Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque

08/31/2026

Are you a motivated and compassionate individual with an interest in social services?

We have an immediate opening for a full-time Legal Assistant to join our Immigration Legal Services (ILS) program team in Cedar Rapids, Iowa!

Visit https://catholiccharitiesdubuque.org/employment to find the complete job description and application details.

This is a generalist position, providing clinical therapeutic services to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and groups, as needed. All licenses considered. $500 towards professional development and CEUs.

08/25/2026

In the 28 days since the devastating fire at Agri Star in Postville, Catholic Charities has activated our disaster response case management to help over 100 families navigate this sudden crisis of instability.

Since the disaster response began, our team and partners have provided 243 hours of on-site ministry of presence at St. Bridget’s Parish in Postville. This effort has included 16 volunteers, 12 Catholic Charities staff members, and 7 partner agency staff, all working together to ensure impacted families have access to the support and resources they need.

Our case management process has included collecting and reviewing employment verification and lease documentation, issuing rental assistance checks directly to landlords, and mailing confirmation letters to both clients and landlords.

Families have also had access to specialized on-site support from our Immigration Attorneys and Mental Health Counselors to address questions and concerns related to their unique circumstances.

During this initial phase of our disaster response, we have distributed $89,998 in rental assistance to 107 Agri Star employees and their families, representing more than 342 individuals in all.

We continue to balance urgency with careful review so that assistance is provided fairly, responsibly, and to as many families as resources allow.

None of this would be possible without our community of generous donors.

You have stepped forward at a moment when families are facing fear, uncertainty, and the very real possibility of losing their homes. Your generosity is helping keep families housed while they navigate the loss of stable employment and determine what comes next.

We are deeply grateful for every gift, every volunteer hour, and every person who has helped make this response possible. To say we are inspired by the generosity shown to the Postville community doesn’t begin to capture the impact you are making. You are helping families maintain hope during an incredibly difficult time.

Our work in Postville is far from complete. Thank you for your continued support and prayers as we work to outline the next phase in this disaster relief process.

08/19/2026

08/01/2026

Have you been impacted by the Postville Fire? For Agri Star employees facing uncertainty following the fire this week, we are here to help.
Tuesday, Aug 4th & Thursday, Aug 6th from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
@ St. Bridget Catholic Church, 135 W Williams St, Postville
Our team of Certified Disaster Case Managers and HUD-Certified Housing Counselors will be processing applications for rent or utility assistance. Our priority will be helping those who may not be eligible for assistance elsewhere.

Interpreters are available.

People of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome.

07/31/2026

Have you been impacted by the Postville Fire? For families facing uncertainty following the fire at Agri Star, we are here to help.

Tuesday, Aug 4th & Thursday, Aug 6th from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
@ St. Bridget Catholic Church, 135 W Williams St, Postville

Our team of Certified Disaster Case Managers and HUD-Certified Housing Counselors will be processing applications for rent or utility assistance. Our priority will be helping those who may not be eligible for assistance elsewhere. Interpreters are available.

Visit CatholicCharitiesDubuque.org/postville to donate to the Postville Relief Fund. 100% of proceeds will be distributed to those impacted by the disaster.

07/30/2026

As part of the disaster response effort in Postville, we have established a relief fund to help families impacted by the Agri Star fire. For those interested in contributing to this effort, 100% of donations will be distributed to those impacted by the fire. Our team of Certified Disaster Case Managers and HUD-Certified Housing Counselors will be processing applications for assistance in partnership with St. Bridget Catholic Church in Postville. Our priority will be helping those who may not be eligible for assistance elsewhere.

DONATE HERE: https://catholiccharitiesdubuque.org/postville

For those who prefer to mail a check to support Postville relief, please make checks payable to Catholic Charities, indicate "Postville" in the memo line or on the envelope, and mail to 1229 Mount Loretta Ave., Dubuque, IA 52003.

https://catholiccharitiesdubuque.org/postville

07/30/2026

Hundreds of families in Postville are facing uncertainty following the destructive fire at the Agri Star Meat & Poultry Plant. While the fire did not cause any reported injuries to those at the plant, the repercussions of losing a major employer are just beginning to reverberate across the community. Without the stability of employment, already vulnerable families will soon be facing impossible decisions about rent, utilities, groceries, and their future in Postville.

Community agencies and faith communities have mobilized to respond to this community disaster. We are grateful to our partners across the network for upholding the dignity of those in need. We are collaborating with our partner agencies to assess needs and establish long-term recovery plans.

The Archdiocese of Dubuque and Catholic Charities ask for your prayers for the Postville community during this difficult time. We will share more information about emerging needs as it becomes available.

07/04/2026

06/20/2026

In honor of World Refugee Day, please reflect on the following announcement released by the Secretariat of Migration at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

One June 20 we celebrate World Refugee Day, which is an opportunity to recognize the God-given dignity, courage, and resilience of refugees and to renew our commitment to walk with them in hope. As Pope Leo XIV reminds us in Magnifica Humanitas, "A litmus test for social justice today is the treatment of migrants, refugees and those forced to move due to poverty, violence, climate change and environmental disasters. The way a society treats them reveals whether its sense of justice is driven by fear or by the spirit of fraternity.”

Under U.S. and international law, a refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, or a well-founded fear of persecution, based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.

The Catholic community in the United States has long served refugees and advocated on their behalf as a way of living out Christ’s call to welcome the stranger and affirming the sanctity of every human life. With global displacement higher today than any other time in recorded history, including through a steady rise in religious persecution, this commitment remains more important than ever before.

05/14/2026

We are inspired by the generosity of these students, their families, and the staff at St. Mary's! Thank you for creating hope for your neighbors in need!

Kaitlin Gudenkauf, representative from Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and St. Mary's School alum, was presented a check today from members of the St. Mary School Lent Committee. We dedicated our Lenten almsgiving collections for this great cause. Thanks to our families for your generosity.