Four Iowa hospitals to hold simultaneous celebrations on May 7

Observances mark 175th anniversary of Archdiocese of Dubuque

Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids will be one of four Catholic healthcare organizations in Iowa to simultaneously participate in a celebration of the 175th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Dubuque on Mon., May 7 at 2 p.m.  The concurrent observances will include prayer, songs and scripture readings at the following hospitals:

• Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids
• Covenant Medical Center, Waterloo
• Mercy Medical Center, Dubuque
• Mercy Medical Center, North Iowa, Mason City   

Those scheduled to speak at the observances include hospital CEOs, Archbishop Jerome Hanus or Vicars of each region.

The Diocese of Dubuque was established in July 1837, when Bishop Mathias Loras was appointed the first bishop in a frontier territory covering several states. The diocese was named an archdiocese in June 1893. Over the span of the last 175 years, ministries begun by Bishop Loras flourished and expanded. There are currently 168 parishes within the Archdiocese.

The simultaneous celebration on May 7 is one of many 175th anniversary activities taking place throughout the Archdiocese from November 2011 through November 2012.

This traveling exhibit showcases the contributions of the Catholic Sisters of the Upper Mississippi River Valley. It is currently displayed at Mercy’s Lundy Pavilion in observance of the 175th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.