On August 10, a derecho storm blew through the state of Iowa damaging 14 million acres of cropland, representing over 50% of all of Iowa’s cropland, and destroying farm buildings, silos, and rural communities. The town of Cedar Rapids was devastated as well.
One of the themes Saint Paul repeats in his letters in Holy Scripture is the truth that as Christians, we are the body of Christ, and like our physical body, “If one member suffers, all suffer together….”
Catholic Rural Life, in conjunction with the dioceses of Iowa— Archdiocese of Dubuque and the Dioceses of Davenport, Sioux City and Des Moines—is leading a Novena in Honor of St. Isidore, the Farmer, led each day by a bishop. The focus of this Novena is to remember all who have suffered loss as a result of the storm, and pray for the rebuilding of the communities and farms impacted by the storm.
Please join us for this Novena that begins on Monday, September 21, and ends on Tuesday, September 29. Videos will be on our Facebook and posted here after.
Novena Schedule
Day 1 – Monday, September 21, Archbishop Michael Jackels, Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa
10:00 am Central/11:00 am Eastern
Day 2 – Tuesday, September 22, Bishop Thomas Zinkula, Diocese of Davenport, Iowa
10:00 am Central/11:00 am Eastern
Day 3 – Wednesday, September 23, Archbishop Michael Jackels, Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa
10:00 am Central/11:00 am Eastern
Day 4 – Thursday, September 24, Bishop William Joensen, Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa
10:00 am Central/11:00 am Eastern
Day 5 – Friday, September 25, Bishop William Joensen, Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa
10:00 am Central/11:00 am Eastern
Day 6 – Saturday, September 26, Bishop R. Walker Nickless, Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa
10:00 am Central/11:00 am Eastern
Day 7 – Sunday, September 27, Bishop Robert Gruss, Diocese of Saginaw, Michigan
11:00 am Central/12:00 pm Eastern
Day 8 – Monday, September 28, Bishop Brendan Cahill, Diocese of Victoria, Texas
10:00 am Central/11:00 am Eastern
Day 9 – Tuesday, September 29, Bishop Brendan Cahill, Diocese of Victoria, Texas
10:00 am Central/11:00 am Eastern
Who is Catholic Rural Life?
Catholic Rural Life (CRL) is a national, Catholic nonprofit organization dedicated to the vitality of the American countryside. Since 1923, CEL has been promoting Catholic life in rural America.
Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, CRL is a membership-based organization, comprised of dedicated bishops, laity, and religious who are joined in a common effort to serve the rural Church, rural people, and their communities.
Learn more about CRL here. Become a member here.
Who is St. Isidore?
St. Isidore is the Patron Saint of farmers and Catholic Rural Life. He was a very prayerful man and particularly devoted to daily Mass and the Holy Eucharist. It was said that because of this, two angels, one on either side of Isidore, appeared and joined their pious companion in plowing the fields.
Read more about St. Isidore here.
More Information
Want the printable pdf of the St. Isidore novena?
Click here.
Want the printable pdf of the St. Isidore novena in Spanish?
Click here.
Interested in a special prayer written by Dcn Dan Freeman of the Diocese of Davenport after the storm?
Click here.
Interested in a St. Isidore prayer card?
Click here.
Are you wondering, “What is a novena?”
Click here.
