The Catholic Church observes the World Day of Migrants and Refugees on the last Sunday of September each year. Leading up to September 29, the Catholic Church in the United States will celebrate National Migration Week (September 23-29), calling attention to the challenges confronting migrants and refugees, from their country of origin to their destination, and how Church teaching calls on Catholics to respond with compassionate acts of love. Catholic dioceses, schools, charitable organizations, and other institutions around the country will commemorate these annual events in various ways, from special Masses and festivals to volunteer opportunities and immigration legal clinics.

(trilingual) Bishop Nickless: The church asks us to set aside time for a deeper understanding of the migrant experience during National Migration Week from Sept. 23 to 29, culminating with the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Sept. 29 marks our 110th commemoration of World Day of Migrants and Refugees. In the Holy Father’s message for the commemoration, he compares the immigrant’s often difficult journey with the Jews in the desert in the Book of Exodus:

Over 200 individuals were in attendance Sept. 17 at Country Celebrations Event Center in Sioux City for Dinner with Johnnette and Jack Williams.

(bilingual) Ministering to a diverse population was the theme for the Office of the Permanent Diaconate’s ongoing formation sessions Sept. 14 in Storm Lake. Deacon Mark Prosser, Bishop Walker Nickless’ chief of staff and director of multicultural ministries, presented Shifting Demographics in the Sioux City Diocese and Dispelling Myths. Amy Bloch, executive director of Catholic Charities and Norma Garza Ramirez, case worker for Welcome presented Welcoming Immigrants in Rural Iowa to our Catholic Communities. Como parte de las sesiones de formación continua, el 14 de septiembre en Storm Lake la Oficina del Diaconado Permanente ofreció el tema sobre servir a una población diversa. Cambios demográficos en la diócesis de Sioux City y la disipación de mitos, fuel el tema presentado por el diácono Mark Prosser, jefe de personal y director de ministerios multiculturales del obispo Walker Nickless. Amy Bloch, directora ejecutiva de Caridades Católicas y Norma Garza Ramírez, trabajadora social de Welcome, presentaron Welcoming Immigrants in Rural Iowa to Our Catholic Communities.

Our newest pastors met today for an orientation on parish management topics including Tribunal issues, risk management, finance, human resources, safe environment, records and worship.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Sioux City will offer a Suicide Support Group in Fort Dodge this fall with the first of six meetings on Oct. 7.

Holy Spirit Retirement Home in Sioux City will hold its Spirit of Home for the Holidays fundraiser on Dec. 6. This is Holy Spirit’s eighth annual Spirit of Home for the Holidays event, which will be held at Country Celebrations Event Center in Sioux City. Last year’s event raised $132,000 for the facility. Funds raised at the upcoming Spirit of Home for the Holidays are earmarked for updating shower and whirlpool facilities, remodeling the second-floor family room and dining areas and assisting to provide activities and entertainment for residents.

A Blue Mass was celebrated Sept. 17 by Bishop Walker Nickless at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City to honor area first responders including law enforcement, firefighters and others who work in public safety. The Mass also remembered those who are retired from this field and those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Accompanied by the music of bagpipe and drums from the Sioux City Police and Fire Departments, the first responders led the procession into the Cathedral.

Sioux City Bishop Heelan High School will celebrate the Class of 1950 - the first graduating class of the newly-combined high school. It united Trinity and Cathedral High Schools. The class will be honored at the Oct. 24 Legacy Gala at the Warrior Hotel in Sioux City.

St. Rose of Lima Parish in Denison has launched a $2 million Witness His Glory capital campaign to enhance the worship space. The enhancements will include new stained glass windows, a new high altar, statuary, lighting improvements, murals and new baptismal font. Some of the project artwork is new while others are repurposed. Artistic renderings and details of Witness His Glory were presented to St. Rose of Lima Parish at the Sept. 14 and 15 weekend Masses for parishioner review and input. Father Michael Cronin, pastor of St. Rose, announced that $495,000 has already been pledged for the project.

Students on the first night of class for sixth to ninth grades at St. Mary Church in Rock Valley competed in a game of CATHOLIC TRIVIAL PURSUIT. The questions ranged from how many popes there have been to the names of the sacraments and the mysteries of the rosary. These young people comprise the winning team.

Divine Mercy Parish in Algona held a YDisciple Kickoff night recently that included a drive-by car blessing from Father Zach Jones, parochial vicar.

In the coming months, the two shrines of the Diocese of Sioux City will be featured in a new EWTN series called Hidden Gems: Catholic Shrines in America. A four-person crew was recording video and interviews on site at the Shrine of Trinity Heights Queen of Peace in Sioux City on Sept. 4 and 5 and Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend on Sept. 6 and 7. Each of the diocesan shrines will be featured in their own episode of Hidden Gems.

In October 1979, Pope John Paul II made his first trip to the United States as leader of the Roman Catholic Church. A passionate invitation written by one Iowa farmer caught the attention of the Holy Father, setting in motion a breathtaking and unprecedented event for the state. The Pope’s Visit to Iowa, a new documentary from Iowa PBS, will premiere Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. and be rebroadcast on Oct. 8 at 10:30 p.m. It will also be available to stream on iowapbs.org and on the PBS app.