When we announce Jesus to others, we plant seeds for them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Some of our parishioners have agreed to share their personal witness stories below. 

You're invited to share your own through this link! 

I was born and raised Catholic so Jesus has always been a part of my life, but sometimes it has been a one-way street. I came to know Jesus through my parents and specially my grandparents. They made going to church and practicing their faith a priority. I have always been active in my church but my relationship with Jesus is something that I'm always striving to do better in.

I know Christ has always been present in my life. In particular, I know he had a hand in helping me make a connection with a friend who encouraged me to look at the job market in Cedar Rapids. When we looked at jobs, I saw my dream job which led me to a fantastic career and moved me closer to family.

I know that no matter what my day brings or what I am facing, I can pray and Jesus bring happiness and peace to my life. He has been with me through joys and sorrows and has brought people into my life that I didn't even know I needed. I know Jesus has a plan for my. I love saying "we plan, God laughs" because I know whether I'm on the right path or not, God has a plan and it give me hope knowing that His plans are for my joy and happiness!  

From a young age, I've always know there was something greater than me. The question of "how has He worked in your life?" threw me for a moment. He doesn't work in my life. He IS my life. the day I accepted Jesus as my Savior and recognized that He ultimately is God was a life-changing event. I was physically and sexually abused in my teen years. If not for the rosary and knowing my earthly Father was looking down on me, praying for me, I wouldn't be here to give praise and thanks to my Heavenly Father. In each area of my life, I try my hardest to put Christ on the throne. I'm human, and some days are so much harder than others. Those are the days when I sit at the feet of Jesus and confess my faults, my sins. He is always ready to forgive them and allow me to start with a clean slate. There is an old hymn, My Hope is Built on Nothing Less. The words encapsulate my hope in Christ as my Savior, Redeemer, Father, and Friend.

When I was six months old, I was adopted from South Korea.  I remain grateful that I was provided an opportunity to be raised in the United States, however I experienced trauma growing up in my household.  My exposure to the Lord growing up consisted of my mother dropping me off at church and coming by later to pick me up. There was a lack of joy and community in my life.

But God has a plan for me. He brought my adoption family into my life, and they embraced me as their daughter and sister. Their acceptance and witness renewed an inner desire to grow and cultivate my relationship with Christ. I have learned to choose joy as a result of my new family and community.

When I was going through RCIA, it was at a time when my husband and I experienced loss, and it helped me get through. The display of joy that I saw through RCIA and my family reassured me that St. Elizabeth’s is the place where my family and I are meant to be and it solidified my desire to be a part of this community. It has motivated me to share joy with others the way that it has been shown to me by Christ, my family and the community at St. Elizabeth's. 

Caregiving was not my idea of a calling. Yet, God had other plans and equipped me to surrender and provide care to my dear mother. My mother had been going downhill after breast cancer and a diagnosis of supranuclear palsy (Parkinson's on steroids). One night at 2 AM, she required an emergency surgery for a ruptured colon. Her recovery would require a colostomy bag. As her only child and a mother of 3 young children myself, I was stunned and could only pray. My prayer warrior friends, family, and parish community at St. EAS helped me petition God to save her and restore her to health. A MRSA infection curtailed her recovery and for weeks required me to clean and dress her gaping abdomen multiple times a day. There's a good reason why I am not a nurse, and I prayed that I would not gag or cry every time I changed her bandages. Only by the grace of God was I able to lovingly care for her. God equipped me for the task at hand and eventually she recovered.Three years later, while in a nursing home and bedridden, my dear mother raised her head and hands and went to be with those angels who welcomed her to Heaven. I never once felt resentful for the hours I spent with her and the nursing duties I performed. God got me through those years and we had many wonderful conversations, shared laughs, and moments of peaceful silence and prayer. God granted me the gift of my mother and the ability to be what she needed me to be. What I would give to have just ten minutes in her presence again! She was a model of humility, unconditional love, and vulnerability. She was Jesus for me.

God has always been pursuing me (as He does all of us), but my life changed when I began pursuing Him. I had always gone to church, tried to follow the rules and be "good" but I didn't have much of a personal relationship with Jesus. I felt like church and prayer were an obligation, and I when I went to church I mostly felt unworthy and unable to live up to who I thought God wanted me to be. I tried to overcome that feeling of unworthiness by achieving, accomplishing and acquiring more. I looked for validation from others to put me in good standing with God. However, after all my achievements, I still felt empty and I was tired of striving. I started asking questions like, "What am I here for?" and "Is this all there is?" Luckily, God blessed me with several people who pointed me back to Jesus and the truth of the Gospel: I didn't need to strive, I could simply surrender. 
I started to create space for God through regular rhythms of prayer and reading my Bible. I learned the truth about who God is and who He says I am. He captured my heart, and my obligation turned to motivation. I became amazed by God's goodness, love, mercy, and grace as I knew Him more. 
When I became Catholic, I found another level of sacred connection to God in the rituals of Mass and within the Eucharist. Each time I am blessed with the opportunity to pray, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed," my heart almost explodes. I just cannot believe how much He loves me in spite of my unworthiness. I understand and believe this truth now and it is such a gift!

The kids missed the school bus and I was driving fast up the ramp and over the freeway. A driver ran the red light and T-boned our vehicle, sending us careening up onto the cement wall over the freeway and headed over the top. In the blink of an eye, our high profile vehicle changed trajectory and landed on its left side, nestled up against the cement wall. The policeman later said he had no idea why we didn't flip and fall onto the freeway, causing almost certain death for myself and our three children.In the chaos, I lost my glasses and the kids were hanging from their car seats and seatbelt. All I could hear was screaming and steam escaping something. I shook my head, started calming the children, and a man reached down into the vehicle to help remove the children one at a time. He helped me climb out, found my glasses, and waited for the ambulance to arrive. Once we were all strapped in the ambulance, I distinctly heard my father say, "You're alright now, Kid. I'm outta here."  

I asked the kids and EMT's who had said that and nobody had heard anything. You see, my father had been in Heaven for three years already by then. His favorite nickname for me was "Kid" and he was known for helping with search and rescue missions yet he never stayed around for the after-story once someone was found. Living up to his reputation, I'm sure he rescued us, waited to be sure we were all loaded in the ambulance, and taken his leave. 

I know that heavenly Father sent my Guardian Angels to be swift and careful with us that day, and I know my earthly father earned his Angel wings on that bridge.

Growing up Catholic, I always believed in God, but I really didn’t know Jesus until I was in my late twenties.  At that time, I was happily married but there was one thing I didn't have that I'd been longing for; a child. After years of infertility testing and treatments. my husband and I were still just a family of two. We applied for adoption through Catholic Charities and were told there were no guarantees that we would ever have a child. It could happen next month or never, no one could predict whether a child would be available for us. I felt so defeated!  

It wasn’t until I met with my friend, Susie, that I found peace. She listened to my turmoil, gave me a big hug, then looked me in the eye and said “Janet, let go and let God!” How could she think it was that simple? 

Although I was angry and skeptical I decided to pray. I asked Jesus to be with me in this struggle, to help me let go of my grief and anger and accept the plan God held for me. I was amazed at how much lighter I instantly felt. I heard a voice say, “it’s ok, just wait until January.” I didn’t know what that meant but I felt relieved and peaceful. From that day forward I felt Jesus’ presence walking with me as an advocate for me. 

When January came, trusting God we put the crib up and prepared a room for our baby. As the end of January rolled around, our arms were still empty. Once again, I asked God to be with me and Jesus calmed me. On Valentines Day, the phone rang and we heard “We have a baby for you, a baby girl who was born on January 14th!"  

Many times, throughout my life I have had to remind myself of that one little sentence. I know if I try to do everything on my own, I stumble and fall, but if I "let go and let God" He will help me through every struggle just as he did so long ago. He doesn't always answer prayers the way I want Him to , but I know He has a plan for me!

I am a cradle Catholic and went to Catholic schools from elementary through high school. Growing up, I took my 'faith for granted. We were taken to Mass the first Friday of each month, on required Holy days and celebrated reconciliation twice a year. My first encounter noticing God in my life was my senior year during a retreat. We were celebrating Mass and when it came time for the Our Father, we formed a circle, joined hands and sang. It was an incredibly powerful moment. I remember getting goosebumps and feeling as if I was floating. The Holy Spirit was present and active while we were praying. From that moment on, I craved feeling close to God. I have been fortunate to attend or be a part of numerous retreats as an adult and have always experienced those "God" moments.

The most recent and prolonged experience I've had of God working in my life has been over the last 2 years. I was discerning a life change and started the Bible in a Year for the second time. I remember several of Fr Mike's commentaries telling us to ask God for what we want but at the same time discerning what God wants for our life. So I prayerfully asked God to guide me with my decision and to show me where He wanted to use me. Fr Mike shared that we needed to get out of the way and let God answer our prayers. We need to be open to His will despite it being uncomfortable or hard. I realized, after having been figuratively "knocked over the head" numerous times, that God was showing me what I needed to do. I made a life-changing decision and let the Lord guide me in the direction He wanted me to go.  I started going to Mass throughout the week, went to reconciliation for the first time in years, and started attending Eucharistic Adoration. After sitting silently while God put the pieces in place, I was "shown" my new path and I truly believe this is where God wants me. I look forward to continuing to be God's servant where and when He calls. God answers prayers, we just need to get out of the way and listen.

I've come to the conclusion that I am a "Works of Mercy Catholic". I am a list maker - I make checklists for the day, grocery lists, menus, and so on. So, I personally encounter God through the Corporal Works for Mercy. I announce Jesus to others by recognizing Christ in those in need:

• Feed the hungry- I donate to the food pantry, serve meals at the homeless shelter and provide meals for the Catholic Worker House✅
• Give drink to the thirsty- I support the Sister Water Project of the Dubuque Franciscan Sisters✅
• Clothe the naked- our girl scouts organized Undie Sunday for the homeless shelter, we've done clothing drives and sewn for Days for Girls ✅
• Shelter the Homeless- As a youth minister I organized mission trips for teens to help repair homes in Kentucky and Chicago. Plus, I have a long association with Habitat for Humanity which begins each day with prayer ✅
• Visit the sick- although I don't really like going to hospitals, I visited when I could and was privileged to participate in the Anointing of the Sick. I was also a communion minister to the homebound ✅
• Bury the dead- I've discovered how important it is to go to a visitation, even for people we don't really know. This is a witness from the parish to the family of the care we have for them ✅
• Visit the imprisoned- this one is scary for me but God provided a way. We lived in a parish that included the Iowa Correctional Institute of Women. I ended up in the Match 2 Program that matches you to someone that usually doesn't get visitors. I was matched with Linda who taught me about prison life and let me know how God works in that environment. Through tough times and good times, we've shared our faith with each other for the past 23 years and God has blessed both of us through it! ✅