A new women’s event will be offered this fall thanks to the input from parish faith leaders. Maddie McLarty, a faith formation coordinator, explained the diocesan Faith Formation Office staff was interested in offering something for women’s ministry when she met with Cheryl Sherry, faith life coordinator for Holy Trinity Parish in Fort Dodge/Webster County. “I was visiting with Cheryl and she brought it up to me. I was actually going to bring it up to her at the same meeting,” McLarty said, adding that they then reached out to others to assist in the planning. “It was really born out of the desire of what we were hearing in the parishes and we went from there.”

Among the million young adult pilgrims attending the Jubilee of Youth in Rome from July 28 to Aug. 3 was Sioux City parishioner Grace Mahaney. The 22-year-old member of Holy Cross Parish in Sioux City described the event as very unifying as people from different nationalities and cultures came together for a common belief and purpose. The Jubilee of Youth began with an opening Mass in St. Peter’s Square.

Father Brent Lingle, president of Storm Lake St. Mary Schools, blessed the school's brand-new bus last Wednesday. The bus was purchased through proceeds of the 2025 St. Mary Ball and is the first time in the school's history that a new bus was purchased - several used busses were acquired in the past.

Mater Dei Parish in Sioux City is offering A Light for My Path, a spiritual conference held Sept. 26 and 27 at the Nativity Church site.

(Bilingual) Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Sioux City invites community members to participate in its upcoming Fall Suicide Support Groups, offered in both English and Spanish. These free support groups are open to adults (18+) who have lost a loved one to suicide at least 30 days prior. Sessions begin Tuesday, Sept. 2. People of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome.

Bishop Garrigan Schools held three meetings Aug. 4 to announce proposed plans for the school that include an $8 million capital campaign titled Expanding The Vision, Honoring The Tradition. The meetings were led by the school’s president, Christina Peterson, who shared reasons why the campaign was needed and their vision for the future.

Gehlen Catholic School in Le Mars is pleased to announce an elementary expansion and significant investment in campus upgrades. Later this fall, the Legacy Campaign: Honoring our Tradition. Building His Future is set to launch. This initiative was set in motion by the extraordinary generosity of Paul Brauch, whose bequest has inspired renewed vision and opportunity for the school.

Briar Cliff University in Sioux City has been awarded a five-year federal Student Support Services (SSS) grant though the U.S. Department of Education, totaling an expected $1.75 million. The initial funding for year one is $346,845 and will allow the university to launch a comprehensive initiative aimed at improving college access, retention, and graduation for underserved students.

Bishop John E. Keehner helped the Office of Vocations wrap up the Quo Vadis retreat with Mass at St. Joseph Parish in Milford Sunday afternoon. The retreat was held in the Iowa Great Lakes area. Most of the diocesan seminarians were on hand to lead the retreat as well as Father Travis Crotty, vocations director, and Father Shane Deman, director of seminarians. Young men discerning a priestly vocation participated in the weekend event.

(Bilingual - Spanish below) Bishop Keehner writes about pilgrimage opportunities in the Jubilee Year of Hope, Masses of Welcome and the upcoming holy day - solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Sister Duchesne Maxwell, OP, former educator at Blessed Sacrament School in Sioux City, died Aug. 2. Her funeral will be Aug. 12 in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin.

The Sioux City Mater Dei Parish Knights of the Altar hosted a social evening last week at the Sergeant Bluff pool, drawing nearly 200 parishioners for an evening of faith, fun and fellowship. Children enjoyed swimming while families gathered for burgers, hotdogs and sweet treats.

The Our Lady of Good Counsel, Catholic Daughters of America Court 216 of Fort Dodge honored the priests and deacons of Holy Trinity Parish.

Our Lady of Good Counsel, Catholic Daughters of America Court 216 placed crosses in memory of their deceased CDA members at the cemetery in Fort Dodge.