http://www.catholicmessenger.net/

The Catholic Messenger, 780 W Central Park Avenue, Davenport, IA (2026)

09/13/2026

Elementary teacher Becky DeJonghe was running out of options in her stage-4 cancer battle.

She had already gone through countless surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy to fight a very aggressive form of sarcoma. It had taken one of her legs, and seemed poised to take her life, as well. “She had reached the lowest and most difficult stage of her journey. Her life expectancy was now months, and her long-term survival (chances) were basically zero,” said her oncologist, Doctor Michael Porubcin.

DeJonghe, who considers herself spiritual but not religious, prayed to St. Raphael at the insistence of her sister-in-law. What followed was “one of the most gratifying cancer outcomes of my career,” Dr. Porubcin said.

Read the full story in the Sept. 10 Catholic Messenger or at https://catholicmessenger.net/2026/09/dr-reflects-on-remarkable-remission/

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09/09/2026

🌟 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗢𝗢𝗡! 🌟
𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗚: 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲
We’re excited to announce a new 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 webpage designed to help create more welcoming, inclusive, and faith-filled communities where 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀!
The new webpage will be a one-stop resource for individuals with disabilities, families, caregivers, parish leaders, educators, and anyone passionate about disability inclusion.
✨ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱:
📖 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 – Resources to help make faith formation accessible for all
💙 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 – Support and resources for those who care for others
⛪ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 & 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 – Practical tools for building more inclusive parishes
🏫 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 – Ideas and support for inclusive Catholic education
🤝 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – Learn how Parish Advocates can help foster belonging and inclusion
Because 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗱—𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗱, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱… 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻!

09/08/2026

A pilgrimage to two prominent Catholic sites in Wisconsin will be led by Bishop Dennis Walsh Oct. 7-9. Catholic Radio station KTJT-LP will host the trip to Our Lady of Champion and Holy Hill.

Bishop Walsh said he was curious about both sites and noted that the only Church-approved Marian apparition in the United States is at Champion. He has been to the third Marian shrine in Wisconsin, Our Lady of Guadalupe in LaCrosse, with his seminarians last year.

“The apparitions in Wisconsin are not well known,” Bishop Walsh said. He looks forward to learning more during the trip.

Read the full story in the Sept. 3 Catholic Messenger or at https://catholicmessenger.net/2026/09/pilgrimage-to-holy-hill-our-lady-of-champion/

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Support Catholic news with a print and/or e-edition subscription for less than $1 a week! Contact your parish or sign up at https://www.catholicmessenger.net/forms/subscriberservices.php today!

09/05/2026

DAVENPORT — For the first time in more than 20 years, the Davenport Northwest Little League team competed in the Little League World Series, representing the Midwest Region recently in the international tournament held annually in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Among the squad’s biggest fans were the students, faculty and staff at John F. Kennedy Catholic School.

That’s because 8 out of the 12 young athletes attend the school in Davenport.

“We see them all the time,” said Angie Hillebrand, the school’s administrative assistant. “I think these kids are great baseball players, but they’re also great kids.”

Read the full story in the Sept. 3 Catholic Messenger or at https://catholicmessenger.net/2026/09/iowa-little-league-world-series-team-has-strong-connection-to-catholic-school/

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Support Catholic news with a print and/or e-edition subscription for less than $1 a week! Contact your parish or sign up at https://www.catholicmessenger.net/forms/subscriberservices.php today!

09/03/2026

📢 IMPORTANT LOCATION CHANGE – ON THE FARM MASS

Due to the extreme heat forecast for Saturday, the On the Farm Mass planned for Saturday, September 5 has been moved indoors to St. James Catholic Church in St. Paul.

⛪ Mass will be celebrated at 5:00 PM at St. James Church.

🍽️ A meal and program will follow at the St. James Parish Center in St. Paul.

Please note that only the location has changed. The Mass, meal, and program will continue as planned.

Please share this post and help us spread the word to everyone who may be planning to attend.

We look forward to seeing everyone Saturday!

09/02/2026

Two bits of bad news today:

1. This week’s issue of The Catholic Messenger will arrive one day late due to a mechanical issue at the printing plant in Indiana.

2. Facebook does not have Wilson Phillips as one of its music options.

09/02/2026

The Diocese of Davenport’s first Impact Report was officially released Aug. 17 and is now available online at davenportdiocese.org/impact.

The document called “Together in Mission” contains information on many ministries in the diocese, including reflections, statistics, photos and financial information.

“As I continue learning the life of this diocese, my priorities as bishop are centered on strengthening the foundations of discipleship in every parish,” wrote Bishop Dennis Walsh in a letter introducing the report. “I am especially committed to forming our young people in the beauty and demands of the Catholic faith; building vibrant, mission-driven parish communities; supporting families as they grow in their identity as domestic churches; and fostering a culture in which vocations to priesthood, consecrated life, the diaconate, and holy matrimony can flourish. These priorities reflect the heart of our mission: to draw people into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and to build up a Church capable of serving Southeast Iowa with faith, hope, and love. My hope is that as you read this report, you will recognize your own place within this story.”

Learn more about the making of the report in the Aug. 27 Catholic Messenger or at https://catholicmessenger.net/2026/08/first-impact-report-now-available/

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Support Catholic news with a print and/or e-edition subscription for less than $1 a week! Contact your parish or sign up at https://www.catholicmessenger.net/forms/subscriberservices.php today!

09/01/2026

Mama mia! That's one way to promote a parish festival! 🤣 We approve.

08/31/2026

The playground equipment from the former Lourdes Catholic School in Bettendorf found a new home at St. James Catholic School in Washington.

“For those who loved Lourdes Catholic School and have memories of children playing on that playground, there is something especially meaningful about knowing that it will continue to serve another Catholic school,” said Deacon Ryan Burchett. “What was loved and cared for here will now bring joy to a new generation of children and help fulfill the dream of a woman who devoted herself to Catholic education.”

Moving the playground was, in the words of one volunteer, a "Herculean task."

Read the full story in the Aug. 27 Catholic Messenger or at https://catholicmessenger.net/2026/08/elementary-school-playground-finds-a-new-home/

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Support Catholic news with a print and/or e-edition subscription for less than $1 a week! Contact your parish or sign up at https://www.catholicmessenger.net/forms/subscriberservices.php today!

08/29/2026

With a shortage of diocesan priests on the horizon, three farming communities in Cedar County came together to work toward a solution.

For St. Mary-Tipton, St. Bernadette-West Branch and St. Mary-Mechanicsville, togetherness was the answer.

Tipton and Mechanicsville have shared a pastor since the rectory in Mechanicsville closed in 2012. West Branch had been shifting between clusters and, as a member of the Tipton/ Mechanicsville group since 2023, wanted some stability, said the pastor, Father James Flattery. As with many rural parishes sharing pastors, there was concern that the diocese would eventually merge or close one or more parishes. “We wanted to… be forward thinking, instead of reacting to the situation when it comes,” the priest said.

Read the full story in the Aug. 27 Catholic Messenger or at https://catholicmessenger.net/2026/08/cultivating-faith-communities-come-together-to-form-st-isidore-the-farmer-parish/

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Support Catholic news with a print and/or e-edition subscription for less than $1 a week! Contact your parish or sign up at https://www.catholicmessenger.net/forms/subscriberservices.php today!

The Catholic Messenger

09/13/2026

09/09/2026

09/08/2026

09/05/2026

09/03/2026

09/02/2026

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09/01/2026

08/31/2026

08/29/2026

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