God is Persistent - Jenn O'Hanlon Listened - Vet School Here She Comes and More in Your Newsletter

St. Anthony Catholic Church

Davenport, Iowa

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God is Persistent

Jenn O'Hanlon Listens and Follows Her Dream to Veterinary School

by John Cooper

Jenn O'Hanlon (see pictured with her horse Black) with her husband Sean moved across the river to Davenport two years ago and were looking for the "right" parish. They were drawn to the beauty, community, and especially the outreach of McAnthony Window. They have become wonderful parishioners, helping out with various ministries from Building and Grounds Committee to Bread Patrol. I was intrigued when I heard that Jenn was going back to school to become a veterinarian. I thought it was a sign of new life at Easter. Here's her story....

Remind me what your career has been up and until now.... include education.

I got my undergrad at Augustana in English Lit and I have a Master in Exercise Science. I have done a number of things over the years as far as career goes, but most recently I spent a little over 7 years at John Deere working in Marketing and Research functions. Not exactly a straight-line path!

What prompted you to make this career change into veterinary medicine? Is this something that you've always thought about, but just never acted upon? Or did this passion for caring and healing sick animals just pop up suddenly at this point in your life?

I have wanted to be a vet most of my life, at least since I was about 14. I got involved with horses when I was about 10 years old, my parents gave in and bought my first horse when I was around 12 (after having me clean stalls for 6 months with nothing in return they realized I was serious and it wasn't the passing fancy of a young girl). We boarded our horse at a facility that had 18-22 horses at any given time and I spent a lot of time out there learning about equine care and that is when I decided I wanted to be a vet. I had grown up with dogs, cats, rabbits and various other animals, but once I got into horses and I was at an age when I could really understand and help with medical care is when I decided I wanted to be a veterinarian. That being said as a young college student chemistry was a challenge for me, I had a teacher who was new and not the best and I wasn't mature enough at the time to deal with that and some other personal challenges, so I opted for the easier road (for me) and got the English degree. I have always regretted not sticking it out, and have considered, and even looked into going back to school on a few different occasions, but until now I haven't ever followed through.

Tell us what the journey ahead will look like in veterinary school? Are you moving? How many years will it take? CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE TO READ JENN'S STORY...

Progress Continues Healthcare and Trade School Building in the Congo

As part of our relationship with Father Apo's home country in the Congo, St. Anthony's is supporting the construction of a healthcare and trade school building. See the progress on the building pictured above.

Father Apo's niece Nzita Kapinga is in the video above. She's raising a garden on the land next to the healthcare and trade school building.

Video and Explanation of the Statues on St. Anthony's High Altar

Preparing for Our Merger with St. Mary's

Catholicism in Latin America Part Two

by John Cooper

This is the second in a series articles on the history of Catholicism in Latin America. Its important to understand from where we have come as a people of faith as we plan our future together. Like all history, there's a mixture of both the good and bad. We Catholics know that our religion was used by colonizing powers like Spain to justify taking lands from native peoples in Latin America. They told the peoples that "God had ordained the right to take possession of their land." They basically used Catholic theology to justify their actions.

Despite the misuse of the faith by those in power, God's love worked through the negative grace of exploitation. Christianity and the Catholic faith touched the minds, hearts, and souls of the native peoples of Latin America. Such was the case when Juan Diego (who was first called Cuauhtlatohuac which means “The eagle who speaks"), a Mexican man, raised in the Aztec religion began to have an affinity for the Virgin Mary. Influenced by Franciscan missionaries, Juan and his wife Maria Lucia became earlly converts to Catholicism in Mexico in 1524.

Juan was on his way to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 9, 1531 when he was was stopped by the beautiful sight of a radiant woman who introduced herself, in his native tongue, as the "ever-perfect holy Mary, who has the honor to be the mother of the true God." His life and the lives of countless Latinos would never be the same after this first apparition. To Be Continued...

Dear Parishioners,

My world these days has been full of meetings via Zoom. This week, I've had Zoom meetings with other priests and our parish and finance councils. I was happy to see that over 33 of you were able to join John and I this past Sunday afternoon for the Divine Mercy Sunday prayer service. We are making the most of the tools that God has given us to stay connected and move forward.

You'll see in today's newsletter pictures and video of the healthcare and trade school building our parish is constructing in the Congo. Thank you for your continued generosity and support of our mission there. That's my niece in the video. She's the daughter of my sister who passed away last year. I'm a very proud uncle as she recently graduated from law school.

May God bless you and keep you safe this week and always!

Yours in Christ,

Father Apo

Dial Into Friday Evening Rosary at 7:30 p.m. with Zoom

Join your St. Anthony parish family for Rosary this Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. Spread the word. You don't need internet. All you need to do is....

Dial (312) 626-6799

Then enter Meeting ID 98139030019#

Please keep your phone muted during the service.

Every Day is Earth Day at the Prairie

Click Video Below