The Link

3/14/2013
DIOCESE OF DES MOINES

Diocese to Hold Mass of Thanksgiving and Petition of Blessing on the Ministry of Pope Francis

Bishop Richard Pates will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving on the occasion of the election of Pope Francis and seek intercession that the ministry of the newly elected Pope will be abundantly blessed.

The Mass will be on Sunday, March 17th at 10:30 am at St. Ambrose Cathedral. All are welcome.

The Bishop is asking that each parish in the diocese schedule a similar Mass. The formal Mass of installation of the new Pope will occur in Rome on Tuesday, March 19th, the feast of St. Joseph.

"We continue to rejoice that the Catholic Church has been blessed with a new leader of significant personal gifts and who exercises these with admirable simplicity and openness." Bishop Pates said. "May Pope Francis' ministry as successor of Peter and Bishop of Rome be abundantly blessed."

The Diocese of Des Moines includes 81 parishes in 23 counties in central and southwest Iowa.