This Catholic Messenger Conversations Podcast explores the joys and challenges of caring for God’s creation, which encompasses people’s relationship with God, with each other and God’s earth.
You will learn what some parishes and the dioceses are doing to steward these gifts of God’s creation. Click here to listen.
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Social Action Upcoming Events
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Two Feet Social Action Newsletter
The newsletter is distributed monthly via email using Substack. Previous Issues
If you would like to read previous issues you will find those at the link below
http://bit.ly/TwoFeetNewsletter.. -
2026 Available Grants:
Grand Deadline May 15 by 4:00 p.m.
Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl: For those providing/supporting direct services to people who are hungry (first foot of Social justice). Applications must be received in the Social Action Office by May 15th by 4:00 p.m., no exceptions.
Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD): For those organizations and projects that promote systemic change (second foot of social justice). To apply please send your request in a 1-2 page letter along with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development Grant Agreement. Applications must be received in the Social Action Office by May 15th. by 4:00 p.m., no exceptions.
Grant Deadline September 15
St. Vincent’s Home: Applicants are to be located within the 22 counties of the Diocese of Davenport or serve children within the Diocese of Davenport. To be considered at the fall board meeting, applications must be postmarked by September 15.
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Monthly Lunch and Learn
Social Action Monthly Lunch and Learn is held the First Thursday of the month at noon. to view or register for our next session click here.
For those not available at that particular time, the session will be recorded and available on the Diocesan YouTube channel. In addition, Barb Arland-Fye will publish a series of articles on the experience beginning with the November 11 issue of The Catholic Messenger. -
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Laudate Deum:
Pope Francis released his follow up to Laudato Si' on October 4. In the apostolic exhortation, Laudate Deum. The new document underscores the urgent reality that we are running out of time to reverse the environmental inertia that threatens our common home.
We strongly encourage you to read Laudate Deum The document can be downloaded here: www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/20231004-laudate-deum.html
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News
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September 19By Barb Arland-Fye The Catholic Messenger Their journeys began from different starting points but the three Iowa women featured in this story share a common passion for accompanying refugees striving to rebuild their lives in Iowa. We share their stories to raise awareness about National Migration Week, Sept. 23-29, which culminates with the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) on Sept. 29. Some 43.4 million refugees are among 120 million people forcibly displaced as of May 2024, USA for the UN Refugee Agency reports.Read More
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The Diocese of Davenport Social Action Department welcomes you to our webpage. We invite you to explore our site, to witness the difference you can make by participating in the events listed on this page.
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Social Action Calendar:
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World Day of Migrants and Refugees (Sept. 27)
&
National Migration week (Sept. 21-27.)
The theme this year for both is “Even just one of these children,” which is a reference to Matthew 18:5: “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” Please see the 2026 World Day of Migrants and Refugees toolkit available at https://justiceforimmigrants.org/national-migration-week-2026/. It will help you to understand this year’s theme. The USCCB is expected to release a few more resources including, social media suggestions to use during the week.Resources:
- World Day of Migrants and Refugees/National Migration Week Toolkit
- Pope Leo's Message for this year’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees
- For additional resources please visit the USCCB's Justice for Immigrants webpage
USCCB Secretariat of Migration UPCOMING WEBINAR: “Even just one of these children”: A Webinar for The World Day of Migrants and Refugees
The will highlight some of the key implications of this year’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees as it pertains to child migration and will include experts who can shed light on the international and domestic dynamics related to this issue. - World Day of Migrants and Refugees/National Migration Week Toolkit
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Season of Creation Events
The theme for this year’s Season of Creation is “Living Water”.Season of Creation is celebrated September 1 – October 4.
The celebration guide and resources are now now available on their official Season of Creation website , Please visit the ecumenical Season of Creation website for resources and information of how you and your community can participate in the Season of Creation.TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
More informationSeason of Creation
Prayer Service for Creation Day
Join for this ecumenical prayer service celebrating the beginning of the Season of Creation with faith leaders worldwide.
8:00 a.m. CT
Parish Events to Celebrate the Season of Creation:
Season of Creation Mass _ Presider Bishop Dennis Walsh
Saturday, September 5th at 5:00 pmDue to the because of the heat the mass is now move back to the St. James Church in ST. Paul Address: 2044 Locust St, St Paul, IA 52657St. Thomas More, Coralville
St. John of Arc, Bettendorf
St. Paul the Apostle, Davenport
October 2, Drive-thru Blessing of the Pets.SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Sisters of St. Benedict, Congregation of the Humility of Mary, and Others
Creation Care Prayer Service
All are invited to join in a spiritual immersion of prayer and response to the cry of Creation. Attendees are invited to bring a small jar of water from a local source. The water will be blessed with our communal prayers.
As part of the Service, the Quad Cities Chapter of the Sierra Club, Eagle View Group, will give a short reflection on their "Water Sentinels" Quad City Program.
10:00 a.m. CT
St. Mary Monastery
2200 88th Ave. W.
Rock Island, IL 61201
SATURDAY,OCTOBER 3
Franciscan Peace Center, Vince Jetter Community Center, and the
Clinton Public Library
Peace in the Park
Celebrate the Season of Creation and the International Day of Peace with this storytelling event. Eco-centered books and resources will be shared and
creation-focused stories for young participants.
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. CT
Clinton Park
301 S. 4th St.
Clinton, IA 52732
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Parish Event:
From St. Anthony's, Davenport
St. Anthony's Book Study Club: meets on Mondays from 6:00-7:30 in the parish center at St. Anthony's. This is open to everyone. If you have questions please contact Nancy Stone [email protected] Looking for volunteer opportunities consider McAnthony Window. Please contact the church office at 563-322-3303. Learn more here
MONDAY, AUGUST 31 6:00 PM. ST. ANTHONY, DAVENPORT 
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Other events:Please visit the Catholic Messenger events page to find local and other events around the Diocese. List of events: https://catholicmessenger.net/2024/02/calendar-of-events-post.
SEPTEMBER 21: International Day of Peace 
As the International Day of Peace (September 21), Campaign Nonviolence Action Days (September 21–October 2), and the Season of Creation (September 1-October 4) approach, the Franciscan Peace Center is inviting congregations, organizations, and individuals to mark the occasion with a newly published resource guide: a rich collection of ways to pray, reflect, play, create, read, watch, listen, advocate, explore, and connect around the work of peace and nonviolence.
For more information and to access the guide visit https://clintonfranciscans.com/international-day-of-peace-resource-guidePray with the Clinton Franciscans:
The Sisters of St. Francis and the Franciscan Peace Center in Clinton invite the public to participate in a virtual program to commemorate the International Day of Peace.THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Franciscan Action Network, Franciscan Federation, Interfaith Public Health Network, and Catholic Climate Covenant
Moving Beyond Plastics in a "Throwaway Culture"
How do we resist a “throwaway culture” and embrace a "better kind of politics" that seeks the common good, prioritizes the poor, and protects the environment?
Judith Enck, author of "The Problem with Plastic" and founder of Beyond Plastics will share with us about the impacts of plastics on Mother Earth and on vulnerable communities. She will outline how we can get involved at the local and state levels to cut toxic plastic pollution. Students from Siena University will also share their work to combat plastics pollution in the state of New York.
6:00 p.m. CT
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Catholic Climate Covenant
Monthly Encounter Call
The Encounter community is meant to be an open space for dialogue about Catholic climate advocacy of all types!
10:00 a.m. CT
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National Events:
- September 3- November 25, 40 Days for Life
- November 24 Solemnity of Christ the King. All materials except for the summary are available at www.usccb.org/ChristtheKing.
- Annual Pro - Life Events
- January 19–20 - National Prayer Vigil for Life
- Friday January 19, 2024 - March for Life In Washington DC.
- January 25-28, 2025 _ Register Now for the 2025 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering! in Washington, D.C.
- September 3- November 25, 40 Days for Life