Bishop Walker Nickless released a statement the morning of April 21, 2025 upon the death of the Holy Father, Pope Francis.

There is power in music. The rhythm of the notes, the rise and fall of the melody speak a language that can often be understood by people of many different tongues. At Briar Cliff University, an old genre of music is planting a new foothold in the region, welcoming young people to campus in a unifying effort of culture and music.

The episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect John E. Keehner is less than two weeks away and plans are firmly in place with the assistance of countless individuals serving on various committees and subcommittees. One such committee handles the event security, which is being coordinated by Mike Hamm, a retired law enforcement officer.

The Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend is a designated pilgrimage site by Bishop Walker Nickless for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. The grotto is offering three pilgrimage options to satisfy the requirements to obtain the plenary indulgence for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope.

The Office of the Permanent Diaconate will be hosting three inquiry nights in the three deaneries for men and their wives to learn more about the permanent diaconate, what is involved and the formation process.

A group of 18 young women from Divine Mercy Parish joined their peers from Council Bluffs and Des Moines for a two day vocations visit to two Lincoln, Nebraska growing convents. They were amazed at the joyfulness of the sisters.

During the diocesan Lenten retreat Into the Garden on April 6, middle and high school students were called to enter the garden and reflect upon Christ’s journey to the cross. According to Danielle Fennessy, a faith formation coordinator for the diocese and member of the team organizing the event, 66 students from 11 parishes including three from outside the diocese attended the retreat hosted by Sacred Heart Parish in Sioux City.

Iowa Alliance for Choice in Education contributed a letter to the Cedar Rapids Gazette refuting the state auditor's comments regarding Educational Savings Accounts. Diocese of Sioux City Catholic Schools Superintendent ​Patty Lansink was one of the signers ​of the letter.

The Vatican court advised Bishop Nickless that two petitions for recourse were accepted for further study. Both were regarding the St. Donatus merger from last fall.

Today, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced its decision not to renew the cooperative agreements with the federal government related to children’s services and refugee support. Citing the government’s suspension of the cooperative agreements to resettle refugees, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the USCCB explained how the government’s decisions have forced the Conference to reconsider the best way to serve the needs of those seeking safe harbor from violence and persecution.

When the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released the National Directory for the Formation – Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in 2022, the diocese started reorganizing the Office of the Diaconate. Father Brent Lingle, pastor of Storm Lake St. Mary Parish and president of St. Mary School was named director of the office. Deacon David Penton of Divine Mercy Parish in Algona was hired as full-time coordinator of formation. Once the deacon started his duties in September 2024, the retooling to meet the standards of the directory began.

Bishop-elect John E. Keehner returned to Iowa this week for a few days to prepare for his move from Ohio. He will be ordained as eighth bishop of Sioux City on May 1. The ordination will be livestreamed and broadcast on KTIV.

The Catholic faithful in the Diocese of Sioux City - and those anywhere throughout the world for that matter – will be able to have a bird’s eye view of the episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect John E. Keehner on May 1. According to Dawn Prosser, diocesan director of communications, the 2 p.m. ordination will be broadcast live from the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City on the local NBC-affiliate, KTIV, and for those outside of this viewing area it will be livestreamed on the Diocese of Sioux City YouTu​be channel.

As Catholics celebrate the joy of the risen Christ at Easter, for those in the Diocese of Sioux City it’s also a time to express appreciation for priests who have served them through the years. The Retired and Infirm Priests Collection will be held in the diocese on Easter weekend, April 19-20. According to John Schmitz, diocesan director of stewardship and development, there will be a second collection to benefit retired priests of the diocese.

After 243 episodes over 4.5 years and 173,000 downloads, the last Outcast Catholic episode was released April 2. Co-hosts Father Shane Deman and Father Travis Crotty announced the end of their podcast project in their March 19 episode, “The Hardest Part – An Important Announcement.”

When Erin-Jane Stevens and Kayla Venner were teaching together at Kuemper Catholic School in Carroll, they had the idea to write a prayer book for ages five to nine. Their idea is now a reality in the form of Growing in Grace: A Children's Prayer Book. The back cover describes the book as one that "beautifully portrays virtues through relatable childhood events. It intertwines everyday experiences like friendship, kindness and curiosity with heartfelt prayers, nurturing a child's spiritual growth with each turn of the page."

This summer St. John Church in Arcadia, which is part of the which is part of Good Shepherd Parish, will reach a milestone when it marks its sesquicentennial. According to one of the members of the central planning team, Mae Vonnahme, the 150th anniversary celebration is slated for Aug. 30 and 31. Members of the planning committee encourage present and past parishioners, community members and area Catholics to save the date.

The National Child Abuse Prevention Month is celebrated annually in April to raise awareness and build collaboration in efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect. During this month, it’s a fitting time to reflect on steps that continue to be taken by the Catholic Church to help keep children safe. It was in 2002 when the United States Catholic Bishops developed the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People – commonly called the Dallas Charter – which required all dioceses to establish safe environment programs.

A Mass of Reparation and Healing for victims of clergy abuse will be held next month to pray for the healing of all clergy abuse victims. It will be held April 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City, celebrated by Bishop Walker Nickless

(Bilingual) Column by Father David Esquiliano What does the church say about what clergy should include in their homilies? What does your pastor do to ensure his homilies feed your soul? ¿Qué dice la iglesia acerca de lo que el clero debe incluir en sus homilías? ¿Qué hace su pastor para asegurarse de que sus homilías alimenten su alma?