On October 11, 2012 Pope Benedict XVI declared a "Year of Faith" to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. The Second Vatican Council resulted in great change in the Catholic Church, including holding worship in the local language instead of Latin, an increased role for the laity and an increased focus on the social teachings of Jesus. The Year of Faith also commemorates the 20th anniversary of of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church by Pope John Paul II.
The Year of Faith is the result of Pope Benedict’s desire for all Catholics to be renewed in their faith. It is the prayer of St. Mary Church that each person of the Archdiocese of Dubuque will experience and encounter Christ anew through this Year of Faith. The Year of Faith ends on November 24, 2013
This year was a year of exceptional change with the Catholic Church and the Archdiocese of Dubuque. On March 13, 2013, a new Pope was elected following the retirement of Pope Benedict. Jorge Bergoglio became Pope Francis, the first Pope to be born in the Americas. Then on April 8, 2013 Pope Francis appointed Michael Jackels to the post of Archbishop of Dubuque following the retirement of Archbishop Jerome Hanus. Archbishop Jackels was born in South Dakota and had served previously as the Bishop of Wichita.
St. Mary Catholic Church would like to invite everyone to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors and spend some time with family.