immaculate-conception-church-lansing-ia-02-0558

Word for Word

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:24:51 GMT

Joanna Downing, St Patrick-Waukon

It was one of those days, where as a parent of three sick littles I hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep. We were living in a third-floor apartment outside Lynchburg, VA. The day before, the downstairs neighbor, an artist, had complained that we were being too loud. Apparently, all the tiny feet running up and down the hall above him were not conducive to producing the next Picasso- I get it. My husband was in the back room trying to get some sleep after working the night shift as a $9 an hour janitor- the only job he could find. I was sitting on our navy blue couch- one child on each side of me and the baby on my lap wanting to nurse again for the umpteenth time. All crying, all snotty-nosed, hair uncombed, no one yet dressed for the day. And God help us all if they ran down the hall and once again disturbed the downstairs Michelangelo. I felt like I was going to lose it and out of the depths of my heart I yelled this desperate prayer: “God, I don’t feel very fulfilled right now!” I wasn’t expecting a response. Was He even there? But almost immediately He did speak, leaving an indelible imprint on my heart. “It’s not about feeling fulfilled. I am building your character.” The entire atmosphere of the room changed. He was there, with me, in my mess. He saw it all. And He was still working in me, on me.

I think we’ve all passed through seasons where we think to ourselves, “This wasn’t what I signed up for.” Whether it’s in marriage, parenting, job, vocation, or just plain life circumstances. When the disciples of Jesus were honored to be personally chosen by the Messiah to “come and follow Me,” they probably felt like they were on a mountaintop. Most likely there were some illusions of grandeur as the crowds flocked to see Jesus, listened to His teachings, and witnessed His miracles. Afterall, they were part of Jesus’ elite SEAL team if you will, chosen by God Himself to carry out His eternal plan on earth. Good times. But then the tables turned. It wasn’t supposed to end like this. The fear, the intrigues, and finally the cross.

At one point we read in John 20 that the disciples, the ones chosen by Christ Himself, that had spent 3 years with Him personally, were gathered together hiding behind locked doors. I can’t blame them. The Jewish leaders had killed Jesus- who would they go after next? Perhaps they were thinking, “This wasn’t what I signed up for.” The next thing we know Jesus is in their midst. Never mind the locked doors or their lack of super spiritual prowess. He was there, and they were overjoyed. And then he said 4 words that changed it all. “Peace be with you.” Those seeking to blot out any memory of the Messiah were still outside. The threat of persecution still hung in the air. Few external circumstances had changed, yet everything had. They knew God Himself was with them, that He was still carrying out His work and they were somehow still a part of it despite their frailty, their insufficiency, their lack. And He wanted them. He didn’t scold them in their most vulnerable moment, instead He invited them to come close to Him, so close that He could breathe on them. Ironically, it was these same fearful warriors that Christ would commission to carry His Gospel message to the ends of the earth.

Sometimes the life we envision for ourselves, in its idyllic perfection, is a far cry from what God has actually called us to. When we respond to Christ’s call to come and follow Him we inevitably find ourselves on a mountaintop with a view we never could have imagined, just as the disciples did. Our lives seem to be flooded with grace, prayers being answered left and right. We think we have given all to Him, but it’s only the beginning. He is an all-consuming fire and He is not satisfied with only having a part of you. He wants you to be fully alive, for that is the glory of God. The ironic contradiction to that statement is that you cannot be fully alive until you have died. You cannot live in resurrection life until you have passed through the cross.

For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it (Matthew 16:25). If you are truly following the heart of God you can be guaranteed that the very thing you are called to will be both life and death to you at the same time. It will be your greatest joy and the most difficult thing you’ve ever done in your life- yet you wouldn’t trade it. In one of his epistles written to Timothy the Apostle Paul states, “I am being poured out like a libation.”

If you feel like you are constantly being poured out like an offering you can be assured that He is right there and that He is doing a beautiful and authentic thing in your heart- healing, changing, building. The key is not perfection, but rather desire. The desire to do the will of God above all else. And the desire to know, love, and serve Him above any of our own plans.

Peace be with you. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit (John 12:24).

Limestone Church, Part 4

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:30:59 GMT

Hugh Conway, IC-Wexford

When the new rock church was built at Wexford, a choir loft was built across the back of the church. As you enter the church, the steps leading to the choir loft were on the left side. The first seven steps went straight up, the next four step winder formed a 90-degree turn, and the last four steps lead to the choir loft floor. The choir loft was placed approximately ten feet above the main

floor and acted as a second story balcony allowing the beautiful music produced by the choir to reverberate and resound throughout the church.

The choir at Wexford was known for its beautiful music as voices blended together producing harmony like the imagined sound of choirs of angels with cherubim and seraphim singing together in heaven. Ah the beautiful sound of music, not as we hear it today but as generations of Catholics listened to hymns praising the wonders of the world, expressing feelings of suffering and joy, love and hate, and compassion and misery. Some favorite songs of the pioneers included Immaculate Mary, Amazing Grace, Rock of Ages, The Old Rugged Cross, and How Great Thou Art.

Favorite activities when friends and neighbors got together included telling stories of how life was in the past and singing favorite songs that had been handed down from generation to generation such as the Mooney’s singing “Old Leather Breaches” and the Gleason’s singing “Dairyman’s Daughter” or dancing to a lively tune. It seemed that everyone had a story to tell, a song to sing, or an Irish jig to enjoy.

Father Laffan was the priest at Wexford for thirty-one years from1899 to 1929. He once received and read a letter from the Bishop at Dubuque, IA requesting the parish priests to encourage the whole congregation to participate in singing. My Dad told a story of how Father Laffan during his sermon mentioned how wonderful the choir sounded and with a twinkle in his eyes and a broad smile said, “That is fine to have all the people participate and sing--but-- I’m afraid it would be more like bawling than singing for many of yea.”

Songs, music, and prayers in church are still valuable elements today. On 7 April 2026, Father Joe Sevcik arranged for a night of song and prayer at Immaculate Conception Church at Wexford. An enjoyable hour of adoration using only song and prayer ended with an informative presentation by Brenda Sevcik followed by pie and a social event. Brenda discussed how song and prayer are like an unending circle going up to God in heaven followed by revelations and actions returning through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Along the front of the choir loft, an approximately four-foot-tall railing with kneelers allowed the choir to kneel facing the altar during Mass. Three to four rows of approximately six-foot pews allowed the choir to sit during Mass. Centered in the choir loft was a bellow operated organ to accompany the choir’s singing. Over the years, several organs were used at Wexford with newer and improved models replacing older versions. The placement of organ was adjusted to allow more room for choir members. By 1960, an electric organ was providing wonderful music to accompany the choir. In 1980, the Maurice Mooney family, in memory of their son Mark

Mooney, purchased a Baldwin organ that produced beautiful music and is still in use today.

The early Wexford pioneers were patriotic, political, and very social. As early as 1854, Wexford parishioners were celebrating the 4 th of July in frontier fashion with a giant picnic where Mr. William Morrison was the first orator in the county to proclaim the wonders of this free nation. During a celebration in 1870, Wexford’s pastor, Father McManus’s was accused of trying to prevent the railroad tax from being levied, which would have stopped the railroad from passing though Lansing. He quickly wrote a letter in the Lansing Chronicle apologizing for any misunderstanding stating that his words were erroneously reported.

In 1871, the 4 th of July celebration was near Vail’s grove where the people in the area enjoyed a countywide picnic with music, dancing, ball games, fireworks, refreshments, and an excellent speaker. In 1904, the 4 th of July celebration was at the Wexford pavilion where the patriotic citizens from the surrounding hills and valleys enjoyed feasting, singing, dancing, and courting into the wee hours of the morning. Squire Sullivan oversaw the official proceedings and invited Mrs. Agnes Curran to read the Declaration of Independence. Honorable Hart was the speaker of the day delivering an excellent speech on patriotism. Colonel John Joyce read some of his original poems ending with a Soldier’s Song and Spirit Dance.

Yes, Wexford was the place to celebrate if you wanted a good time with delicious food, invigorating music, lively dancing, wonderful people, and an opportunity to meet some of the best-looking women in the area.

Limestone Church, Part 3

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 22:26:20 GMT

Hugh Conway, IC-Wexford

There is a correction to last month’s article on the original altar at Wexford. The original altar contained three tall spirals built in gothic style reaching toward the heavens. The middle section stretched above the sides and was topped with a large cross. This cross was replaced with the golden dome and Celtic cross in 1910 when the wooden spire was replaced with a cement dome

topped with a cross on the outside of the church. Thank you to sharp eyed readers for helping point out the correction.

In the church, the main altar section was set back approximately eighteen feet forming an arch shaped room that reminds me of an opera or theater setting. GLORIA EXCELSIS DEO was written above the top of the arch. GLORIA EXCELSIS DEO translates to Glory to God in the Highest. A large cross was placed on top of the arch facing the congregation between GLORIA and EXCELSIS. On the outside edge of the arch, a rope shaped adornment enhanced the arch from the bottom of one side, across the top touching the bottom of the cross, and down to the floor on the other side. Today, the inside of the church has a picture of the pascal lamb where the cross was located on top of the arch.

A railing was built along the front of the raised platform allowing the parishioners to kneel in a row along the front of the railing when receiving the Eucharist. The Priest would distribute Holy Communion moving down along the railing with an altar boy holding a communion plate beneath the chin of each person. The purpose of the communion plate was to catch any particles of the Eucharist that may fall.

There is an interesting story about how Communion “Bread-of-Life” is given to parishioners. In the early centuries of the church, up to the 4 th century, it was common for the faithful to receive shared blessed bread directly in their hand. By the 9 th century, unleavened bread had transformed into individual sized pieces called hosts, that when blessed, become Bread-of-Life. Receiving

communion on the tongue became more prevalent due to concerns about the Real Presence of Christ and potential for misuse. It was not until the Second Vatican Council in 1969 allowed the reintroduction of the practice of receiving Communion in the hand. The Holy See later confirmed the practice of receiving Communion in the hand. Today, both ways of receiving Communion are permitted.

An article in the Allamakee Journal dated November 11, 1891, stated that: “Wexford parish is still without a priest although the people down there look for one from day to day. It was conditional with Father Hore, who established the colony, on leaving and turning the property over to the diocese, the church should never be left without a pastor.” The Allamakee Journal also mentioned that the newly ordained Father Hetherington, of Ireland, became pastor in early December 1891: “The people of Wexford are highly elated over their new shepherd, Father Hetherington. He is a young man, but an able, zealous disciple of the cloth, and has already endeared himself to his parishioners. He has young people of his flock grouped into sodalities and societies and his work thus far promises much good for spiritual as well as corporal benefit”. (Allamakee Journal, January 13, 1892)

Today, the people of Wexford are highly elated over their current shepherds, Father Joseph Sevcik and Father Philip Agyei. Both are young man, but able, zealous disciples of the cloth, and endeared to the parishioners. Another article from the Allamakee Journal, December 21, 1892, proclaimed: “Nopper has just completed two beautiful side altars for the Wexford Church. We saw them in the Brewery Thursday last, as painter Lagerson was putting the finishing touches on them and must say that they show off handsomely and for the money, we don’t believe could be duplicated anywhere.

They were finished in white and gilt, have three crosses each. When placed in position they will be quite an ornament to the church.”

The three crosses in the side altars were arranged with the middle cross higher than the two side crosses like the design on the main altar. In 1892, Father Hetherington donated two life-size statues: the Blessed Virgin Mary Statue and the Sacred Heart Statue. The Virgin Mary statue was placed inside the side altar on the left side in front of the church. The Virgin Mary statue is wearing a blue cloak over a white robe tied with a sash. A white veil covers her hair. Mary’s hands are outstretched toward the parishioners, and her right foot is stepping on the head of a serpent.

The Sacred Heart statue was placed inside the side altar on the right side in front of the church. Jesus in the Sacred Heart statue is wearing a red cloak over a white robe. His left hand rests below the visible sacred heart that is surrounded by a golden halo. Jesus’s head is slightly bowed and his right hand rests along his side.

Stained Glass Windows

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:01:14 GMT

Hugh Conway, St Bridget-Postville

Sacred Writers Workshop met at St. Bridget Catholic Church in Postville, Iowa on 3 February 2026. Julie Hietland provided an interesting and informative overview of the eighteen mosaic glass windows.

The windows of St. Bridget reflect the trinity with each window containing three parts. The windows are connected with a yellow meandering thread along and across all eighteen windows. This dotted yellow line divides the top and middle part of the window.

The top section represents God in three forms and his sacrifices and gifts to man including creation and the seven sacraments. The middle section of the window presents the apostles, our country, state, city of Postville, Archdiocese of Dubuque, Universal Church, and Saint Bridget of Ireland, name-stake for the church.

The bottom section of the window depicts eighteen different forms of the cross from across the world. The ultimate sacrifice occurred on the cross, no matter which the form used to represent Christ’s death and our salvation.

Entering Into the Silence

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:25:46 GMT

Joanna Downing, St Patrick-Waukon

Once upon a time I lived on a tropical island where nearly every day of the year was sunny with a high of 75. The beaches were always calling and shorts, sandals, and sunglasses were just part of the regular attire. True story.

However, after 4 years of being stationed in paradise, this Iowa girl’s heart longed for the winter. When all the birds have flown south, the harvest is in, and the trees have lost all their leaves, creation itself is offering an invitation. It is an invitation to come away and be silent, to withdraw from the constant rush of activity and the noise.

A few years back my husband gave me the beautiful gift of a silent retreat at New Melleray Abbey, the Catholic monastery outside Dubuque, IA. As a mother of 8, this was a dream come true. After finding the beautiful monastery hidden amongst the woods and rolling farmlands, I was given an old-fashioned key which unlocked my little cell, a simple unadorned room with a single bed, desk, and a chair facing a window that overlooked a snow-covered courtyard. I felt as if I’d come home.

Following vespers (evening prayers) we all entered the “Great Silence.” The doors were locked and everyone returned to their rooms quietly. A reverent hush fell over the monastery. At about 230am I furtively left my room, padded down the hall and made my way into the dark chapel. There was no light except the red candle that burns continuously near the altar. The presence of Christ was almost palpable. I could imagine it being like the spirit of God hovering over the face of the waters before the creation of the world.

Artist Vincent Van Gogh wrote about an inner flame. He imagined that each one of us has a blazing furnace inside that is to be tended until it is fully ablaze. This flame is cultivated and kept alive by silence. He explained that when the door, as he referred to the mouth, was kept shut the inner flame of desire and love for God would increase in intensity.

The spiritual discipline of solitude and holy silence is not a new one. In Exodus we see Moses ascending Mt. Sinai, away from the people, to be alone and to commune with God. Elijah experienced God in the still small voice and the Blessed Mother “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Christ Himself often retreated away from both the large crowds and his disciples to pray and spend time with His Father in solitary places, particularly in times of suffering such as the garden of Gethsemane.

Teacher and theologian, Fr. John Hardon, defined silence as not merely the absence of sound or physical stillness, but rather the conscious effort to communicate with God or the invisible world of faith in preference to conversation with other people. Spending time in silence is restorative, a true leisure that brings us back to reality, allowing us to truly see and hear, thereby stripping away the need to justify and explain everything, ultimately reducing our dependence on emotions.

The monks of New Melleray admit that this road to simplicity in silence can be painful because we ourselves are fragmented. In time though, this simple, silent prayer of intense desire restores our integrity. We begin to see as God sees and so are restored to communion with God, with our brothers, and with all creation.

That being said, very few of us are hermits like the early Christian desert fathers. However, as we prepare to enter the desert of Lent and seek a deeper union with the Uncreated One, perhaps finding time for more silence with God would be worthy of our efforts.

And for those of you who long for periods of silence, but genuinely wonder how it could ever happen, I encourage you to sincerely ask your Heavenly Father for it. He is a giver of good gifts to those who seek Him and call upon His name.

Psalm 131:2 “Rather, I have stilled and calmed my soul, hushed it like a weaned child.

Like a weaned child held in its mother’s arms, so is my soul within me.”

Limestone Church, Part 2

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:20:44 GMT

Hugh Conway, IC-Wexford

Many a stone mason has felt a deep love for constructing wonderful buildings and monuments

made of stones that may last for centuries. The quarrymen split or cut the stones at the quarry,

forming rough blocks that are moved to a construction site. Rock cutting is traditionally done

with physical labor using specialized tools to slice blocks along the natural grains in the rock.

Northeast Iowa features several limestone quarries near the location of the limestone church. The

nearest limestone quarry is just half a mile away.

The whole community helped in loading and moving the building stones for the church. The

rough-cut stones were piled and heaped onto wagons and hauled back to the construction site

using big draft horses. The Wexford Register gives credit to the following parishioners for

having hauled at least eight loads of rock: Flor. Bohrer, Mr. Brady, Mr. Brennan, Ph. Byrne, Mr.

Cooney, Pat Crowe, Mr. Doyle, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Healy, Mr. Heatly, Mich. Howe, Mich Keenan,

Mr. Kelly, Pat Kiernan (Kernan), Mr. Lamb, Mr. Mooney, Dan Murphy, John Ryan, Mr. Stafford,

and Mich. Thorton.

The actual construction of the church did not begin until Father Mathias Hannon said a prayer

and blessed the ground above the site where the church would rest. Before the wall construction

started, Sawyer and banker masons used saws and tools to cut and form the stone into the correct

size and shape for the building. The cut blocks looked like a large jigsaw puzzle that with care

and careful placement produced a church for fellowship and prayer.

The main binding material that holds the limestone blocks in place is mortar consisting of (1)

part lime to (3) parts sand mixed in water. When the lime, sand, and water are mixed, a very

plastic-like and creamy paste of putty is formed that can be applied beneath and between the

limestone blocks. Before the wall construction started, a layer of mortar was placed below the

first row of stones.

The lime for the construction was made on-site by heating clamshells and limestone pieces to

high temperatures, driving off the carbon dioxide. As the mortar sets or hardens, a carbonization

process occurs converting the lime back into hardened calcium carbonate. This occurs when lime

takes carbon dioxide from the air and solidifies. Since lime mortar is slightly water soluble,

moisture can be used to reseal any hairline cracks generated during the hardening process.

Another advantage of lime mortar is that it is soft and porous, resulting in little change in volume

and size during temperature changes.

Under the direction of John Doyle, the initial boundaries for the location of the first row of

blocks were marked off and a layer of mortar was laid down. The edges of the rough limestone

blocks from the quarry were smoothed and formed using specialized saws, hammers, and chisels.

Stonemasons used wedges, plum lines, and levers to set the stones in a straight line and hammer

them into place with wooden mallets. When the first row was completed, the process was

repeated alternating layers of stone and mortar, while building up the walls. As the walls grew,

supporting wedges were removed and mortar was used to fill in the gaps. A sharp tool “the tuck

pointer” was used to smooth and even out surfaces of the mortar around the rock blocks. Wooden

framing was placed in spots that would be used for the windows and doors.

A total community atmosphere was part of the construction process for the church with each

family volunteering and taking turns preparing meals and bringing water and drinks to the

workers. This was the community’s new place of worship, and everyone wanted to be involved

in the building process for the new church.

Like onto the time when the church was first built, faith in God and love for the neighbors still

reverberates through the hills and valleys of Wexford. Mode of transportation has changed over

the years from horses and horse-and-buggy on dirt roads to automobiles on cement and black-

topped roads.

Please stand by, as the story continues next month on the construction of the limestone church.

Limestone Church, Part 1

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:07:02 GMT

Hugh Conway, IC-Wexford

The three churches built at Wexford remind me of the bedtime story depicting the trials and

tribulations of the three little pigs. The first pig built a house of straw which promptly blew apart

when the big bad wolf arrived huffing and puffing the straw house apart. The first log church at

Wexford lacked the size needed to accommodate the large, growing population of the parish and

soon needed to be replaced with a larger church. The second pig built a house of wood, which

again was no match for the big bad wolf, who huffed and puffed, blowing the wooden house

down. The congregation at Wexford built the second church from wooden lumber but failed to

secure the floor foundation, resulting in the entire congregation landing in the basement when the

floor collapsed during an extremely crowded Sunday Mass. The third pig built his house of stone

and brick and no matter how hard the wolf huffed and puffed the house stood firm. Similarly, the

third church at Wexford was built of natural limestone and has stood the test of time,

withstanding all of nature’s wind and weather. Additionally, the limestone church was built to

accommodate a much larger flock of worshipers.

The early settlers at Wexford decided to build their third church from locally quarried limestone.

Ancient civilizations used limestone blocks to build some of the most famous structures in

history. Five of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World contained limestone in their

construction process. These magnificent building included: 1) the Egyptian Great Pyramids at

Giza, 2) the walls in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, 3) the Temple of Artemis (Greek) or

Diana (Roman) at Ephesus, 4) the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus in Asia Minor, and 5) the Pharos

of Alexandria lighthouse built off the coast of Egypt.

In Egypt, limestone was the primary material used in the pyramids. The Great Pyramid of Giza

features massive limestone bricks, demonstrating their sturdiness over time. The Greeks used

limestone in temples and theaters. They appreciated limestone’s ability to be carved into detailed

designs. Many Greek columns and statues were made from limestone. In Rome, limestone

played a key role in architecture with approximately 80% of all the roman buildings

incorporating limestone. Because of its availability and durability, limestone was utilized in the

construction of many iconic structures including: the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the aqueducts

that supplied water to the cities, and Roman roads for travel. Most of the castles, cathedrals, and

churches built in Europe use limestone in their constructions. As well as the structural use of

limestone, most of the ancient mortar mixtures consisted of crushed, burnt, and mixed limestone

that mimicked the properties of cement.

In the America’s, the Inca, Aztec, and Mayan civilizations constructed temples and pyramids out

of stone from local quarries using tools made of flint and obsidian. Limestone was the major

construction material in many parts of their temples. Limestone remains pliable enough to be

worked with stone tools during the quarrying process and only hardens once removed from its

bed. Later improvements in quarrying techniques by skilled masons reduced the necessity for

this mortar as the stones were shaped to perfectly fit together.

Limestone has played a significant role in the construction of many temples and large

structures in China. One of the most notable features of the Great Wall of China constructed

during the Ming Dynasty is the use of dolomitic and calcium lime mortars with minimal

aggregates to hold the stones together. Limestone was a significant material used in the

construction of many temples in India, including the Gopal Krishna temple. India utilized 20

different types of limestone on temples and building. Traditional Rajashan architecture is

magnificently carved from yellow limestone.

In the mid to late 1830’s, Father Samuel Mazzuchelli (or Michael Kelly for the Irish) was

instrumental in the construction of three limestone churches along the Mississippi River

including St. Raphael’s Cathedral at Dubuque, IA, St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Prairie du

Chien, WI, and St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Davenport, IA. To the Irish, Michael Kelly was

much easier to say than Mazzuchelli.

Masons, working with rock, have a deep love for constructing wonderful buildings and

monuments made of stones that often last for centuries. The ancient Egyptians built the

pyramids using sharp edged stone tools and large hammer stones. The ancient stonemasons used

pegs and strings to achieve a flat straight surface on the stones top, bottom, and sides by hitting

and grinding the stone with different sized hammer stones.

Lucky for the early settlers at Wexford, some of the Irish immigrants were masons who brought

with them the traditions and skills of quarrying and working with different types of rock. Other

newcomers to the Wexford community were involved in the construction of limestone buildings

in other parts of the country.

In northeast Iowa, most of the limestone rock quarries contain galena limestone. Limestone is a

sedimentary rock that is formed from the layering of formerly living organisms such as coral and

seashells. Limestone has a wide range of colors from bone white through tan to a dark grayish

hue. One unique characteristic of limestone is the material is soft relative to other rocks, with a

level of hardness near 3 on the Mohs scale. When first removed from the ground limestone is

soft and chalky, which makes drilling, forming, and dressing much easier for the masons. Once

exposed to air limestone begins to harden, making the stone an excellent material for buildings.

The parish was overjoyed to find large quantities of high-quality limestone in the Wexford area

suitable for construction and excellent to use in building a church that, when finished, would be

beautiful to the eye of the beholder.

Wooden Church

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:30:29 GMT

Hugh Conway, IC-Wexford

Wexford Wooden Church

Father Hoare and the early immigrants arrived at Wexford, Iowa to an area covered with dense, heavily forested, pristine trees, with scenery much different than that of native Ireland. The density of the forest was remarkable, including vast tracks of massive intact woodlands. The type of trees varies by location. Sites with north-facing slopes contain maples, basswood, and birches. South-facing slopes and riverbanks supported a mix of oaks (red, white, and burr) and hickories (shellbark, shagbark, mockernut, pignut, and bitternut). The riparian and bottomland supported a mix of black walnut, butternut, elm, ash, and cottonwood. The trees and heavy foliage retained the water on the hillsides, minimizing the risk of flooding.

Big John Collins was the oldest son of Timothy Collins who came to the Wexford area in 1852. In 1904, an older John Collins reflected on how the area looked when he was young. Everything was covered with trees. The scenic beauty and rolling wooded hills, in great measure, gives the county the look and name as the Switzerland of Iowa. New arrivals would throw up temporary shelter, either soddies or tar paper shacks, while they built a cabin. There were plenty of trees to choose from to cut and build a cabin. They had to remove tree stumps to free up small plots of soil to plant corn, potatoes, wheat, and vegetables. They fenced the clearings in with rails to keep any animals that roamed free out.

In the autumn, the settlers enjoyed the change of the season as the bright green leaves changed to a rainbow of colors, with a wide variety of reds, yellows, and browns. The landscape transformed into incredibly beautiful scenery that far surpassed even the best renditions of the most skilled artists.

On 11 & 12 November 1852, the settlers observed brilliant colors in the night skies as a solar storm disrupted the earth’s geomagnetic lines resulting in northern lights (aurora borealis) similar to what was seen in northeast Iowa on 11 & 12 November 2025. This natural phenomenon occurs when charged particles from the sun strike the earth’s atmosphere producing vivid colors and moving glows as the particles from the sun interact with earth’s magnetism.

The second church was a frame structure using local lumber cut at nearby sawmills. Construction of the wooden church started in 1856 and finished in late 1857 to early 1858. This church was also dedicated to St. George and doubled the seating capacity of the original log church. The finished church was comparable to St. Pius at Cherry Mound. Father Walsh was the pastor and had the honor of saying the first Mass in the new wooden church that was built with an earthen basement beneath.

The congregation at Wexford rapidly increased in number and the wooden church was again crowded with every pew full. On a fateful Sunday, an especially large number of parishioners attended a memorial Sunday Mass. The large size of the congregation caused the wooden floor in the church to give way, dumping many of the parishioners into the earthen basement. Poor old Mrs. Thornton, who was boisterous, large in stature, and quite a bit overweight, yelled in exasperation with the efforts of friends and neighbors to free her “Leave me be. You are bruising me!” Luckily, there were no other parishioners seriously hurt in the collapse.

The collapse of the floor necessitated the building of a newer, bigger church which could hold the growing population of Wexford. The people of Wexford wanted to make sure that any future church would be able to stand the rigors of time and hold a larger congregation. The parish council met and decided to build a slightly larger church made of limestone rock quarried from the hills in the Wexford valley.

Stained Glass Windows

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:04:39 GMT

Joanne White, IC-Lansing

St. Francis Xavier Cabrini

Have you ever gazed at the beautiful stained-glass window at IC Lansing and wondered who Mother Cabrini was? This artistic memorial remembers a woman who was born in Italy in 1850. She was a sickly child, and even though she wanted more than anything to join the community of sisters who had taught her, they denied her admission because she was considered to be “frail”. She went on to do so many wonderful things that the last word anyone today would attribute to her would be “frail”.

At the age of 30, she was joined by other young women to form a new congregation of sisters and was given approval by Pope Leo XIII. This order was the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. They are still in existence today. The pope told her to go to America, so off she and a group of other women went to New York City. They worked in the area teaching Italian immigrant children including many orphans. In her lifetime, she made 23 trans-Atlantic crossings and established schools, hospitals, and orphanages in Europe, Central America, South America, and the US. Quite an amazing accomplishment for someone considered “frail”! Her feast day is November 13, and she is the patron saint of immigrants. She had become a US citizen, so she was the first US citizen to be canonized as a saint.

St. Isaac Jogues

Another of the windows at IC Lansing memorializes St. Isaac Jogues. His feast day is celebrated on Oct. 19 along with the other North American martyrs. He was a Jesuit missionary who was born in France. He arrived in Quebec, Canada in 1636 and spent his time evangelizing the Native people of the area: Iroquois, Huron, and Mohawk people. He and the other priests tried to learn the language and customs of the people to win their trust. In addition to their faith, these early missionaries also brought smallpox and measles to the people who hadn’t been exposed to them before. When many of the Native people began to sicken and die, Isaac Jogues was subjected to horrible torture. He subsequently returned to Europe temporarily. Upon his return to Canada, he was murdered by the Mohawks he was trying to evangelize.

He was canonized in 1930 along with 7 other Jesuit martyrs. They are remembered today at the Shrine of the North American Martyrs at Auriesville, New York.

St. Pius X

The third window at IC, Lansing is St. Pius X. He served as the pope from August 1903 to August 1914. He is remembered for lowering the age for receiving First Communion from 12-14 to age 7. He was very scholarly and laid the foundations for many new dioceses being established in North and South America.

St. Rene Goupil

The fourth window is dedicated to St. Rene Goupil who was a companion to St. Isaac Jogues. He had entered the Jesuit order in his native France but was dismissed due to his deafness. Instead, he volunteered to be a lay brother and traveled to the New World in 1642. He worked caring for the native people in a Mohawk village with Father Jogues, and they were both martyred by the Mohawk during the same time period. They are honored on October 19, the feast of the North American Martyrs.

St. Kateri Tekakwitha

The final window on the east side of IC Lansing, tucked behind the stairs going to the choir loft, was dedicated to Kateri Tekakwitha, a native American woman who lived in the 1600s in both a Mohawk village and later in a Jesuit mission village both in Canada. She was stricken with smallpox as a child in the same epidemic that took the lives of all of her family. She was terribly scarred from the disease. She became a Catholic at the age of nineteen and was ostracized terribly for this and for her appearance. She was very sickly as well as very devout, and after she died at age 24, her skin immediately cleared up. She was the first Native American to be canonized a saint in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI.

Sacrificial Offering

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 15:19:03 GMT

Kristi Hager, IC-Lansing

At the altar of sacrifice. At the pelican’s breast. Here I stand; longing to be fed. Mouth wide open. Waiting to receive. My mind drifts to the Last Supper depicted on the altar at St Mary-Hanover.

Reverent. Waiting for the life-giving bread of life. Sustenance for the journey. Food that lasts. Manna from Heaven. And here You are, Jesus, the bread that satisfies. Having spent Your life for each of us.

Help us, Jesus, to be as You—spending our life for the sacrifice of Christ to the hungry world around us. Help us to be as the disciples, turned apostles, to be Your Last Supper on the Altar at St Mary-Hanover hands. Your feet. Help us not to weigh the cost but to surrender our will to yours. My mind lingers on the word ‘cost’. Pentecost. In Greek ‘pente’ means ‘five.’ The story of the five talents. The five wounds of Christ. The five Discourses. The Miracle of the Five Loaves. Our own human weakness combined with Your strength. It is You who sustains each of us.

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The inspiration for this short writing came from the teaching of the pelican, located on the altar at IC-Lansing, which symbolizes Christ’s sacrifice for humanity. Like the pelican feeding her young with her own blood to save them from starvation is a powerful metaphor for Christ's sacrificial love. This quickly transitioned into the Last Supper sacred art taken from St Mary-Hanover for the teaching done on the Last Supper that day. This sacred art of the Last Supper

In the Silence

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 18:06:19 GMT

Kristi Hager--St Pius V-Cherry Mound

In the silence I AM. I speak to the recesses of your mind. I speak to the depth of your heart.

As you lean into all who have gone before you know the Communion of Saints is present for you. Here and now. The Church Triumphant, in cheers and praise and gratitude, over one lost sheep who has returned. The Church Penitent interceding for each of you as you lean into the story of your own hearts.

A story pierced with anguish and sorrow. A story filled with joy and praise. The story of your life unfolding in time and space.

I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. The author and finisher of your faith.

As you venerate St Patritii, E. C. (Latin for St Patrick, Bishop and Confessor), know your lives are no different. You are called. You each have a journey. You each have free will to follow where I lead.

“Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” -- Matthew 10:16

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Inspiration for this writing was taken from the stained-glass windows at St Pius V-Cherry Mound. Fr Philip Agyei, on a surprise stop, had graced us with a beautiful blessing before leaving us to write. I sat in silence before the St Patritii Relic (borrowed from St Patrick-Waukon) and, as I quieted my mind, admiring the sun shining through the windows, I began to write.

Wooden Church

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 17:56:43 GMT

Hugh Conway, IC-Wexford

Wexford Wandering: Wooden Church

The 1850 census of Iowa reported no churches, schools, or libraries available for the 158 families in Allamakee County living in only 152 dwellings. The main occupations were farmer and laborer. The main crops harvested were wheat, rye, corn, oats, honey/ beeswax, and potatoes. The Native Americans helped and taught many of the early settlers how to grow native crops and live off the land. There were only 8 milk cows, 23 beef cattle, 2 oxen, and 39 swine in Allamakee County.

In 1851, Father Hoare reported only fifty to one hundred people in Wexford Parrish. When word of a priest starting a new Catholic community in Northeast Iowa spread, there was a large increase in the number of people moving into the area. Within one year, the number of parishioners tripled. In the report to Bishop Loras for 1852, Father Hoare reported 257 Catholics in the area with 153 Catholics present at Wexford. The new settlers came from other states including Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, and New York, as well as newly arriving people from “the old sod of Ireland.” In 1854, Fathe Hoare reported 720 Catholics in his jurisdiction, with 371 Catholics present at Wexford.

In the movie Field of Dreams, a famous line was “If you build it, they will come.” Such was the case of Father Hoare building a small log church and starting a new parish in Wexford, Iowa, with many Catholic settlers following for a new opportunity and life.

St. George, the first church built in Allamakee County, was a small log church constructed on the extreme east end of a small plateau-like hill overlooking Wexford Creek (Priest Coulee) located three miles north of the Mississippi River. St. George Church was the handiwork of Hugh Vincent Gildea, a pioneer church builder who built eight churches in Iowa for Bishop Loras. Mr. Gildea, an architect and builder, directed the construction of the log church using essential hand tools including axes, saws, hammers, chisels, planes, mallets, drawknifes, and braces for drilling holes. There were no chainsaws, electric tools, or battery-operated tools like those used today.

The people of Wexford used their own skill and labor to take care of all the needs of the parish, including building their church. Nearby trees were cut down using axes. Bucking saws trimmed the branches off and cut the logs into sections. Lance-tooth pattern saws (two person saws) were used to cut logs with a straight clean cut. The volunteers used hand powered tools for drilling, marking, and shaping wood. The logs were connected using wooden pegs or dowels hammered through drilled holes to connect joints. Hand forged nails, pins, and spikes were used on the roof, walls, and floors. The blacksmith forged nails were pounded into a squarish shape with a thicker head on top.

Because wood expands and contracts due to changing temperatures, builders allowed for a one-to-two-inch space between the logs, with the logs only touching at the notching points. The space between the logs is called the chink. If left alone, this space would let in cold or hot air along with insects and small pests. Chinking, a mixture of clay, mud, sand, and other local resources, was packed between the logs to fill the gap. A mortar-based daubing was added over the chinking to help the material adhere to the logs and preserve the mixture from the weather.

Hand-split shakes, otherwise known as wooden shingles, were made from the heartwood of local trees and used to cover the roof. Wooden shingles allowed water to run off and provided durability and a rustic beautiful appearance to the church roof.

The skills learned while building the log church became useful when parishioners built their own homes. Neighbors worked together to build houses and barns.

In a short period of time, the small log church became too small to house the increased number of parishioners. A second, much larger framed wooden church was built in front of where the current church stands and slightly below the row of priests’ headstones. This location was approximately a football length west of St. George, the first log church.

Wexford cemetery has the honor of having five priests buried in front of the current church. Father Thomas Boylson died at the age of 36 years and was buried at Wexford cemetery October 1891. Father Boylson served as pastor at Wexford from 1890 to 1891. He was the 10 ^th priest at Wexford and died while serving the people.

Father Thomas Laffan died in 1930 at the age of 65 years. He was a beloved pastor at Wexford for 31 years from 1889 to 1929. During the pastorate of Father Laffan, many improvements were made in the church, and a new parsonage was built at Wexford.

Father Robert P. Rahe died 12 July 1988 at the age of 71 years after faithfully serving the Archdiocese of Dubuque as a Priest for over 40 years. Father Rahe was pastor at Wexford from 1960 to 1966. During the pastorate of Father Rahe, many improvements were made in the church and cemetery. Changes included the addition of Our Lady of the Wayside Shrine, housing a white carrara marble statue of our Blessed Mary from Italy.

Father Maurice J. Tracy died on 20 April 1990 at the age of 84 years and had faithfully served the Archdiocese of Dubuque as a Priest for over 59 years. Father Tracy served as pastor at Wexford from 1947 to 1954. During the pastorate of Father Tracy, the parish hall was built to care for the social needs of the people.

Monsignor Cletus Joseph Hawes died on 1 April 2023 at the age of 94 years. Monsignor Hawes grew up in the Wexford parish and faithfully served the Archdiocese of Dubuque as a Priest for 71 years. Monsignor Hawes retired to the home he grew up in and said Mass to the parish every week at Wexford with his brother Father Donald Hawes. The Hawes Priests encompass the Wexford spirt endowed with a rich measure of charity, neighborliness, honesty, and kindness.

Early Death

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 18:51:09 GMT

Hugh Conway, IC-Wexford

Benjamin Franklin once stated that after birth, the only things for certain in life are taxes and death. Such was the case at St. George church in Wexford, Iowa. There were three deaths during the first year and a fourth death in 1853.

This started a long tradition at Wexford, where the people took time off from their busy schedules to “Take care of their own” starting with the first burials in the Wexford Cemetery. With every death, old friends, neighbors, and relatives arrive at the cemetery with the needed tools to dig a grave including shovels, spades, picks, crow bars, mauls, and wheelbarrows. Always, the men dug the fresh grave by themselves while the ladies prepare a light snack for the laborers. When the funeral is done, they fill in the grave while the ladies prepare a meal for the mourners. It is a duty and privilege today just as it was then and just as it always will be.

Mr. William Heatly was an original settler who made the long trip with Father Hoare from Wexford, Ireland to Wexford, Iowa. His travels include a boat ride from Dublin to Liverpool, where more than 450 Irish passengers embarked on the ship Ticonderoga for a cost of 5 pounds (~$25) for a month plus a few days trip across the Atlantic Ocean to New Orleans. After traveling 400 miles up the Mississippi and across land to Arkansas, they discovered that all the good land was already occupied, and a suitable place could not be found. After less than a month in Arkansas, the group went to St. Louis, MO for an extended stay, while Father Hoare went in search of land in Northeast Iowa based on recommendations from Bishop Mathias Loras and the good Brothers of Melleray Monastery in Dubuque, Iowa. Father Hoare selected and purchased over one thousand acres of beautiful but rugged land for $1.25 per acre in Taylor and Lafayette Townships of Allamakee County. Two days later (24 Feb. 1851), he acquired 700 more acres of land in the same townships. On 16 Apr. 1851, Father Hoare purchased an additional two plots of one hundred sixty acres of land. Most of the original Irish party stayed in St. Louis with only 18 families following Father Hoare onboard the steam paddle ship Franklin to Lafayette Landing and then three miles by land to Wexford, Iowa. In 1851, William Heatly set eyes on the lush green scenery at Wexford, Iowa. Shortly after arrival, he died and was the first Irishman buried in the cemetery.

In 1851, a Chaneviere child died and was the first person of French ancestry buried at Wexford cemetery. The death of a child can be overwhelming to the parents, family, and community. The Wexford community provided support and prayer to the grieving family. Across time, there have been lots of young lives lost in the Wexford community.

Deaths prior to one year of age are considered infant deaths. Based on the Wexford Cemetery records up to the year 2000, there have been 28 infant deaths between 1851 to 1900, 37 infant deaths between 1901 to 1950, and 10 infant deaths from 1951 to 2000. Deaths from 2 years to 14 years are considered children deaths. Based on the Wexford Cemetery records up to the year 2000, there have been 29 children’s deaths between 1851 to 1900 and 11 children’s deaths between 1901 to 1950. Up until the early 1900’s, the doctor would only be called when problems occurred during childbirth at home and it was a long trip by horse and buggy to rural homes around Wexford. The drop in the number of infants and child deaths can be attributed to a shift from having babies at home to having babies at a hospital and the increased number of doctors and hospitals with better medical techniques and procedures. Modernization and switching from horse and buggy to automobiles produced a faster means of transportation. Today, there is even medical helicopter transport for critical patients.

Based on records sent from Father Hoare to Bishop Loras, Mr. J. Brown died in 1851 and was the first Catholic of English ancestry buried at Wexford cemetery.

Father Hoare reported four deaths and burials to the Dubuque Diocese during the first three years at Wexford. The next death was James McGeogh on 24 September 1853.

The grounds around Wexford Church cemetery are considered sacred or concentrated land. Father Hoare and every Catholic Priest since have prayed over the cemetery grounds requesting God to keep the surrounding land clean of unholy spirits, to bring comfort to those who mourn, and to give eternal life to the souls of the departed.

Lichen on Tombstones

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 20:34:54 GMT

Hugh Conway, Immaculate Conception-Wexford

Two decades have passed since the last Wexford Wandering story appeared in the Waukon paper, or as my dad would say, “Lots of water has passed under the bridge since the last story appeared.” The reason for the break was the time that was used for writing stories went towards life necessities including working a challenging job, completing household responsibilities, and raising a wonderful family. Retirement has permitted enough time to again start writing stories. I hope you enjoy them and find them interesting.

When I returned to the scenic Wexford area, the tombstones surrounding the Immaculate Conception Wexford church cemetery stood out and seemed to have changed. The standing grave markers or tombstones at Wexford Iowa were all made of stone with some of the older stones now lying flat and flush with the ground. Most of the tombstones would be considered headstones because the marker was placed at the head of the deceased’s grave. Many of the older grave markers, located at the far end of the cemetery closest to the road, were made of limestone or sandstone. They often bore inscriptions including the name of the dear deceased, there place or origin - often from Ireland or in some cases elsewhere in the world – their date of birth and death, and sometimes even their exact age in years, months, and days at time of passing Other grave markers were made of more durable stone, including fieldstone, slate, granite, and marble. Newer tombstones included a cement base to keep the stone above the ground and level. There were no records of wooden grave markers at Wexford cemetery, but any older wooden grave markers would have long since disappeared due to time, weather, and insect activity. An especially old, tall, and elaborate stone marker is called a funeral stela (or stele), with many family names and information etched on more than one side of the stone. Many tombstones included funerary art with special images and details etched in the stone along with personal message and/or prayers. The most common image was a cross in many forms including the Celtic cross. A later article will go into more detail about the images found on grave markers and the possible meaning of each image.

The grave markers of dearly departed parishioners are meant to serve as a lasting memorial to the deceased. A place where family and friends can gather to reflect on the life of the departed loved one. Though tombstones are made from durable stone, the natural effects of weather and nature can lead to wear and tear on the stone, diminishing their appearance. Lichen and moss are particularly common issues that affect grave makers in cemeteries.

Nature and the creator work in mysterious ways as lichen is a hybrid colony of algae living symbiotically among filaments of multiple species of fungus and often with bacteria in a mutualistic beneficial relationship. Algae are protected from the environment by fungi filaments that provide moisture, nutrients, and an anchor. Fungi obtain food in the form of carbohydrates from algae by photosynthesis. Lichens are found on every continent, including the Artic, Antarctic, deserts, rocky coasts, and tops of mountains, with photosynthesis occurring down as low as -4 F ^o . Lichen is a slow-growing organism that is distinguished by its crusty appearance. Lichens grow at a slow and regular rate and have been used in a dating method called lichenometry on older rock formations, stonewalls, and rock buildings in Ireland and England. Lichen color varies from shades of black, brown, grey, green, red, or orange based on the type of fungi associated with the algae.

Lichen are pioneer species with three main forms: crust-like, adhering tightly to a surface like a coat of paint (crustose), flat leaf-like structures (foliose), and tiny leafless branches (fruticose). Any rock surface exposed to the atmosphere contains small crevices that seeds and spores including lichen spores find and try to make into a home. Most spores and seeds die due to the extreme conditions, but not the hardy crustose lichens. Crustose lichens are extremophiles that require little to survive. The lichen trap dust, helping them adhere to the stone and make their own food through photosynthesis. There is incredible diversity in lichens with different species found on the sunny and shaded side of a rock surface. There can be over 100 species of lichen on grave markers, with the orange or golden jewel lichens most often found on limestone and marble tombstones.

In time, moss spores will become established among the lichens on tombstones. Moss is a rootless plant species that thrives under moist conditions. Moss becomes dormant during hot weather and bright summer sunlight. Most moss species are green in color, but granite moss has a black or dark red-brown color. Native Americans used the location of moss on a tree to determine direction, because in the northern hemisphere moss tends to be thicker and more prevalent on the north side of the tree which is wetter and more shaded.

The combination of lichens and moss provides a coating on tombstones that in time resembles a cloak or encrusted fluffy coat. The heavy coating of lichen and moss on older tombstones cover the rock and mask the carefully inscribed writing and funerary art, making it nearly impossible to read. Lichen filaments and moss roots slowly break down the outer edge of the stone.

Such was the case twenty years ago, with many of the Wexford tombstones shrouded in lichens and moss. When I returned three years ago to visit Wexford cemetery, the tombstones were clean without lichen or moss, making it much easier to see and read the writings and funerary art. Someone in the Wexford parish came up with a solution to the lichen problem.

After asking neighbors and friends, I found that my brother Dan Conway had read about a compound (Wet and Forget) that works wonders, removing lichen and moss on surfaces including rock, granite, sandstone, limestone, fieldstone, slate, marble, concrete, and even wood. In the spring, Dan mixed up five gallons of the compound in a garden pump sprayer and carefully applied the liquid solution onto the tombstones making sure all surfaces were fully saturated, especially near carved lettering and crevices. This product takes time to work with light green growth disappearing in one to two weeks and lichens within a few months. For the best result, he followed labelled instructions, checking forecasts to ensure no rain was expected for 4 to 6 hours, applying the compound in cool and dry weather conditions, avoiding the hottest part of the day, and ensuring the temperature would remain above freezing for at least five hours after spraying. Wet & Forget Outdoor Cleaner label states that the compound is non-caustic, non-acidic, and free of phosphates and bleach. A project for the Communion class that year involved wiping off the lichen and moss remnants from each of the tombstones. The class wiped and cleaned the tombstones with water and cloth in the fall, which was a few months after the initial spraying. Unfortunately, one of the tombstones had missed the initial Wet and Forget treatment and was still covered with lichens. The students were unable to remove the lichen from one of the tombstones. This tombstone was subsequently treated, and by next spring was clean.

The tombstones at Wexford required an additional spray every three to four years to keep them free of lichens. Three years after the initial treatment, Dan and Mary Jo Wolcott re-treated the tombstones with Wet and Forget. Six years after the initial treatment, Dan and Cheyenne Sheehan carried out another application.

Wexford Cemetery

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 20:34:52 GMT

Hugh Conway, Immaculate Conception-Wexford

Until the seventh century, Christians in Ireland were buried next to non-Christians. Later, there was a shift toward Christian burials in cemeteries attached to churches, especially those linked to saints. The faithful believed that a saint could take anyone buried near them to heaven on Judgement Day. Cemeteries maintained by a church or religious organization were also considered sacred land or concentrated grounds.

In the Middle Ages, the well-to-do in Ireland were often buried dressed in a religious habit like monks or nuns. They wished to secure a place in heaven by appearing before God dressed as extremely religious and pious persons. This tradition of being buried in religious habit continued until it was condemned at the Synod of Dublin in 1670.

In the twelfth century, there were references of Palladius bringing soil from the graves of saints, including Peter and Paul, and spreading the soil in Irish cemeteries in the hopes of obtaining some of God’s blessing and increasing the odds of souls entering heaven. The Irish also believe relics act as a special channel for prayer: to help heal the sick, make peace between warring nations, change the course of nature, and even raise the dead. Still, only God has the power to perform miracles, with saints acting as intercessors of God’s will.

The Catholic Church supports the practice of venerating relics. Veneration is not worship; rather it is honoring the work, cherishing the devotion, and respecting the faithfulness of the saints. Veneration comes from the participants admiration of the saint’s holy life on earth and their presence with God in heaven.

An Irish word for cemetery (relec) comes from the word relic, reflecting the desire to be buried near a saint and to use his or her merits to assist in entering heaven. Since early Christian times, communal burial grounds or cemeteries have served as a spiritually important part of Irish faith. There was a strong belief that the fate of one’s soul was linked to the location where the body was buried. Selecting the right cemetery plot could help protect one’s soul from hell. The Irish have a strong connection to their ancestors with family ties binding even beyond death. Family members are often buried next to each other at Wexford cemetery.

Father Thomas Hoare of County Wexford Ireland is the founding priest at Wexford, Iowa. His name has appeared with different spelling, “Hore”, “Hoar” and “Hoare”. In Wexford Wanderings, I will use the same spelling found in the stained-glass window of the current Wexford church “In Memory of Rev. Thomas Hoare by the first settlers.” The founding settlers arrived at Lafayette Landing (aka “Big Meadow”) at the mouth of the Wexford creek in Allamakee County with eighteen Irish families in 1851. Irish settlers and their families who purchased land in Lafayette and Taylor Townships that year included: James and Paul Brickley, John Brophy, Catherine Bulger, Timothy Collins, John Gavin, William and Eliza Heatley, Timothy Howe, Austin Joyce, Edward and John Kelly, John Lamb, Catherine McKeogh. Patrick McNamara, Thomas Mullins, George, Frank, and Edward Murphy, Edward O’Neil, John Ryan, and Mary Ryan. Other names on the ship’s passenger list who may have come to Wexford in 1851 include: John and Kate Bulger, Thomas Burns, James and Henry Curran, Sally Esmond, Mary Fennel, Daniel Finn, Michael and Mary Heyfron, Peter Kavanagh, Patrick Kiernan, John Kinsella, Andrew Nolan, Edmond Stafford, and William Sullivan.

Soon after their arrival, a log church was built and dedicated to St. George by Father Hoare on April 23, 1851. This date fell on the Feast of St. George, and so the church was named in his honor. The church was built near the east end of a small plateau-like hill with a good view of Wexford Creek. St. George Church was the handiwork of Hugh Vincent Gildea, a pioneer church builder who built eight churches in Iowa for Bishop Mathias Loras of the Dubuque Diocese.

As was the custom since Pope Felix I (~270), a saint’s relic was placed inside the primary alter used for saying Mass in every Catholic church. The relic is often placed into an altar stone. The altar stone is a natural stone with a cavity encasing a relic. The alter stone is consecrated by a bishop and built into the altar. The relic serves as a tangible reminder of the faithful parishioner’s relationship with the saints. This is why a priest kisses the alter during Mass, as a sign of the spiritual connection between the living and deceased.

There are three classes of relics. The most sacred class is the remains of saint including blood, bones, or hair. Second class relics are items personally owned by the saint, such as a rosary, pastoral staff, pen, clothing, crucifix, or holy book. Third class relics are objects touched to a first class relic, such as a piece of cloth touched to the bones or hair of a saint.

Besides St. George, the early settlers at Wexford built a two-story priest house and storage buildings. During his stay in Wexford Iowa, Father Hoare raised crops and maintained a fine herd of cattle and sheep.

Father Hoare was the only priest in the area until 1855. He traveled on horseback across Iowa covering Allamakee County and into Winneshiek, Howard, Fayette, and Clayton County, as well as into Minnesota and Wisconsin, tending the faithful and spreading the Catholic faith. While preaching the Word of God, Father Hoare became the founding priest of at least seven of the Catholic parishes in Allamakee County. Circuit-riding Father Hoare and early pioneer Wexford priests were tireless in their missionary zeal, traveling long distances by horse to keep the faith alive.

Michael Mooney and at least eight French families were already living in the Wexford area when Father Hoare arrived in 1851. The French families were Chanviere, Cotas, La Point, La Tronche, Martelle, Revoir, and Verdon. When Father Hoare and the Irish colonists first arrived in 1851, the early French settlers assisted and furnished lodging. Michael Mooney donated the transom over the door, below the belfry, with the inscription: “Donated by Michael Mooney 1848”. This date is earlier than the year that Father Hoare arrived with the Irish settlers.

The early French settlers in Allamakee County lived on land north of Harpers Ferry. In the 1840s, they built a cabin ‘later called Cabin Hill’ on a little knoll located just a little below James Kernan’s old farmhouse and about half a mile west of Mohn’s Fish Market. The cabin on Cabin Hill was built so the early missionary priests would have a place to stay and say Mass while traveling up and down the Mississippi River. Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, Father Lucien Galtier, and Father Joseph Cretin were missionary priests working with Indian tribes, including the Winnebago Indians. They visited a Winnebago camp located at the base of Mt. Madden, near Lafayette Landing in the Wexford area. Father Cretin would have been one of the priests who said Mass at Cabin Hill. Both the Cabin Hill building and James Kernan’s old farmhouse and buildings are now gone.

Joseph, You Were There

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 20:34:50 GMT

Kristi Hager, St Mary--Lycurgus

“ To have and to hold from this day forward .” These words ring forth in my ears. Words one would typically hear spoken at a wedding ceremony. But today these words ring so differently. My eyes land upon the statue of St Joseph holding baby Jesus in his loving embrace.

“ To have and to hold from this day forward .”

Baby Jesus. Safe. Held. Protected in His father’s arms. What were you thinking, Joseph, as you gaze upon your Son? You were there in the Temple for the purification ceremony and heard the words spoken to Mary about your Son:

“ And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord’) and to offer a sacrifice .” (Luke 2:22-23)

That day Simeon, a righteous and devout man, was led to the Temple by the Holy Spirt. He took Jesus up in his arms and blessed God and he spoke words that made you, Joseph, and Mary marvel at what was being said about him, “ a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel ” (v32).

However Simeon did not end there. You, too, heard the words Simeon spoke as he turned towards Mary saying, “ Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against, (and a sword will pierce through your own soul as well), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed ” (v34-35).

Joseph, as you look now upon Jesus in your arms, what words come to your mind? Are you considering the words spoken over Jesus by Simeon? Words that stirred within your spirit. Were you aware of what he actually meant? Was Simeon? Did this ever get discussed between you and Mary; or were you, like Mary, left to ponder these things in your heart?

Jesus wiggles in your embrace. The movement. His warmth calling you back to the now. How quickly we also find ourselves—our own thoughts—pulling us into the future. Yet, Jesus, just as Your movement in Joseph’s arms called him back to the now, so, too, You call each of us to remain in the present.

“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. ” (Matthew 6:34)

Help us to be as Jesus in the arms of His Father calling us back.

The Three Steps

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 20:34:49 GMT

Kristi Hager, St Patrick-Waukon

Arise, daughter, and come. Ascend to higher places. Allow My Spirit to draw you ever closer.

In the darkness of time and space I AM. In the recess of your mind, you will find Me. In the darkest of dark, in the deepest of deep I am with you.

I AM.

I AM the Bread of Life. I AM the blood poured out. I AM the author and finisher of your faith.

I AM the tender of your vineyard. I AM the pruner of the vine. I AM He who waters the dry soil of your life.

"Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I AM gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. " (Matthew 11:28-30)

Arise, daughter, arise. Ascend to higher places.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The point of reference in this writing is the two sets of three steps leading up to the Sanctuary at St Patrick-Waukon and to the high altar. Initially I was drawn towards the marble side altar surrounding our Blessed Mother. There, on the side, was an engraving containing images of grape vines and wheat.

As I embraced the sacred silence the invitation, “Kristi, look! Three steps…and three more steps” drew my attention to the one speaking these words. Immediately my mind went to last month’s Sacred Writers Workshop teaching on symbols on tombstones and how often we see crucifixes affixed to a three-tier platform representing Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The words above quickly flowed from the tip of my pen.

A search later revealed additional insight into three steps:

1. The Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope, and Love

2. The Pascal Mystery: Passion, Death, and Resurrection

3. Heart of Repentance: Confession of Sin, Desire for God, and Union with Christ

4. Ordination: Diaconate, Priesthood, Episcopacy

5. And, our Spiritual Ascent

Pieta Statue

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 22:28:11 GMT

Joanne White, St Mary-Lycurgus

I had driven by this church numerous times and was always struck by the large, neatly

trimmed cemetery that is beside the church. When I went inside the first time, I was deeply

moved by the beautiful Pieta statue: Mary, the Sorrowful Mother, holding the tortured body of

Jesus. How many times has this image comforted a grieving family sitting right in front of it as

part of a funeral? Mary is holding the broken body of her only son. Mary is staying with Jesus

after so many had left in fear. Mary is our sorrowful Mother, showing us the way through grief.

Mary is being present to her Son and showing us that we must be present to others who are

grieving.

Mary, the Sorrowful Mother, pray for us. Mary, help us to turn to you in our grief.

Mary, give us comfort as we each bear our own grief and as we hold others in our hearts who

are grieving their own loss.

Sorrowful Mother, pray for us and help us to pray for others.

Eucharistic Experience

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 22:16:48 GMT

Joanna Downing

The thick brown carpet tickled my nose. But in this moment, I felt that the only appropriate posture was prostration on the floor with arms outstretched. I wasn’t really sure how to do this, but I was all in and was going to give it my 100%. Laying on my face, I could feel my heart beating a little faster than normal, my respirations slightly elevated. What to do first? Wasn’t there a protocol for this type of thing? I felt like maybe there should be, but I didn’t know what it was. No matter. God knew my heart.

I did know that I needed to begin by making sure my heart was clean. This was a very solemn act and should be treated as such. So there I lay, in the stillness of my bedroom, with the door closed. I silently asked the Holy Spirit to show me any space in my life where there was sin. As offenses came to my mind I offered them up to the Lord and asked Him to forgive me and to remove my iniquity from me, as far as the east was from the west. Most of them were recent, but there was one in particular that was very old from my childhood. Why did I always feel the need to keep asking forgiveness for that one specific incident? It’s like it was still out there in the cosmos, darkening my soul, even though I’d confessed it numerous times to God. Never mind. I brushed my ruffled thoughts aside and confessed it once again. When the slow trickle of transgressions stopped I waited in silence, wanting to make sure I hadn’t missed anything.

My preparation was complete to the best of my knowledge. And thus, I began.

It had all started the previous week with a powerhouse sermon. I had heard hundreds, probably thousands of sermons, but this one had struck me to the core. My mom and I had travelled to North Carolina for a huge Christian conference. There were big name speakers and worship leaders. The atmosphere was charged. I had never heard of this particular speaker, but apparently he was internationally known and had authored a number of books. I found my seat and pulled out my Bible and notebook. He opened with a prayer and then had all of us turn in our Bibles to John 6. I sighed inwardly. I had been hoping for more of a “Elijah calling down fire before the prophets of Baal” sermon or maybe a prophetic message like “Let my people go!” instead of another sermon on Jesus being the bread of life. Shoot. I should have gone to the workshop next door on worldwide evangelization.

But after reading through the same portion of John 6 that I heard every few months when we had communion, he paused. He looked out at the crowd and said something that caught my attention. He said, “This is the secret. This is what we have been missing in our Christian lives that has the power to set the world on fire with the love of Jesus Christ.” Okay, I was listening again.

And he began to tell us his secret. “I take communion every day.” Hmmm, this was new. “And it is not just a symbol. It is real.” This was definitely pushing the envelope. He started to pick apart John 6 in a way that I had never heard before. “It has to be real,” he continued passionately. “Jesus keeps saying it over and over so we will get it- ‘I am the living bread that came down from heaven, if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.’”

He skipped down and kept reading, “For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.”

He looked up and it seemed like he was looking directly at me. “This is what you have been missing. You’ve been reading your Bible. You’ve been praying and going to church. You want to be more like Christ, but need more than that. You want to abide in Him and He in you.” Yes, I did!

He reiterated it one last time. “It is real. It will heal your soul and infuse you with grace to be more like Christ. I know this sounds crazy, but apparently most of his followers did to. In fact, most of them left him thinking He was nuts. Only the 12 apostles remained. He could have chased after them yelling, ‘No, no, you don’t understand. It’s just a symbol. I didn’t mean it literally!’ But He didn’t. He let them walk away. They left him, thinking He was both a lunatic and a heretic." They couldn’t wrap their heads around the fact that if they wanted life in them they had to eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood (v. 53). When they left, He didn’t chase them, trying to convince them that it really was just a ritual or a symbol, something we do to not forget, kind of like a Memorial Day service. He asked the 12 apostles if they were all going to leave Him as well. The Apostle Peter spoke for the group. “Lord, to whom shall we go?”

I could feel excitement rising in my chest. This was it. I had felt like something was missing, and I felt even worse admitting it. I wasn’t ashamed of the Gospel, no that wasn’t it. I had experienced Christ in my life in a tangible way and I knew He was real. I didn’t doubt His existence, I just wanted more of Him. I felt like if He was God there should be so much more- everywhere and in everything all throughout history. And for some reason I wanted something physical, corporeal- something that I could see and hold in my hand or better yet, eat. This guy was saying I could eat to become more like Christ. Sign me up. As soon as I got home I would begin, and I would do it every single day for the rest of my life. Because I wanted to be like Christ, but definitely couldn’t do it on my own.

Today was Day 1 of the rest of my life. I sat Indian style on the floor. I felt as if there should be some ancient words spoken in order for my single Wheat Thin (the thinnest cracker we had so perhaps the closest resemblance to being unleavened) to become the true Bread of Life and my Dixie cup of grape juice to become the true blood. But I had a lot of faith. I didn’t expect it to change in color or texture of anything that dramatic. That wasn’t necessary, and it would be a little freaky. But I still believed it.

In the absence of profound words, I resorted to I Corinthians 12. I began to slowly read out loud, “And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’” I held the Wheat Thin solemnly in the air in front of my face and I broke it down the center. Small crumbs fell on the carpet. And then closing my eyes, I slowly ate it.

“In the same way also he took the cup, after supper saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” I took my little cup of grape juice, held it in the air for a few moments and ceremonially drank it. I spent a few moments in prayer. I was ready for my day, ready for new life to take root, sprout, and grow in my heart. Bring it on.

And thus continued my daily ritual for the next few months in the solitary quiet of my room.

I don’t really remember how or when my ritual ended. It was probably like one of those things that I began with gusto, like a New Year’s Resolution, that was slowly forgotten and quietly faded into the background without a lot of pomp and circumstance. It hadn’t worked. Oh well. I had tried. It was too good to be true anyway. Eating something to become more like Christ, more grace filled- bah! Let’s be realistic.

Over 20 years passed. Life happened. Many churches came and went. Hundreds of sermons and thousands of worship songs... Why did I go to church? I still longed for the same thing- His presence. But I was becoming more and more frustrated with finding it.

That particular Sunday we decided to try a new church. I guess you could say it was a last resort, but that doesn’t feel fair. Maybe it was.

I’d been in the local Catholic church a few times in the past for a variety of different events and vocal concerts, but today was different. We tried to sneak furtively in the back but a family of 7 always seems to make a bit of noise. It was so quiet. A few hushed conversations here and there but overall the atmosphere was solemn. I liked this.

I saw other people coming in. Before they slid into the pew they knelt and crossed themselves. Oops, we already messed up. Then they put down the kneeler thing, and knelt for a few moments of prayer. Shoot. Missed it again. This was certainly different than any other church I had been to, but I loved it. It seemed proper, reverential.

The service began. I liked the priest, Father Mark. He wore special colored robes that I could imagine an Old Testament priest wearing. We started with a prayer to confess sins- interesting. Everyone else seemed to know it and even thumped their chest 3 times together in unison halfway through. I listened intently, amidst the wiggling little ones, trying not to miss anything important.

Then there was the Scripture reading. I have to admit, I was surprised. I didn’t know Catholics read the Bible. This was the most Bible reading I had ever heard read at one time in a service. Usually it was just a select verse or three followed by a lengthy sermon. Fr. Mark read the Gospel reading and then began to share. It was good, but nothing earth shattering and before I knew it, it was done. I was confused. That was it? At all the other churches, the sermon was the pinnacle of the service. It was all leading up to that final element and maybe a final worship song. But we had only been there 30 minutes. Then we all stood and said a long creed about all the things we believed. Who came up with that? Very well done. I had tried to write a creed once- theirs was lightyears better.

I heard rustling and noticed that everyone around us was kneeling. We just tried to keep up, doing what everyone else was doing. What were we kneeling for? Fr. Mark stood behind the table at the front and began reading a series of prayers. They were prayers that had the air of being very old, sacred and profound. Everything came flooding back. The longing. The hoping. Catholics believed in transubstantiation- where there was an actual change of substance. I had read about this somewhere. I needed to read more!

As Fr. Mark held the bread in the air, the entire atmosphere changed. I felt as if something was lifted- I could breathe more freely. My physical body was still kneeling, but inside I felt completely connected and expanded. It was if the heavens were open and somehow connected to earth. I glanced upwards to confirm the church still had a ceiling. I would recognize this feeling anywhere- it could not be replicated, hyped up or faked. It was the presence of Christ Himself. He was there.

I knew that I could not receive Communion since we weren’t Catholic. I didn’t really know why, but I was not going to break the rules in such a holy place. I might be struck down by the Presence. We watched as everyone quietly and orderly lined up to receive the bread and wine. Many of them had their hands folded. The little ones crossed their arms over their chest. Some received the little wafer into reverently open hands while others received it on the tongue. I could almost taste it. I craved it- more than any earthly thing.

The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place. The reason it hadn’t “worked” for me the first time so many years ago, or in any other church, was because only Christ can take bread and wine and change them into His very own body, blood, soul, and divinity. And the priest, when blessing the bread and wine, was in persona Christi, having been given the power to act, in the person of Christ. My mind was blown. God had not forgotten. He had not forgotten my faith or my desire. And it had been just a few blocks away the entire time.

The next few months were a whirlwind. Turns out the Eucharist didn’t just give grace, but it actually contained the Author and Source of all grace. It was divine medicine for the soul, for the maladies present day medicine could not fix. And it was pre-figured all throughout the Old Testament in the sacrifice of Melchizedek, the Paschal Lamb, and the manna in the desert. When we read the phrase, “Do this in commemoration (remembrance) of Me”- it didn’t mean it was just a symbol. Christ was giving His apostles and their successors, both the power and authority to do as He Himself had done, the power to change bread and wine into His Body and Blood.

When Christ ascended, not only did He send the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, He wanted to be with each of us and in us always, nourishing our souls (Mt. 28:20). The desire that I had to be close to Christ in this way was put there by Him. And this teaching was not new, in fact it was ancient. I was surprised to find out that all of the early Church Christians believed in this real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. No wonder they went to church every day! I read their writings with fascination- from St. Ignatius of Antioch (A.D. 110) to St. Justin, Martyr (c. 151) and St. Augustine (A.D. 405), even writings from the disciples of St. John the Beloved (St. Polycarp), meaning St. John himself must have taught it. It wasn’t until nearly a thousand years after Christ that people dared claim that it wasn’t real, that it was just a symbol.

But how can you really be sure? I mean really. Then I learned about Eucharistic Miracles. Time and time again God allowed ordinary people, some of them doubting, to experience Him in extraordinary ways. For example, in Poland, in 2013 on Christmas Day, a consecrated (after the priest has blessed) host (bread) fell on the floor. The host was put into a container with water so that it would dissolve. Instead, it formed red stains. In Feb. 2014, the host was examined by various research institutes, including the Department of Forensic Medicine in Poland and based on their investigation stated: “In the histopathological image, the fragments were found containing the heart fragmented parts of the cross-striated muscle. It is most similar to the heart muscle.” It was actually His flesh- the flesh from His suffering heart! This is one example of many. There are entire books and websites devoted to these verified miracles.

Every single hour of every single day there are people witnessing and experiencing the miracle of the Eucharist (from the Greek word Eucharistia meaning thanksgiving) around the world, participating in the Mass and being filled with Christ Himself, our daily bread.

At the Easter Vigil in 2018 my husband Jim and I, and two of our five children (now 8) received Christ in the Eucharist. A few weeks prior I had received my first confession where the sins I just couldn’t seem to move on from were washed away. I can honestly say that, even though I had been a Christ follower my entire life, I have been completely changed. And it certainly was not through my own effort, but by the grace of God. He is there, waiting for me in every Mass, waiting to give Himself to me and all those that come, hungering and thirsting. When I step through those doors, whether here in Waukon or any other Catholic Church around the world, I’m not there for a sermon or the music, although they are nice- I am there for Him.

Better is one day in Your courts Lord, than thousands elsewhere. Thanks be to God.

Last Supper Altar Piece

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 00:33:46 GMT

Joanne White, Immaculate Conception-Wexford

As I gaze at the altar piece, I am filled with gratitude for the gift of the Eucharist at the first “Last Supper”. The apostles, including Judas, were given the Body and Blood of Jesus. It is the same gift that was initially given to the earliest Irish settlers here in 1851 as well as continuously multiple times a week for the past 174 years. Their faith brought them here. The continuity of their faith has blessed so many throughout the years with each mass. This artist’s rendering reminds us of our deep responsibility and commitment to continue this faith sharing where ever we go.

Meditation on the Wexford Church

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 18:30:00 GMT

Moriah Downing, IC-Wexford

St. Faustina, the Polish mystic, once wrote that the Lord does not speak to the busy soul, He speaks to the quiet soul. New churches often seem to forget this key component of faith in their architecture which Wexford remembers. The very location, nestled among quiet hills in God’s first book, surrounded by frescos of whispering woods bespeaks a peaceful serenity before one even enters into the presence of the Lord.
When you walk in the doors you can’t help but think of the laughter of children, the very place exudes childlike simplicity. It was not built on the deep theological pondering of Aquinas, but out of the callused hands and simple faith of the farmer.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church points out that we do not know now to pray as we should, but the Holy Spirit Itself intercedes for us “with sighs too deep for words”. This church is the immigrant’s and the farmer’s inarticulate prayer- a prayer in which Christ, in His grace, has chosen to dwell. There are no flying buttresses or golden altars, but there is an everyday connectedness within the textured walls and the simple stations of the cross. This is the tradesman’s poetry.
St. Patrick, the apostle to the Irish, at the left hand of the crucifix holds his clover; the Irishman’s first Trinitarian theology lesson. He is stationed as a sentinel to the tabernacle, teaching a quiet lesson, an education for the pure heart.
How great and wonderful must be the faith of a soul that reflects the childlike, interior disposition of this old church. For, as Our Lord said, the kingdom of heaven is truly theirs.

Photo credit by Laurie Manning

Tiles of Time

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 17:45:52 GMT

Kristi Hager

IC-Wexford

“Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5)

I stand where once the pioneers stood,

Upon the works of human hands.

Hands rough and calloused over time.

Yet smooth and soft in their embrace--

Their embrace leaving the imprint of one’s soul upon another.

The pioneer spirit. What is this?

One free to be. Free to roam.

Part of the ever-changing landscape of time.

Feet that walked upon weary land.

Building now what we hold dear.

My eyes gaze down upon the ground.

The flooring grand by man’s design.

The artisan laying each tile in place.

Calling us forward. Step by step.

Memories flash before our eyes of all who stood the course of time.

Weddings—Baptisms—Funerals—Eucharist. Our own recollections.

And the Hand of God reaches out.

Inviting us ever deeper into His grace.

The pioneer spirit continues to move.

Sending forth its roots in ways yet unknown.

And there will be ones such as us;

Whom in the future when we are dust—

will stand upon the stones we lay

As we once journeyed on our way.

Let Us Pray

Lord Jesus, you have laid the stones beneath our feet through calloused hands of yesteryear; turning even the ordinary into sacred ground.

As we walk upon this beauty, may we also walk the winding path of faith, trusting that even when we don’t see the full design you are the Master Artist.

Amen.

immaculate-conception-church-lansing-ia-02-0558

Word for Word

Joanna Downing, St Patrick-Waukon

Limestone Church, Part 4

Hugh Conway, IC-Wexford

Limestone Church, Part 3

Hugh Conway, IC-Wexford

Stained Glass Windows

Hugh Conway, St Bridget-Postville

Entering Into the Silence

Joanna Downing, St Patrick-Waukon

Limestone Church, Part 2

Hugh Conway, IC-Wexford

Limestone Church, Part 1

Hugh Conway, IC-Wexford

Wooden Church

Hugh Conway, IC-Wexford ﻿

Stained Glass Windows

Joanne White, IC-Lansing

Sacrificial Offering

Kristi Hager, IC-Lansing

In the Silence

Kristi Hager--St Pius V-Cherry Mound

Wooden Church

Hugh Conway, IC-Wexford

Early Death

Hugh Conway, IC-Wexford

Lichen on Tombstones

Hugh Conway, Immaculate Conception-Wexford

Wexford Cemetery

Hugh Conway, Immaculate Conception-Wexford

Joseph, You Were There

Kristi Hager, St Mary--Lycurgus

The Three Steps

Kristi Hager, St Patrick-Waukon

Pieta Statue

Joanne White, St Mary-Lycurgus

Eucharistic Experience

Joanna Downing ﻿

Last Supper Altar Piece

Joanne White, Immaculate Conception-Wexford

Meditation on the Wexford Church

Moriah Downing, IC-Wexford

Tiles of Time

Kristi Hager

IC-Wexford

Hugh Conway, IC-Wexford

Joanna Downing