The effort to promote fair trade products for Catholic Relief Services has grown by one person. Tim McEntee, of our Lady's Immaculate Heart Parish in Ankeny has joined Kathy Regan, of St. Patrick Parish in Imogene, to encourage more use of fair trade products throughout the diocese. They've had some success: the Catholic Pastoral Center (where many diocesan offices are based) and the St. Thomas More Center (home of Catholic Youth Camp) are both switching to fair trade coffee. Fair trade refers to coffee, tea, sugar, chocolate and artisan crafts that are made in second- and third-world countries and sold here. "Just a few cents more for a cup of coffee provides the opportunity to eradicate poverty by putting food on the table of the grower, providing health care and educational opportunities," said Regan. See the full story in this month's edition of The Catholic Mirror, hitting mailboxes this weekend.

Congratulations to local Knights of Columbus recently elected to statewide office during the convention in Sioux City recently.

Elected for the upcoming year are:

• Joe Ramirez, Christ the King, Des Moines, state deputy
• Dan Werner, St. Francis of Assisi, West Des Moines, state secretary
• Jon Aldrich, Ss. John and Paul, altoona, state warden
• Francis Schlueter, Our Lady's Immaculate Heart, Ankeny, state treasurer
• Jason Follett, Our Lady's Immaculate Heart, Ankeny, 3rd degree executive committee

Local Knights of Columbus honored during the convention are:  

• Knight of the Year -- Steve Cashman, St. Francis, West Des Moines
• Grand Knight of the Year -- Donald Hauser, St. Augustin, Des Moines
• Chaplain of the Year for DM Diocese -- Father Chris Reising, Our Lady of the Americas, Des Moines
• Church Service Award -- Our Lady of the Americas, Des Moines
• Council Service Award -- Our Lady of the Americas, Des Moines
• Insurance Agent of the Year -- Steve Tatz, Basilica of St. John

Fairway Fathers -- the annual vocations event that brings young men and priests together on the golf course to have some fun and talk about what it's like being a priest -- has been rescheduled. The event date has changed to June 25. Fairway Fathers will be held at Blank Golf Course on the south side of Des Moines, First t-times will likely begin at 10 a.m. with a deli lunch, prizes and a brief vocations program to follow. Fairway Fathers is a joint venture sposored by the Office of Vocations, Serra Club of Des Moines and the Knights of Columbus. The tournament is open to golfers ages 16 to 40 who team up with priests in our diocese, including Bishop Richad Pates. The purpose of the event is vocations awareness, not competition. There is no cost for young men to participate. Contact the Vocations Office for more information.