Bridgehaven Pregnancy Support Center  (Formerly Known As Aid to Women) invites you to their open house and ribbon cutting ceremony Friday, February 10.  Tours: 3pm - 6pm with the ribbon cutting ceremony at 5pm.   Refreshments served.

You could qualify for an Earned Income Credit or a Child Tax Credit if you earned income through work or self-employment in 2011, had children living with you and earned less than about $46,000 or did not have children living with you and earned less than about $13,600. You can also get free tax preparation help so you can keep more of your tax return. Call to make an appointment for free help. To find the closest free tax preparation site near you, call Michelle at Iowans for Social & Economic Development (ISED) at 515-283-0940, ext. 34.

The annual Norway and Solon card party will be held at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Solon, Friday, February 17th at 7:00 pm. Refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome.

An invitation to a Valentine’s Day Gathering at the Van Horne Public Library. Tuesday, February 14th from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. Come share friendship with cookies and punch.  Hope to see you there.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH
Van Horne, Iowa

SOUP SUPPER

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2012

SERVING FROM 4:00 - 6:00 PM

Chili, Chicken Noodle, Vegetable Beef Soup

w/Sandwiches, Salad Bar, Desserts & Drink

Ticket:  Adults: $5.00

                         Children 5 - 12: $3.00

              Under 5 FREE

EVERYONE WELCOME!

A local mission group is looking for dentists to join them in their annual medical mission trip to help the rural poor of El Salvador. The date is set for March 24-30, 2012. For more information contact Tony Bedard at 319-361-8671 or email Tony.Bedard@frontiercoop.com.

Texas Hold'em Tournament!  Saturday, February 18, 2012 at St. Wenceslaus Msgr Glovik Hall,  Registration 4:15-5:15PM.  Play starts at 5:30PM.  $50 buy in, 65% Payout.  Re-buy ins allowed within first hour.  Food and soft drinks provided or BYOB.  Proceeds go to the Knights of Columbus, Council #14952.

Thinking of Priesthood?

Give Yourself a Day of Discernment!

Saturday, March 24th, 2012

St. Cecilia Parish

2900 Hoover Ave.

Ames, Iowa 50010

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” “Here I am,” I said; “send me!” ~Isaiah 6:8

For more information, visit www.DBQPriesthood.org or click on 'read more' below.

Operation Andrew – An Invitation to consider God’s call to the Priesthood. The dinners will begin with registration between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. and conclude by 8:30 p.m. The acceptable age of a candidate is between the ages of 17 and 45. Your priest will need to attend with you.

Date                           Location                                                    

February 7, 2012      St. Thomas Aquinas, Ames                                 
March 8, 2012           Loras College, Dubuque                          
April 19, 2012            St. Pius X, Cedar Rapids                           
 

Please contact your pastor or Fr. David Schatz, Director of Vocation Awareness, at 563-513-7333

Catholic Charities has hired two mental health counselors to work in the Cedar Rapids Office.Maria Cahalan is a licensed marriage and family therapist counselor and is returning to Catholic Charities. Maria provided counseling services in Cedar Rapids between 1998 and 2005. She returns to the Cedar Rapids office at 1430 Second Avenue SE on a part time basis and is available on Monday evenings. She is experienced with marriage and family issues as well as individual concerns such as anxiety and depression. To make an appointment, call 319-364-7121.Rev. Blair A'Hearn is currently a graduate student at UNI in the mental health counseling program. He has completed all of his coursework and will be completing his year-long internship with Catholic Charities working approximately 10-20 hours a week. He will be available for appointments on Mondays and Thursdays. Blair is an Associate Pastor with Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Marion. Blair also has a Master's of Divinity from Wartburg.

A rosary meditation for the homebound, sick, and dying is now available. Titled "Sit with Me", it is a beautiful recitation of the Rosary that includes all 20 mysteries. Pray the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous Mysteries and experience meditative and scriptural reflections focused on bringing comfort and grace. The prayers are not just for the sick and dying, but all who need healing.  It is led by Archbishop Hanus. Comments have included "This rosary has such meaning for each decade and keeps you attentive throughout" and "Especially good for the elderly. It is so clear and easy to understand."  This makes a wonderful Christmas gift for family and staff members.   Cost is $5 per set.  Contact the Queen of Saints office to order 319-228-8131.

If you or someone you know has children with no health and dental coverage, encourage them to consider enrolling in hawk-i or Medicaid.  There two programs are offered by the State of Iowa.

There are as many as 27,000 children in Iowa without health and dental coverage.  There are many families who are eligible for these programs but they are either unaware of the programs or assume they earn too much money to qualify.  However, a family of three earning  $54,000 or more may be eligible.  Many families are cutting back expenses in these challenging economic times.  Health and dental coverage for children is too important.  No family will pay more than $40 per month for coverage in hawk-i. 

Signing your children up for health and dental coverage in Iowa for as low as $20 to $40 per month and some families pay nothing at all!  Our goal is to help the children get the health and dental coverage they need. For complete eligibility requirements, application, and answers to your questions, visit www.hawk-i.org or call 1-800-257-8563 or contact the cluster office at 228-8131.

Often, major problems can be avoided by early intervention, by finding new ways of dealing with daily problems before they become a crisis. Through counseling, individuals, couples and families learn to work out their problems and have a better chance of staying emotionally healthy. Counseling services are provided, regardless of religion, race or financial status. Individual counseling is available, as well as marriage and family counseling.

For further information or for an appointment, contact one of the following sites:

Ames, 515-296-2759

Dubuque, 563-588-0558, 556-2580

Cedar Rapids, 319-364-7121

Mason City, 541-424-9683

Decorah, 800-772-2758

Waterloo, 319-272-2080

Also check their website: www.charitiesdbq.com

Do you need to go to a doctor or go for medical tests? Benton County Volunteer Program has volunteers available to assist you with Medical Transportation. Grant money is available to help defray the cost of your trip. Please call our office for more information: Belle Plaine-319-434-6078 or Vinton 319-472-2830.