffs — September 4-11 — 3304 4th Avenue. Council Bluffs, IA 51501
Saturday, July 11 @ 6pm
Family Movie Night
Bring the whole family to the Diocese Pastoral Center on Saturday, July 11 to watch the movie, David!
The Pastoral Center is across the street from St. Ambrose (601 Grand Ave).
Sunday, September 13
Parish Picnic
Our Parish Picnic will be at the Hmong Lao farm in Prairie City again this year! Mark your calendars and join us for a day of prayer, fun, food, and fellowship!
11:00 Mass will be held at the farm. There will be NO 11am Mass at the Cathedral.
Food, games and fishing will follow Mass. We will also be drawing the winners of our raffle at the picnic.
Hmong Lao Farm
10305 W 135th St. W
Prairie City, IA
Now through September 13
Youth Ministry Fundraiser Raffle!
We are selling raffle tickets again this year, but this time to raise money for the St. Ambrose Cathedral Youth Ministry! Our Youth Ministry fund is used to send our youth to events such as: Catholic Youth Camp (CYC), National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC), retreats, and World Youth Day. Please help support the future of our Church!
Tickets are 1 for $20 or 6 for $100. You can pick up your ticket near the main entrance of the cathedral or stop in the parish office. We will draw for cash prizes at the parish picnic on September 13! Need not be present to win.
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.
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 (6/26/26)
Goal: $115,481
Total paid and pledges: $120,931
Total donors: 80
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.
St. Ambrose Yearly Report
Click below for a look at our yearly report from July 2024 through June 2025.
