Webster County parish named Holy Trinity Parish

Jan. 25, 2007

WEBSTER COUNTY - In 2000 Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo asked the Catholic churches of Corpus Christi, Sacred Heart and Holy Rosary in Fort Dodge; St. Matthew in Clare; and St. Joseph in Barnum to become a Team Parish in Webster County. A team of priests gathered to serve in this experimental concept. In 2002, the Team parishes focused on long-range planning, and the remaining Webster County parishes, Our Lady of Good Counsel in Moorland, St. Joseph in Duncombe and Christ the King in Dayton, joined the team.

The Long Range Planning Task Force was created by members of the Webster County Parishes to lead the people in open discussion with input of parishioners of their future including study of current and future needs of the churches. By accepting the opportunity and challenge given to them by the bishop to journey together into the future, their plan of action was to bring them into the 21st century with a strong foundation. In June 2005 the long-range plan to become one parish with eight worship sites was submitted to the bishop.

Reflecting upon and recalling the past 150 years, the Catholic Team Parishes in Webster County, celebrated their sesquicentennial in 2006. On Nov. 10, 2006, it was decreed by Bishop R. Walker Nickless, the new bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City, that the parish of the Holy Trinity be established with its offices in Fort Dodge.

Holy Trinity Parish is now the official name of the parish in Webster County while maintaining the existing names of each church or worship site. Each worship site celebrates weekend liturgy. A new governing structure for the new parish consists of one pastoral council and one finance council, as well as subcommittees which involve members from all worship sites.

The Holy Trinity, a central belief of the Catholic faith, shows unity of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, so it is fitting that we now unite as one parish---Holy Trinity Catholic Parish.

Holy Trinity's new parish logo, designed by parish member Don Halligan, reflects this idea of unity. Halligan explained, "Jesus tells us in John 6:48, 'I am the bread of life.'... wheat symbolizes that, and its significance shows that the spiritual food received through our faith sustains both mind and soul.....the three sheaves of wheat...represent the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The wheat...is bound by a single ribbon wrapped eight times around, representing the eight parishes coming together as one to worship around the Holy Trinity."

Father Ed Girres reflected on the new parish. He said, "It's so exciting to take the next steps forward into the future as the Catholic community of Webster County. We place our future in the very name of God, the Holy Trinity. We have such wonderful, faith-filled people in our parish. I am confident that the faith will continue to thrive in this small part of the world."

Our Eight Worship Sites:

Fort Dodge - Corpus Christi, Holy Rosary, Sacred Heart

Barnum - St. Joseph

Clare - St. Matthew

Dayton - Christ the King

Duncombe - St. Joseph

Moorland - Our Lady of Good Counsel

Weekend Masses:

SATURDAY - 4:15 p.m.- Corpus Christi (Fort Dodge), 4:30 p.m. St Joseph (Duncombe), 5 p.m.- Sacred Heart (Fort Dodge), 5:30 p.m. (October - March) - St. Matthew (Clare), 5:30 p.m. (April - September) - St. Joseph (Barnum), 6:45 p.m. Spanish Mass - Sacred Heart Chapel (Fort Dodge).

SUNDAY - 7:30 a.m. & 9:30 a.m. - Corpus Christi, 8 a.m. & 10 a.m. - Holy Rosary (Fort Dodge), 11 a.m. - Sacred Heart, 8 a.m. (October - March) - St Joseph (Barnum), 8:00 a.m. (April - September) - St. Matthew (Clare), 8:30 a.m. - Christ the King (Dayton), 10 a.m. - Our Lady of Good Counsel (Moorland)

Reconciliation:

SATURDAY - 3 p.m. - Corpus Christi, 4 p.m. - Sacred Heart, 4 p.m.- St Joseph (Duncombe), 4:45 p.m. (October - March) - St. Matthew, 4:45 p.m. (April - September) - St. Joseph (Barnum).

SUNDAY - 8 a.m. - Christ the King, 9:30 a.m. - Our Lady of Good Counsel.

HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC PARISH

Office: 2422 9 1/2 Avenue South - Fort Dodge, IA 50501 - 515 573-3616