Father Thomas J. Topf, 87, died Dec. 11, 2024, at Holy Spirit Retirement Home in Sioux City. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 17 at Holy Cross Parish, St. Michael Church in Sioux City with Bishop Walker Nickless as celebrant and Father Will Vit as homilist. Visitation will be Dec. 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. with a rosary and vigil service at 6 p.m. at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars.

When several communities within the Diocese of Sioux City were impacted by record flooding last summer, Catholic Charities was one of the resources available to help. “After the floods, Catholic Charities did a lot of work with survivors,” said Nate Phillips, a therapist with Catholic Charities in Sioux City. “We set up booths, did a lot of debriefings, provided direct assistance when available. It made me proud of the work we did.”

After six years of serving in Sioux City, on Dec. 11 Sister Gabrielle Marie Oestrich moved back to the Immaculata Monastery in Norfolk, Nebraska, where she will serve as the prioress of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. “I was extremely humbled to know that the sisters put their trust in me and have confidence that I can help lead our community into the future,” she said. “It is a job that involves being responsible for the sisters’ spiritual well-being as well as their normal needs.”

(bilingual) USCCB: Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe es un poderoso recordatorio de que todos estamos llamados a ser uno en Cristo Jesús Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Powerful Reminder That We Are All Called to Be One in Christ Jesus

Grace Notes column by Sister Anne Marie Walsh, SOLT Jesus has laid down several conditions for entering the kingdom of God. These are well known and, of course, revolve around eliminating sin in our lives and becoming holy, becoming like Jesus. But he also said we have to become like little children. The problem is that many of us wouldn’t fit through the heavenly gates the way we are now. Our giant ego, our giant pride, our giant sensitivity, our giant selfishness, our giant need to be in control, keep us spiritually “obese.” (Photo of Irish writer Oscar Wilde)

The Carroll St. John Paul II Parish leadership “sees a spark of a revival” in the parish and the larger church. They hope to see it spread. The parish is hosting a two-day School of Healing through Encounter Ministries Feb. 28 and March 1 at Holy Spirit Church in Carroll. Program marketing promises “teaching, activating (and) deploying Catholics to participate in the healing ministry of Jesus.”

In this edition of Canon Corner, our judicial vicar, Father David Esquiliano explains why we are celebrating the Immaculate Conception on Monday, Dec. 9.

Partners for Patriots dogs-in-training have been on the Briar Cliff University campus to help students and staff de-stress. In turn, the students are assisting the non-profit organization, based in Anthon.

The Cash Raffle winners were announced on Facebook Live on Nov. 27.

Avid reader's family donates library to serve Marian Home residents and honor their mother. The library includes traditional-size print and large print books, Kindles, Audible books and headphones.

(bilingual) Every day for us as Christians should be a day of thanksgiving. In our country we are blessed to have a special day set aside to give thanks for all God’s blessings on us and our nation. Cada día para nosotros, como cristianos, debe ser un día de acción de gracias. En nuestro país tenemos la bendición de tener un día especial reservado para dar gracias por todas las bendiciones de Dios sobre nosotros y nuestra nación.

Bill Crotty was 15 years old when he started playing the pipe organ for Mass at Resurrection of Our Lord Church in Pocahontas. He is pleased to now help the next generation of organists get a start. The parishioner of St. Sebastian Parish of Pocahontas taught in Phoenix for nearly 30 years and substitute taught in Indiana for a time before returning to his hometown and taking a job as the kindergarten teacher at Pocahontas Catholic.

The Mater Dei Knights of Columbus of Sioux City, Council 5660, have joined efforts with the St. Serra Club of Siouxland to extend appreciation gifts to the seminarians of the Diocese of Sioux City. “The St. Serra Club of Siouxland has been sending appreciation packages for over 20 years,” said Don Stevens, a member of the Serra Club and the Mater Dei KCs, who added Serrans personally donated funds to ensure the project continued. “It seemed a perfect project to join forces as we have the same goal to support vocations.”

“I enthusiastically invite Catholics from all around the country to join me in-person or virtually, in praying for an end to abortion and building up a culture of life,” said Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities. The faithful are invited to observe a nationwide prayer vigil from Jan. 23 to 24 and encouraged to pray for an end to abortion and a greater respect for all human life in post-Roe America.

Remsen St. Mary High School football team has won their third state 8-man football title in five years.

Some teammates from the Morningside University football team in Sioux City gathered for food and conversation on Nov. 19, a regular weekly gathering. But these young men didn’t do so to talk solely about their stellar season or merely just to hang out. They shared a meal and some heartfelt conversation before breaking into the word of God. Six to nine young men commonly attend the weekly men’s Bible study on Tuesday evenings at Mater Dei Parish’s Immaculate Conception Church located just blocks from the university campus.

Like many who love to sew, LeAnn Tindall of Graettinger was looking around her sewing room years ago and noticed how much fabric was building up. That’s when she decided to share her talents – and the fabric – in a way that could benefit others. “I just got on Google and looked up charity sewing for babies,” she recalled.

(bilingual) Letter from the four Catholic Bishops via the Iowa Catholic Conference on Nov. 19, 2024 to our migrant brothers and sisters. Carta a nuestros hermanos y hermanas migrantes - Los obispos de Iowa

Although participation in the summer Quo Vadis and Quest trips is healthy for the Office of Vocations, there is still a need to retain contact with discerning young men throughout the year. Fireside will be held Dec. 21 and 22 at King’s Pointe Resort in Storm Lake. There is no cost to attend and meals are included.

(bilingual) In solidarity with immigrants, Most Rev. Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso and chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, and Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, chairman of the board for Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) issued a statement of pastoral concern. “Juntos, debemos hablar en nombre de las ‘masas apiñadas que anhelan respirar libres’ y pedirle a nuestro gobierno que brinde un trato justo y humano a nuestros queridos hermanos y hermanas inmigrantes”. En solidaridad con los inmigrantes, el Reverendísimo Timothy P. Broglio de la Archidiócesis para los Servicios Militares de EE.UU. y presidente de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de EE.UU. (USCCB), el Obispo Mark J. Seitz de El Paso y Presidente del Comité de Migración de la USCCB, y el Obispo Jaime Soto de Sacramento y Presidente de la Junta Directiva de Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), emitieron una declaración de preocupación pastoral.