The Jubilee of Migrants and the Jubilee of Missions are both being celebrated in Rome this weekend. Pope Leo XIV joined the two themes earlier this week when he met with participants discussing migration at a conference in Rome sponsored by Villanova University, the U.S. bishops and the Vatican.

Anne Loew, nurse practitioner from Carroll, serves homeless veterans through the Veterans Administration Central Iowa. She manages their health care, is on the team to provide basic necessities for the veterans and ensures the veterans are heard. "It's not anything that I'm doing, I'm trying to let God work through me," she said.

The diocesan Office of Worship and Office of Faith Formation have teamed up to offer a unique tool to assist parish OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) teams. The limited series podcast, OCIA Deep Dive, is available to assist any team member navigating the transition to OCIA.

A series of workshops for young girls and their mothers will be offered in four locations in the diocese to assist girls ages 9-11 understand their changing bodies. The Office of Faith Formation is partnering with the Catholic Schools Office to offer the Cycle Prep workshops in the Diocese of Sioux City. “Cycle Prep is for mothers and daughters. It helps them prepare for the daughter’s changing body as she transitions into adulthood,” said Karmen Bower.

Sixteen seminarians from the Pontifical North American College (PNAC) were ordained to the transitional diaconate Oct. 2 during a celebration of the Eucharist in Rome. Thomas Kollasch, diocesan seminarian from Bancroft, was one of the men ordained at the Mass.

A series of workshops on the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) were led by presenters from the Liturgy Training Publications (LTP) in the Diocese of Sioux City Sept. 25-27 at St. Mary Parish in Storm Lake. According to Karmen Bower, director of the Office of Faith Formation for the diocese, her office co-sponsored the presentations with the Office of Worship in collaboration with Clergy Continuing Education. “This was a great opportunity for collaboration between the offices so we had pastors, parish leaders and lay volunteers all hearing essentially the same message,” she said.

It was not coincidental to be gathered for the Blue Mass on the Feast of the Archangels Bishop John E. Keehner stated at the Mass celebrated Sept. 29 at Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City to honor first responders. Just as the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are heavenly messengers and spiritual guardians, the bishop said the men and women in uniform selflessly give of themselves.