St. Augustine wrote about how the call to progress is holiness. The task depends on God and God's grace and our own will. Each of us must desire to do God's Will which is based on beauty, truth and perfection to live in communion. Often, the tendency is to get caught up in selfishness or things based on pride which brings brokenness. The best remedy is to partake in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and be renewed, healed and filled with new graces.

We are a people of hope, trusting that the future will be even better than today. St. Francis De Sales wrote: "Do not look forward in fear to the changes in life; rather, look to them with full hope that as they arise, God, whose very own you are, will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand it, God will carry you in His arms. Do not fear what may happen tomorrow; the same understanding Father who cares for you today will take care of you then and every day. He will either shield you from suffering or will give you the unfailing strength to bear it.

God bless,

Fr. McCarthy.

The Father Harry E Dailey Knights will be having their annual fish fry feasts on Friday March 7th, Friday March 21st and Friday April 4th.

The latest diocesan news is available 24/7 on your smartphones, tablets and computers at www.lumenmedia.org. Available right now is coverage of Catholic Schools Week 2025, opening Jubilee Mass, new Catholic radio station, Ascension Parish Shawl Ministry, the Turn Youth Conference March 1 and more. Also, links to the new Illuminating Catholics podcast episodes at lumenmedia.org.

The Knights of Columbus do a great job collecting much needed items for Mary’s Choice in October. The Community Life Committee is asking to help Mary’s Choice with your second hand baby and toddler clothes and your maternity clothes.

Cribs can be found in all three parishes for your convenience. St Mary’s in Mapleton’s can be found on the basement landing, St Mary’s in Danbury’s is located in the west entrance, and Sacred Heart in Ida Grove’s is available in the back of the church. These items will be taken to Sioux City throughout the year.

Please do not include diapers or new items. Please save those for the Knights’ drives in October.

Into the Garden Lenten Retreat with Steve Angrisano - April 6 for grades 6-12 in Sioux City. Registration due March 14th. Link to the information - https://www.scdiocese.org/intothegarden

The Vocations Office is sponsoring two concurrent summer trips this summer June 2-5.

The Quest Trip for high school and college-age young men will be going to Winona, MN and La Crosse, WI on a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Led by the seminarians for the Diocese of Sioux City the men will visit Immaculate Heart of Mary College Seminary where our college seminarians study, hike the bluffs of the Mississippi River, and of course play paintball!

The three directors of faith formation of the Diocese of Sioux City will be leading a trip - Ave Young Women's Retreat - for young women in high school and college to Lincoln, NE. They will be staying at a state park, visiting with multiple religious communities of consecrated women religious, visiting the beautiful St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center at the University of Nebraska, and of course having plenty of fun together!

As registrations open soon, please invite young men and women to attend these events designed to help young people grow in their faith and discern their vocation. Please contact Michelle Steinbach 712-233-7523 michelles@scdiocese.org or Fr. Crotty with any questions.

Ash Wednesday Mass at Sacred Heart is at 7:00 p.m. on March 5th. Please help fill out the liturgical duties. While a lector has volunteered already, we need 2 serves, 5 Eucharistic ministers, and ushers. Please contact Deacon Mike if you can volunteer.

Thank you for your volunteerism.

The March ministry Schedule is available to pick up in Church entrance.

Thank you for your volunteerism.

As lent is fast approaching, the Knights of Ida Grove are asking the good ladies of our parish to donate desserts for the fish fries. We have had some amazing desserts and look forward to many more. The dates are March 7th, March 21st, and April 4th.

Adoration is held for an hour every Tuesday after Mass and all day on the 4th Tuesday of each month. Please join us.

Want to help those in need of a little supplemental food? A basket can be found at the entrance of the church for your non-perishable items. Please consider helping those in need throughout the year.

We will pray the Rosary Wednesdays at approximately 6:45 when there is Faith Formation. Join us! We will also livestream on the St. Mary’s Danbury Facebook page.

Do you enjoy a little treat after Mass once a month? Are you willing to make a donation to keep these treats coming?

If you would like to donate towards Sweeet Saturdays, please contact Lynn Buth at 893-2160 or 840-0327.

St. Mary’s Mapleton is always open during the day to give you a place to get away from everyday distractions to pray and listen to God. However, not all doors will be open each day.

Effective immediately at St. Mary's, Mapleton: when there is NO daily mass, only the north door will be unlocked from about 8am - 5pm unless a special request has been made (i.e: someone needs the lift).

Deanery meetings begin again, so Father Ball will hold the Mass on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 a.m.

Faith and begorrah - the OLGC St. Pat’s Celebration at the Legion will soon be here! Saturday, March 15th from 7-10 p.m. will be up on us in no time.

Entertainment chairs Melissa and Dale Friedrichsen are planning tons of fun including blackout bingo, trivia and other games - there might even be a TV so folks can enjoy the Big 12 tourney with friends and family. Yummy snacks will be available and drinks will be available for purchase.

So don’t be an eejit - plan now to attend, and let’s all have a fabulous time! Contact any committee member or Monsignor with questions or to volunteer. All ages are welcome! Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for K-18 and folks over 65 and are available from any OLGC parishioner or call Mary Forristal at 712-210-0226. Children under 5 are free!

This event is organized by the OLGC Catholic Church in Holstein’s Parish Life Committee and is meant to encourage good clean fun for the whole family.

All are invited to a Magnificat Retreat on Saturday, March 22, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Immaculate Conception in Cherokee. Our day will be spent answering God's call to Come Away and Abide in Me. We will come away as we learn to walk in our true identity, and we will abide in Him as we learn to hear him speak.

Registration is $30.00 and is due by March 12. Registration and more information is available at our website http://magnificat-iowa.com.

A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend is a time to rejoice in the beauty of our marriage and family. It’s a great time to rekindle communication and enjoy a weekend away. For more information call Denise and Greg - 563-920-9419 or register at wwme.org. Upcoming dates: April 25-27 in Epworth, IA and September 12-14 in Dubuque, IA

Celebrate the Jubilee Year by joining a pilgrimage to Italy led by Fr. David Esquiliano, Rector of the Cathedral and Judicial Vicar, from November 3-14, 2025. This once-in-a-lifetime journey includes passing through the Holy Doors of the four major basilicas in Rome, gaining indulgences, attending an audience with the Holy Father, and visiting sacred sites such as Assisi, Cascia, and Monte Cassino.

For more information, email Fr. Esquiliano at desquiliano@sccathedral.org. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to grow in faith!