Find comfort in Patron Saint of Arthritics

MT. PLEASANT — St. Alphonsus Catholic Church will honor their namesake patron saint with a Walk/Run to End Arthritis, next month. May is also known as Arthritis Awareness Month.

Congregation member Maureen Walsh-Lindeen played a large role in putting this fundraiser for the Iowa Arthritis Foundation.

According to Walsh-Lindeen, St. Alphonsus Church wanted to host an event that did more than raise money for something connected to just the church. They wanted to do an event that engaged the whole community.

That is when Walsh-Lindeen spoke up and suggested this fun-run.

“It’s not just raising money for a new roof or something that,” she said. “Arthritis affects so many people.”

Walsh-Lindeen emphasized that many different people have arthritis, including children.

“I was diagnosed when I was 13 with Rheumatoid arthritis and have been receiving treatments ever since then,” Walsh-Lindeen said. “Osteo-arthritis is considered normal wear and tear with aging, whereas Rheumatoid is considered an autoimmune disease.”

Because Walsh-Lindeen suffers from Rheumatoid Arthritis she had to exercise extra caution throughout the pandemic. She did not catch COVID-19 until after the height of the sickness began to subside.

“Then I was very sick with COVID and I qualified for monoclonal antibodies because I do also take immunosuppressants,” she said.

“We’d love to find a cure for arthritis, but in the meantime, we’re hoping that the money raised can be used to provide educational materials.”

Walsh-Lindeen will provide some materials about the various kinds of arthritis at the race, which will take place May 20 beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Walsh-Lindeen expressed gratitude for her church’s willingness to host this event, and for the church overall.

According to Walsh-Lindeen she knew this church was meant to be her home after a series of events lead her here and she learned more about St. Alphonsus.

“I am originally from St. Louis, and my old college roommate wanted to introduce me to my now husband,” Walsh-Lindeen said. “She said, ‘I’ve got this widower farmer I want you to meet.’ And I thought, I’m not going all the way to Iowa on a blind date.”

Despite her reservations, she did go all the way to Iowa for that date.

“I married him 31 years ago,” she said. “So that's how I ended up in Mount Pleasant.”

After moving to Mt. Pleasant, she found St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and said she noticed pictures of the saint.

“He’s kind of all hunched over,” she said. “So, I looked up St. Alphonsus and it said he was a patron saint of arthritics.”

According to the Britannica Encyclopedia, St. Alphonsus is also known as the patron saint of moralists and confessors.

The National Catholic Reporter also states that St. Alphonsus also suffered from severe arthritis for the last 40 years of his life. This left the saint permanently bent forward and confined to a wheelchair.

“Sometimes, when you have a patron saint, you kind of say an extra prayer to them like ‘Hey, St. Alphonsus, I am really sore today. Could you help make me more comfortable?’” Walsh-Lindeen explained.

According to Walsh-Lindeen, she attended St. Alphonsus for nearly 25 years before learning this information about her patron saint.

“I thought that I’m supposed to be here,” she said. “There is a reason I am supposed to be here.”

So, Walsh-Lindeen now spear-heads the first 5k Fun Run/Walk to Raise funds for the Iowa Arthritis Foundation.

To register for the run visit the even page on Facebook or stop by the church.

To receive a shirt with registration, individuals must complete their forms by April 28.

Early registration costs $35 per person, but families of three or more will receive a discounted registration cost of $30 per person.

Day of registration and check in will begin at 7 a.m. at St. Alphonsus with the race beginning at 8:30 a.m.

The church will host a number of food trucks during and after the race, as well.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com