RCIA: is meeting in a combination of in person and virtual sessions.
JP Kidz and Tweens: will meet in person. Parents will be kept up-to-date on the status via email.
Teen Group and Juniorhigh Youth  Ministry: will meet in person. Parents will be notified via email on the status of sessions.
Parish Intergenerational Faith Formation
plans to meet in person this year. Youth Ministry and sacramental preparation will meet in person. Find faith formation opportunities for your entire household here. There will still be resources on our Faith Formation website,
Kitchen Table Faith, Find more information on sacramental preparation on the First Reconciliation/First Eucharist page and on the Confirmation page.

Some parish ministries are meeting:

Men's Bible Study: meeting in FDC room 10
Finance Council & Building Project Committees meeting virtually or in the social room to allow for more space for physical distancing.
Anointing of the Sick: If you need to celebrate this sacrament, email Fr. Mark.
Reconciliation: Saturday at 4 pm, or contact Fr. Mark to set up an individual time.
Knights of Columbus: Regular monthly meetings are held in the FDC social room.
Small Faith-sharing Groups: some are meeting in person or virtually
Choir practices will resume this fall.

Some parish ministries are still cancelled or meeting virtually:
Prayer Shawl Ministry
SSJP Playgroup
JustFaith
Facility Rentals: there are limited rentals being allowed at this time. This is due more to ongoing construction than coronavirus.

Outside groups using the parish facilities is still limited. This again, is due to space limitations because of construction.

We will update changes in status as they occur.

Come here to find information on parish programs, catechesis, cancellations and other updates with the everchanging status concerning COVID-19.

CDC guidelines were updated July 27, 2021 regarding masking in response to the increased spread of the Delta variant. The CDC strongly recommends that fully vaccinated individuals and unvaccinated individuals both wear masks in public indoor settings where there is "substantial" or "high" transmission.

The Diocese of Des Moines follows CDC guidelines and strongly recommends that all individuals ages 5 and older, vaccinated and unvaccinated, wear masks at any indoor parish event, if the level of transmission in your county is substantial or high. This includes, but is not limited to liturgies, faith formation sessions, and social activities.

Polk County's level of transmission is presently "high." You can check the level of transmission by county here.

Staff has resumed normal office hours, 9 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday. It is still prudent to contact staff members by email or phone to set up an in-person appointment. Find staff contact information here.

The Founders Hall/Parish Office entrance is open for drop-off or pick-up of items during office hours.

SOME PARISH MEETINGS HAVE RESUMED. Some events and activities have resumed in-person with precautions. Space at the parish is still at a premium due to construction, so there are still limits to available meeting space.

We are observing our normal Mass schedule:

• 5:00 pm on Saturday
• 8:30 and 10:30 am on Sunday
• 5:30 pm on Tuesday
• 9:00 am Wednesday-Friday 

Sunday obligation was restored the weekend of July 24-25. Mass will be still be available through our Facebook page and our YouTube channel, with a link on the parish website. Click here for Sunday readings and reflection questions.

As of the week of June 6th, Daily Mass has moved back to the day chapel.

Please conitnue to observe physical distancing from other households, and continue to avoid physical contact with others (i.e., handshakes and hugs). Continue to be mindful of hygienic practices; washing hands often, using hand sanitizer, cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. If you are feeling ill or have been exposed to COVID-19, stay home.

Other Notes...

We are in the process of resuming taking Communion to parishioners at local care centers in Bondurant, Altoona and Mitchellville, at Prairie Vista Village. Visitation limitations at hospitals in Des Moines have been reinstated. 

Children's Liturgy of the Word: is on hiatus for the month of July. We will look at the possibility of resuming in-person in Fall Find more information about available alternatives.

Adoration: resumes Monday, June 29

Other On-line Liturgies

St. John's Abbey, Collegeville
University of Notre Dame

The Diocese of Des Moines Coronavirus Webpage has information concerning the following:

• COVID-19 and precautionary measures to take
• Precautions and changes to the Liturgy
• Livestream Masses and other ways to join in liturgy and prayer while at home
• Social Services for help with counseling, food or other needs
• Visitor restrictions for MercyOne and Bishop Drumm Retirement Center
• Catholic Schools information
• Prayer at this time

OCP Resources from Home

As communities across the world are impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19), we pray for those impacted, and those working to treat those infected. Find resources for worship and prayer during this difficult time.

Give Us This Day

Concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 virus have left many parishes with the difficult decision to suspend liturgies. To support our community's prayer, Give Us This Day has made available at no charge a digital file of our periodical, which includes daily Mass texts. Visit GUTD.net and select "Digital" in the upper right of the screen. While it is not a replacement for community worship, we hope this resource will support you during this challenging time. Please share this resource with friends and family.