As the nation observes the 25^th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Lumen Media gathered some reflections from diocesan leaders throughout the Diocese of Sioux City. The contributors shared where they were when they heard about the planes crashing in New York, the Pentagon and rural Pennsylvania as well as what were they thinking.

“I was vacationing in Stratford, Canada with three other priests from the Diocese of Youngstown on Sept. 11, 2001.  Rumors of what was happening were out of control.  None of us had cell phones.  Phone service was spotty at best.  

“I remember worrying about everyone but especially for two of my siblings who lived in the DC area. My brother and his wife, both in the Navy, were stationed at the Navy Yards at Anacostia. My sister's in-laws worked at the Pentagon. I felt trapped and isolated. I remember praying desperately for everyone.”

• Bishop John E. Keehner, Diocese of Sioux City  

 

“When 9-11 happened, I was outside mowing the lawn.  Some of the sisters were working in the garden and a couple of us were mowing.  Mother Therese rang the outside bell and came running out to tell us that we were being attacked.  

"We all came in and Mother Therese turned on the TV.  We could see one of the twin towers on fire and then, at that moment, it totally collapsed.  It was surreal.  Did that really just happen?  It was so hard to grasp what we just saw.  

“Oh, those poor people!  I thought of all the people who were killed or possibly still alive.  I thought of the people who were in the plane that crashed into the tower.  I can still see the picture of a woman frantically running from the towers, covered in soot.  I thought of all of the families wondering if their loved ones were coming home.  We prayed and prayed and prayed.” 

• Mother Joseph, mother superior of Carmelites in Sioux City

By DAWN PROSSERDick Seivert served the most vulnerable populations in the world with his efforts.
Director of Communications
 
“It stood out to me the impact he had on everybody and how selfless he was and his service to others,” said Heidi Probasco, diocesan director of stewardship and development. “He was a great role model for how we should treat the less fortunate and to remember how blessed we are to be living where we are.”
 
Probasco announced that at the Oct. 11 Bishop’s Dinner for Catholic Schools, the diocese and Bishop John E. Keehner would posthumously present an award to Richard “Dick” Seivert for his lifetime of dedication to Catholic education and the most vulnerable populations in our world.

Seivert was a longtime educator and coach at Le Mars Gehlen Catholic School where he developed and led the Gehlen Mission Honduras program for students. A few years later, he became involved in the regional Then Feed Just One (TFJO) organization that assists groups in packaging meals to alleviate hunger around the world. He died April 28 after a battle with cancer.

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