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Introduction


The Archdiocese of Dubuque was established July 28, 1837 and therefore will reach its 175th year in 2012.The observance is an occasion for us to look back in gratitude upon the heritage of faith given us by our ancestors who built churches and established parishes, schools, hospitals, and charitable organizations.


The celebration of our 175th Anniversary is a time not only to celebrate the great gifts and blessings that God has given to our Archdiocese, but it is also a time to look ahead to the future and continue the work that the Lord has entrusted to us in building up the Body of Christ, the Church, in northeast Iowa.


In humility, we acknowledge that while there are many things for which we are grateful, disappointments and difficulties have also been part of our history. For those whose faith has weakened or been shaken in any way, we pray it will be a time of rebirth and renewal, reconciliation and healing.


To help us in preparing for the observance, we set forth the following goals of our 175th anniversary observance.


A. Appreciating the Past

  1. To learn about the history of the parishes and institutions, the clergy and religious and laity, that have been part of the Archdiocese; this would be accomplished through various media.
  2. To commemorate with gratitude and appreciation all who have gone before us; this would be done through various celebrations.

B. Engaging in Present Day Spiritual Renewal and Evangelization

  1. To renew our Catholic faith; this would happen through personal spiritual experience or some effort at renewal.
  2. To reach out to youth and young adults by identifying and implementing new ways to engage them more fully in the life of the church.
  3. To embrace evangelization and to promote outreach to the estranged, inactive, and unchurched.


C. Projecting Forward: Initiatives for the Future

  1. To call forth expanded stewardship of time, talent, and treasure; this might possibly involve the development of some project or enhancement of resources (programs or facilities) needed to give the Archdiocese a fresh thrust into the future.
  2. To acknowledge, celebrate, and incorporate into the life of the church the richness found in the diverse peoples of the diocese, especially those who have arrived recently.


May the words of Isaiah find fulfillment in our observance: “They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint” (Isaiah 40:31).


May our 175th observance help us to build upon the legacy of faith which we have received and rededicate
ourselves to continue building upon that legacy so it can be celebrated and embraced by future generations.