Learning to be Quick to Listen

St. Vincent de Paul- Des Moines is making a profound difference in the lives of former prisoners through its Immersion Program, offering a holistic approach to reentry that embodies the core tenets of Catholic social teaching. Recognizing that nearly one-third of the individuals they serve have been incarcerated, the program provides crucial wraparound services focused on mental well-being, socio-economic stability, employability, and healthy relationships. Through initiatives like "Back2Work," participants receive tailored training, financial literacy education, and job placement assistance, fostering not just employment but a renewed sense of purpose and belonging. This proactive engagement, including pre-release access to individuals in the Polk County Jail, builds vital trust and facilitates a smoother transition back into the community, addressing systemic barriers to reintegration. This impactful work directly mirrors the profound call to action found in Jesus' ...

Today's Mass readings call us to a profound understanding of love, particularly as articulated by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount : the radical command to love our enemies. This teaching is illuminated by the ultimate test of love: laying down one's life for another, as Jesus himself demonstrated. While the deepest expression of love is often seen in selfless acts for friends, an even more challenging and revealing test lies in loving those who offer nothing in return, or even actively seek our harm. The Passion of Christ provides the perfect example, as Jesus willingly offers his life for those who betrayed, denied, and condemned him, including his own disciples and those who orchestrated his crucifixion. This divine example of love culminates in Jesus' post-resurrection greeting of " Shalom " – peace – to those very individuals who contributed to his suffering and death. This act of forgiveness and reconciliation reveals the true nature of God's love f...