May is such a busy month! Graduations are taking place. Weddings are filling the Saturday afternoons with their reception at night. The area farmers are busy planting the seeds, and the gardeners are sowing the flower gardens and vegetable gardens as well.

Spring is a time of anticipation and new hope as our prayers for a great growing season and protection from damaging storms are placed before God. Prayer is an important part of everyone's life; God's desire is to be in relationship with every soul. No one can journey through life without God and be fulfilled. God's grace makes each of us grow and blossom.

This weekend we joyfully celebrate Mother's Day. Don't miss out on the opportunity to thank your mother in person or if they have gone ahead to the next part of life, offer a Mass or a Rosary for the benefit of their soul. The Virgin Mary, our Spiritual Mother reminds us that one is never alone, and Mother knows best when it comes to Jesus. May God bless all Mothers.

Peace and joy,

Fr. McCarthy.

For the past several years, the Holy Rosary Knights of Columbus have distributed baby bottles on Mother’s Day weekend and asked people to fill the bottles with donations for Mary’s Choice and to return them to the churches by Father’s Day. Well, many bottles didn’t make it back. If you happen to have any of the baby bottles, please return to your church so that they can be used again this year.

Thank you.

The Knights of Columbus will be serving donuts, coffee and juice after Mass at St. Mary’s in Mapleton on May 17th. Fill your soul and then your stomach.

Please help St. Mary’s Danbury celebrate moms with a sweet treat after Mass. Get your spiritual fill and then treat your tummy.

Danbury Catholic is looking for a music teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. The position would be for two partial days per week. Please contact Molly Petersen, principal, if you are interested. mpetersen@danburycatholic.org or 712-883-2244.

Congratulations to our graduating seniors. May God bless you and keep you safe in your future endeavors. Congratulations, Elizabeth Hoefling, Isaac Hoefling, Carter Moser, Hunter Moser, and Aubrey Taylor.

Would you be willing to work funeral luncheons? Would you be willing to bake for funeral luncheons? We could use some extra help. Please contact Lisa Jacobsen at 712-371-3297 if interested.

We could use some empty ice cream buckets for funeral luncheon leftovers, please. Thank you!

Graduates from any church are welcome to join us for our Baccalaureate Mass on Saturday, May 16th. Please arrive by 4:45 in cap and gown (if applicable).

Msgr. Seifried will be listening to confessions prior to the 8:00 a.m. Mass on Tuesdays. Please consider taking advantage of this sacrament.

Do you enjoy a little treat after Mass once a month? Are you willing to make a donation to keep these treats coming? If you would like to donate towards Sweeet Saturdays, please contact Lynn Buth at 893-2160 or 840-0327.

Our next Sweeeeet Treat will be Graduation weekend.

Want to help the financially challenged but not sure how? Baskets can be found at the church entrances for non-perishable items. These will be given to the Mapleton Food Pantry to help those in need of a little boost with their groceries and paper products.

St. Mary’s Mapleton is always open during the day to give you a place to get away from everyday distractions to pray and listen to God. However, not all doors will be open each day.

When there is NO daily mass, only the north door will be unlocked from about 8am - 5pm unless a special request has been made (i.e: someone needs the lift).

Ida Area for Life will meet on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at Remer Realty and Appraisal, 600 2nd Street in Ida Grove at 6:30 p.m.

We are a non-denominational group and new members are always welcome. Youth groups are a wonderful asset.

Please join us.

Would you like to relive the excitement, romance and passion from your honeymoon? Rekindle that spark on a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. For more information call 563-920-9419 or you can sign up at wwme.org. Upcoming dates are October 9 - 11, 2026 in Epworth, Iowa and February 12-14, 2027 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Divine Mercy Chaplet airs daily at 3:00 p.m.

Mater Dei Mass airs on Sundays 9:00 a.m.

Life Plan airs on Sundays at 8:00 p.m. Faith in Action airs Mondays at 9:00 a.m. and replays on Saturdays at 7:00 p.m.

Catholic Ministry Professionals airs on Tuesdays 4:00 p.m.

Draw Near airs on Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m.

Father Knows Best airs on Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m.

Loving and generous God, you called the prophets to bring your word to your chosen people. Your Son, Jesus, called the first disciples to be bold proclaimers of the good news.

In the modern world, you continue to call your sons and daughters to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life. Calm the chaos and soothe the sounds of our world, and allow more to hear your soft voice calling them to pick up their cross and follow.

May the Holy Spirit fall upon your church in a profound way, so that we may experience a tremendous harvest of grace. May vocations increase ever abundantly and may your church stand as a witness to the world of the good news of your Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Writing a check? Remember: When writing a check for your contribution, please make your check payable to St. Therese of Lisieux Parish.

Online Giving: Online Giving is available to all parishioners. To give online, go to https://www.osvhub.com/herlittleway/giving/funds. Select the fund to where you want your contribution to be credited. Enter your account and bank information. Enter the amount you want to give.

For all donations (including grain) to the parish: Please make checks payable to St. Therese of Lisieux Parish.

For donations (including grain) to Danbury Catholic School: Please make checks payable to Danbury Catholic School.

The ongoing financial support of our parish is always appreciated. Thank you!

Can’t make it to Mass? Please to continue to support your parish by mailing your contributions:

Please like and share our Facebook page.

Sacred Heart, Ida Grove - https://www.facebook.com/sacredheartidagrove

St. Mary's, Mapleton - https://www.facebook.com/stmarysmapleton

St. Mary's, Danbury - https://www.facebook.com/StMarysDanburyIowa

Please call Father Bill to make an appointment to do Baptismal preparation and to set a date.

Anytime by appointment in any of the three parishes.

Danbury & Mapleton: Thirty (30) minutes prior to weekend Masses.

Ida Grove: Tuesday and Thursday before and after daily Mass.

If you or a family member is sick, facing surgery, or in the hospital, please contact Fr. McCarthy immediately for visits and to be anointed with the Sacrament by Fr. McCarthy. Also, when one leaves the hospital, please notify Father; this assists him to continue his care for the sick.

Planning a wedding? Contact Fr. William McCarthy a minimum of nine months prior to the wedding date to ensure all diocesan requirements are completed.

Due by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesdays. Send info to danigmapbulletin@gmail.com or call Lynn at 712‑893‑2160.

We welcome you into God’s family! If you are interested in learning more about our church, or would like to join, please contact the rectory of your city of residence to register as a new member or if you have change of address or telephone number.

To have a name added to this unpublished list/tree, please contact the following:

Danbury - Pat Brouillette at 880‑0519

Ida Grove - Sherry Hittle at 371‑2070

Mapleton - Pat Sullivan at 881‑2420 or Marilyn Seuntjens at 253‑0603