Briar Cliff University (BCU) announced a new partnership with the University of North Dakota (UND) to offer a dual-degree engineering program, set to begin in Fall 2025. This innovative collaboration offers Briar Cliff students the opportunity to pursue degrees in electrical, civil, mechanical, and chemical engineering while remaining in the supportive academic community of BCU.

On May 18, Humboldt St. Mary Church celebrated Baccalaureate Mass with 26 graduates from the Class of 2025. Scholarship recipients were also announced. Following Mass, the St. Mary's Women of the Spirit ladies' society hosted a breakfast reception for the graduates in the parish hall.

Jeff and Amanda Foell, will chair the 2026 St. Mary's Ball and Charity Auction for Storm Lake St. Mary School. The event will be held March 14, 2026 in the Siebens Forum at Buena Vista University.

On May 20, five women were welcomed into the Confraternity of Christian Mothers in the Sioux City Mater Dei Parish, Unit #3639, as part of the ritual of solemn reception. Father Peter Nyugen presided.

In a quiet classroom at Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City, a simple wall covered in sticky notes has become sacred ground. Ten years ago, inspired by the film War Room, theology teacher Leslie Kirkpatrick began something small: a prayer wall. At the time, it was just an idea, to invite students to write their prayers on sticky notes and post them anonymously.

The Sauk Rapids Poor Clare Nuns Franciscan monastic community is hosting a Come and See weekend July 12-13 for unmarried women ages 19-30. They are located in the Diocese of St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Mrs. Martin's fifth grade class also graduated from Pocahontas Catholic School on May 16. After the graduation Mass, there was a slideshow with pictures of the fifth grade class, cinnamon rolls and juice were served and awards were handed out.

Eleven girls and 5 boys graduated from Pocahontas Catholic School's Kindergarten on May 16 - Class of 2036.

(CNS) Pope Leo XIV poses for what Vatican Media says is his official portrait, which was distributed May 16, 2025. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) Editors: The Vatican says, "The image is available free of charge and may only be reproduced for institutional purposes." No commercial use allowed.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Thanking Pope Leo XIV for his prayers for Ukraine, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church gave the pope a painting and a list of prisoners the Ukrainians want the Vatican's help in liberating. Pope Leo met privately with Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halych in the library of the Apostolic Palace May 15, the day after greeting the archbishop at the Jubilee of Eastern Catholics.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Catholic Church wants to reach out and embrace all people who need and yearn for truth, justice and peace, Pope Leo XIV said in his first meeting with the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See.

The faithful of the Diocese of Sioux City will have a chance to meet Bishop John E. Keehner this summer at events in each of the three deaneries. The bishop was ordained May 1 at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City. “We knew we had just a limited number of seats for people from across the diocese and literally across the country for the ordination,” explained Deacon Mark Prosser, bishop’s chief of staff and chancellor. “Bishop Keehner was very interested in this as he wanted to get out into the diocese as soon as possible.”

(bilingual) Since his May 1 episcopal ordination, Bishop Keehner has received messages from the faithful of all ages of the Diocese of Sioux City. He shares some of the messages from his youngest well-wishers.

“In the heart of Iowa’s rolling landscapes, a sacred journey awaits. The Camino de San Lorenzo or the Way of St. Lawrence, offers a chance to step away rom the everyday and walk toward deeper faith and connection,” from the Diocese of Des Moines website. Deacon David La Mar of Ascension Parish of Boone County in the Diocese of Sioux City and Deacon Tom Bradley of Des Moines Diocese are collaborating to offer a three-day pilgrimage through the scenic trails of Central Iowa May 30 to June 1.

Tim Swedean has been named Executive Director of Siouxland Catholic Radio, Sioux City. He will oversee day-to-day operations and work closely with the station's Board of Directors.

A memorial gift to the Catholic community in Madrid has resulted in an outdoor Stations of the Cross display at St. Malachy Church, which is part of Ascension Parish of Boone County. It was Deacon Verne Burke’s sister-in-law Becky who entrusted him with selecting a memorial for the church in memory of her husband and his brother, David Burke who died in 2022 after a battle with cancer.