Parishioners in the Diocese of Sioux City once again have the opportunity to support shepherds of the 21st century through the 2025 Seminarian Appeal. Father Travis Crotty, diocesan vocations director, expressed gratitude to the faithful Catholics of the diocese who have generously supported this effort since it was initiated eight years ago. “When you think about the different things that are important in our lives, the future of our church is one of the most important things. Priests are what will enable us to keep receiving the sacraments, for the Gospel to continue to be proclaimed in northwest Iowa and for conversions to continue to happen,” he stressed.

The nation’s first ever federal K-12 scholarship tax credit program was recently signed into law. This historic legislation was part of One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was passed by the 119th Congress and signed into law on July 4 by President Donald Trump. According to Trish Wilger, executive director of Iowa ACE, this new federal initiative is designed to provide federal income tax credit for individual donors supporting scholarships for K-12 students.

Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) released Impact of Mary, Mother of the Church, on Ecclesial Vocations, a first-ever study of its kind, surveys how much of an impact Marian devotion has had on the ecclesial vocations of clergy and religious in the U.S. Catholic Church. A total of 1,019 U.S. bishops, diocesan priests, permanent deacons, deacon directors, and major superiors of men and women completed a survey. The findings indicate that for a majority, devotion to Mary has had an impact on their vocational discernment as well as in how they live out their vocations.

LA CROSSE, Wisconsin - Three Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration with ties to the Diocese of Sioux City are celebrating their religious jubilees: Sisters Nancy Hoffman, Carrie Kirsch and Carol Hanus.

St. John Church of Arcadia, which is part of Good Shepherd Parish of Breda, is celebrating its 150th anniversary at the end of August. Activities will begin on Aug. 29 and conclude on Aug. 31.

“There’s this misconception that maybe AI is for big tech companies,” said Kelly Kohout, diocesan director of education services. “But we encounter AI everywhere in our daily lives. You’re getting recommendations for products from Amazon or suggestions for shows you might like on Netflix, autocorrect or Siri. There are so many different ways that AI is at work behind the scenes.”

There is a new option in Fort Dodge for senior citizens who need a little help with everyday living, but don’t require the services of a nursing home. The Marian Home and Village recently expanded beyond its longtime home at 2400 Sixth Ave. N. to open a new assisted living facility just a couple blocks away. When Villa Care Center closed in 2023, the Marian Home and Village acquired its property and thoroughly renovated the former Villa Cottages at 925 Martin Luther King Drive to create 12 assisted living apartments. Some of those apartments are already occupied.

With a long waiting list of clients and an overcrowded clinic space, Abbie Gacke started brainstorming how to provide children and families with the speech and language therapy they need while retaining her current office building. Gacke, owner of Childworks Therapy Clinic in Sioux City, said she opened the business in 2021 and has outgrown two locations since then and is currently at maximum capacity. She contacted Dr. John Flanery, president of Sioux City Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools with an idea.

Planned Parenthood in Sioux City may have recently closed, but the need for pro-life prayers and support continues. Dawn Grimes, executive director of Mary’s Choice Pregnancy and Family Resource Center, pointed out that while the abortion facility located right next to their building has shuttered its doors the resource center continues to stay busy. “It really hasn’t changed much for us inside, but our sidewalk counselors no longer have anyone to talk to going into Planned Parenthood,” she said, noting that a few pro-life advocates have continued their visible prayer efforts praying outside of Mary’s Choice.

A young Our Lady of the Plains parishioner has turned her knack for jewelry making into a rosary repair service and rosary making business. “I was given a kit to make earrings when I was about 12,” said Kathleen Hildreth, a 14-year-old from Manson/Twin Lakes who will be a freshman at Manson-Northwest Webster Community School this fall.

The diocesan Office of Vocations is offering the Quo Vadis discernment retreat for young men Aug. 1 to 3 at Camp Okoboji. Diocesan seminarians will lead the retreat under the direction of Father Travis Crotty, vocations director, and Father Shane Deman, director of seminarians.

Pope Leo XIV has named Father Thomas J. Hennen of the Diocese of Davenport as Bishop-elect of the Diocese of Baker in Oregon on July 10.

The daily Mass faithful of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Holstein, gather after most Monday and Wednesday morning Masses for coffee and social time. They are described by parish staff as "an uplifting community of prayerful and loving parishioners and guests."

St. Ambrose University in Davenport and Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids reached a major milestone June 27 in their journey to fully combine, one that their presidents believe serves as a model for Catholic higher education. The two universities are located about 85 miles apart in eastern Iowa.