I peek at my calendar, and it has March 8th as the Third Sunday of Lent which was expected, but then in bold letters below DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS! The traditional saying is spring ahead and fall back, so early Sunday morning we lose an hour of sleep as we turn our clocks ahead an hour. That for sure is another sign that season of Spring rapidly approaches.

So, if I asked you: how is your Lenten season going, what would your response be? My hope is that you have been able to spend some extra time with God in prayer, or doing some action that helped others such as volunteering or maybe visit those who live alone or in the nursing home. The point of Lent is to encounter God in new ways that are life-giving spiritually.

One Mass schedule change is that I pray Mass at 6:30 PM on Monday nights at Ida Grove. I say Mass every day anyway. On Monday night our Mass intention is for each of our own needs such as family, health, travel and rain for the dry soils. If you have time in your schedule, please join us.

God bless,

Fr. McCarthy.

Danbury Catholic Elementary School students and staff invite all to join them for special Lenten prayer sessions:

March 11 - Rosary in the DC cafeteria at 2:25.

March 18 - Stations of the Cross at St. Mary’s Danbury Church at 2:25.

March 25 - Rosary in the DC cafeteria at 2:25.

April 1 - Living Stations of the Cross at St. Mary’s Church in Danbury at 12:30.

Danbury Catholic Elementary School will be holding preschool and kindergarten round-ups in March.

The round-up for 3-year old preschool will be held on Wednesday, March 18th. Please call or email to set up an appointment.

Kindergarten round-up will be held from 8:30 until 9:30 a.m. on Friday, March 20th.

Four-year old preschool round-up will be held on Friday, March 20th from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Questions? Want to set up an appointment for 3-year old round-up? Please call Ms. Fiedler at 712-883-2244 or email her at mfiedler@danburycatholic.org.

Pre-registration for all grades is now available at www.danburycatholic.org.

The Knights of Ida Grove will be helping all to have a great meal without meat during Lent. They will hold their final fish fry meal on March 20th.

Danbury Catholic School raised $45,688 in MLTF Scholarships for our students for the next school year! We are so blessed with amazing supporters and can't wait for our families to be blessed with these scholarships!

Paired with the ESA through the state of Iowa, this can fully cover tuition for families. The application window is open through May 1st.

You can find the application link near the top of our website danburycatholic.org in the Applications section or at scdiocese.org/scholarship. The scholarship is open to students age 5 and up

You can learn more about the MLTF Scholarship on the Illuminating Catholics podcast, in the episode from September 9, 2025. This can be found on your podcast app or on YouTube.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Molly Petersen, Principal, at mpetersen@danburycatholic.org.

Danbury Catholic is looking for a PE teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. The position would be fore two partial days per week. Candidates should have a license to teach PE through the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners or be able to get one. Please contact Molly Petersen, principal, if you are interested. mpetersen@danburycatholic.org or 712-883-2244.

The following petition is available in the entrance of Sacred Heart Church. Please consider signing it.

Petition to OABCIG School Board and Superintendent Alexander:

“We the undersigned residents of the OABCIG School District ask that no school activities be scheduled on Sundays or after 6:00 pm on Wednesday nights as those times are reserved for church activities.”

If you would have had something in church and cannot find it, check out the Lost and Found box in the entryway next to the display of free books, pamphlets, and prayers.

If you wish to donate flowers to the church in memory of loved ones, please have them in the Sacristy by noon on April 3rd (Good Friday). We prefer springtime flowers over lilies, please, but will appreciate anything you wish to donate.

The Faith Formation students will lead the Stations of the Cross on Wednesdays during Lent at approximately 6:45 p.m. Please join us!

We will also livestream on the St. Mary’s Danbury Facebook page.

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.

Plan now to attend the Stations of the Cross will be in Mapleton at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesdays during Lent - March 10th, 17th, and 24th.

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).

The Knights of Columbus do a great job collecting much needed items for Mary’s Choice in October. The Community Life Committee is asking to help Mary’s Choice with your second hand baby and toddler clothes and your maternity clothes.

Cribs can be found in all three parishes. St Mary’s in Mapleton’s can be found on the basement landing, St Mary’s in Danbury’s is located in the west entrance, and Sacred Heart in Ida Grove’s is available in the back of the church. These items will be taken to Sioux City throughout the year.

Please do not include diapers or new items. Please save those for the Knights’ drives in October.

Married Couples: A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend is like Springtime. It’s a weekend of fresh air, the rebirth of romance and new beginnings. If you’d like to make your marriage even more special than it already is sign up now at wwme.org or call Greg & Denise at 563-920-9419 or sign up at wwme.org. Upcoming dates: April 10-12 in Marshalltown and October 9-11 in Epworth.

In the next edition of LumeNotes, we have coverage the Turn youth conference, Catholic view on death and dying with Father Jones, legislative update from the Iowa Catholic Conference, Belize mission with the SOLT community, seminarian receives Ministry of Acolyte. As always, see our listing of parish, school and diocesan events, area news, school news, photos, and the Illuminating Catholics podcast. Subscribe for free at news@scdiocese.org or text Notes to 84576. Check your account to switch to text delivery!

Father David Esquiliano, our judicial vicar and Cathedral Parish pastor, shines a light on the church’s view of cremation, the history and proper care of cremated remains and burials. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, on the Diocese of Sioux City YouTube channel or at https://www.lumenmedia. org/illuminating-catholics-podcast.

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.

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