A new Catholic worship takes root in Des Moines
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The Diocese of DSM last month announced that Byzantine services are now in the metro. Photo: Courtesy of Byzantine Catholic Outreach of Iowa
A new kind of Catholic worship is in Des Moines.
State of play: Des Moines now hosts a regular Byzantine Catholic Divine Liturgy — a service rooted in Eastern Catholicism that looks and feels different from the Roman Catholic Mass most people know.
The big picture: The move plants a more permanent spiritual home for Iowa families with roots in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, while offering curious locals a chance to experience a 1,000-year-old worship style.
Catch up quick: The Byzantine Catholic Church is part of the global Catholic Church, but follows its own rituals, music and art traditions.
- For a decade, services were held between Muscatine and Iowa City, but the church believed that dedicating a full-time priest to Iowa could help the congregation grow, says Father Bruce Riebe, a priest from Chicago who was assigned to the state.
- After a trial liturgy in Altoona in February drew 105 worshippers, leaders shifted focus to Des Moines. Now, weekly services are offered at All Saints Catholic Church in the city's northside, Riebe says. Monthly services are in Iowa City.
Everything is sung. The entire liturgy, including Bible readings and prayers, is chanted back and forth between priest and congregation, Riebe says.
- Instruments aren't used and voices carry the service.
- Instead of statues, Byzantine churches are filled with painted sacred images, often displayed on a wall called an icon screen that separates the altar from the people. (For now, the Des Moines group uses portable icons.)
Zoom in: Communion is given by a golden spoon and consists of leavened bread soaked in wine that is dropped into worshippers' mouths.
- Services are also incense-heavy.
Between the lines: For now, the group isn't displaying a full traditional Byzantine service as it searches for a more permanent space in the Des Moines area.
- The Des Moines Diocese is allowing the group to use their space and considers them a "sister church," says Father David Fleming of the Des Moines Diocese.
What they're saying: Attendance has remained steady, with regulars coming in who may have grown up attending Byzantine services from other states or countries, Riebe says. Between 30-50 people have attended weekly this summer, a typically slower time for churches.
- Curious Roman Catholics have also stopped by, he says.
If you go: All Saints Catholic Church in Des Moines, confession is at 10:30am and service is at 11am.