A COVID- 19 Statement

It has been a week full of very tough and sad decisions across our world.  Unfortunately, our St. Stephen community is also needing to take measures in line with State and Archdiocesan requirements. To that effect, we will be adhering to the following:
  • There will not be Mass or Communal Reconciliation until further notice. Please see the statement from the Archbishop below regarding this.  
  • The chapel will be open from Monday - Friday 10am to 5pm for prayer only.
  • Only 10 people will be allowed in the building at a time.  Visitors will be allowed for prayer only.
  • Office will be staff but closed to visitors unless business related and preferably by appointment.  Please try to utilize  phones, email, website and facebook to communicate and stay in touch with us.  Appointments will be made at the discretion of the staff member.  Molly will be working from home right now due to a health condition.  She may be reached at dbq303sec@dbqarch.org and will be checking her work voicemail regularly on business days. Father Jon can be reached at 515-292-1192 dbq303@dbqarch.org.  Clare's email is dbq303s@dbqarch.org.
  • Please use the front entrance only to visit chapel. The back door will remain locked.
  • These measures are enacted out of an abundance of caution. That said please respect these rules.  We would like to remain open for opportunities to pray, but we will close if the rules are disregarded.
  • Please pray for all those who need protection and healing at this time.  We pray for the safety. We pray in thanksgiving for our medical and emergency professionals, warehouse, grocery,and food bank workers, postal carriers, sanitation workers, and  all those who continue to keep us safe, fed, healthy, and informed.   

Message from Archbishop Jackels, to the Catholic faithful of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, regarding the coronavirus 
  
After consultation and considerable prayer, it has been decided – out of an abundance of caution and with devotion to the common good – to take steps aimed at slowing down the spread of the coronavirus, to flatten the curve, as they say, so as not to overburden the healthcare system. 
  
Therefore,  beginning on 19 March 2020 and until further notice, the following provisions have been taken:
  • All public celebrations of Holy Mass are cancelled. All Catholics in the Archdiocese of Dubuque are dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.
  • The Chrism Mass will be celebrated, but with only the liturgical ministers present. The oils will be blessed, bottled, and distributed in some way to the parishes. 
  • During this time, the Archbishop will live stream a celebration of Holy Mass each Sunday, as well as the Chrism Mass (and the Triduum, if the situation has not changed by then), and will lead the Rosary each week on Thursday. Click here for more information about these live-streamed events.
  • The existing schedule for Confirmation is cancelled (the Archbishop’s office will contact the parishes to reschedule). 
  • Funerals, Weddings and Baptisms may be held, but limited to the immediate family, or at least no more than 50 people present, according to the current CDC guidelines.
  • Communal penance services should not be held. The present circumstances do not constitute the grave necessity required for use of general absolution. Private, one-on-one confession can be scheduled by appointment.
  • All archdiocesan-sponsored events where 50+ people are gathered are cancelled.
  
Pray to God for speedy deliverance from the evil of the coronavirus, for those who are sick or who live in fear of infection, for those who care for the sick and elderly, for those whose lives and livelihood are adversely affected by the spread of the virus, and that we might all remain calm and confident in God’s wisdom, power, and goodness. 
  
Conscious of our great need, and confident of God’s loving care, with the above intentions in mind, all the faithful of the Archdiocese of Dubuque are invited to join in a day of fast, abstinence, and prayer on Wednesday, 25 March 2020; this is voluntary, not obligatory. 
  
On that day, people ordinarily bound on Ash Wednesday to fast (only one full meal, taking less at the other meals) and abstain from meat are invited to make those same sacrifices. And as far as prayer is concerned, the Rosary is recommended as a powerful prayer, prayed alone or with others. 
  
God, come to our assistance. Lord, make haste to help us. Mary, health of the sick, pray for us. St. Raphael, patron of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, and patron of healing, pray for us."

​HIGHLIGHTS FROM FALL SEMESTER
140 students participate in weekly small groups.
40 UNI students are going with our FOCUS team to the Student Leadership Summit Dec. 30-Jan. 3 in Phoenix.
41 new students went on Antioch this fall, lead by 13 students for a total of 54 participants.
6 UNI students have applied to be FOCUS missionaries at other campuses next year.
6 young men and women are preparing through the RCIA process for sacraments at the Easter Vigil.
15 students served at the Catholic Worker House on October 14.
16 students participated in the "What Should I Do?" retreat lead by two Jesuit priests on Sept. 27-28.
More students are coming to daily Mass.
More students are coming to adoration on Wednesdays before Primetime.
8 students are going on the FOCUS mission trip to Portugal. 
 2 students are going on the FOCUS spring break mission trip to Peru. 
More will be going on the spring break mission trip to New Orleans sponsored by the Dubuque Presentation sisters.
14 students are doing monthly spiritual direction with Sr. Jessi Beck PBVM  and Sr. Rita Cameron, PBVM.
Some of our seniors are putting on the "But Why Us?" Gospel mime Dec. 14 and 15.
4 Peers have completed such tasks as a new look to the Stone’s Throw, implementing weekly Adoration, and planning TGIF events. Additionally, 240 Thanksgiving Food Baskets delivered. 
New programs such as Church Chat offer ways to learn more about the richness of Catholic history and teachings.  Envisioning meetings give our students and community a voice to express ideas and give feedback.
These are just a few highlights.  Good things are happening here, and we are just getting started!
Support our ministry:

​Or ​Text to Give: 304-244-1973
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Waterloo Catholics has a wonderful resource page that they plan on adding to.

You may also watch Mass broadcast or live-streamed on the Internet. 
> Blessed Sacrament Parish live-streams weekend and daily Mass on their website including several languages (see the schedule  here).
> The EWTN network broadcasts daily Mass on cable television and the Internet at 7:00am here. 
> The Archdiocese of Dubuque live-streams Archbishop Jackels’ Mass each Sunday at 9:00am on the diocese’s website here. A Mass in Spanish follows the English Mass at approximately 10:00am. 
Small Groups

Get connected with other students right on campus! Small groups give the opportunity to form relationships through the gospel, sharing, and prayer. 
Prime Time

Prime Time is the daily Mass directed towards college level students. This mass begins at 9:00pm every Wednesday and ends in a social of food and friendship.

Mission Statement

We are a Catholic faith Community.
Our Mission is to proclaim the Gospel and build up God's Kingdom.

We Proclaim the Gospel when...
  • We welcome all in a spirit of Christian hospitality.
  • We celebrate God's presence in worship, prayer, and community.
  • We live as a sacramental community which embodies God's presence.

We build up God's Kingdom when...
  • We offer opportunities for spiritual growth and faith formation.
  • We commit ourselves to serving others and working for social justice.
  • We act as good stewards of our time, talents, and financial resources.
St. Stephen the Witness Catholic Student Center
1019 W. 23rd St. Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 266-9863