Supporters of the FIRE Foundation of Northwest Iowa attended the annual FIRE and Flights event in Sioux City. The organization raises awareness and funds for inclusion of students with disabilities and special needs into Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sioux City.

After the director of religious education (DRE) position at St. Patrick Parish in Estherville had been open for an extended time, for the last two years two women of the parish are sharing the duties. Double-team Courtney Newgard and Britney Rosburg have served as co-DREs for the faith formation program for kindergarten through confirmation at St. Patrick’s since July of 2023. The majority of their efforts are for the youth, but they are working to expand offerings for adults.

NOTE: This article is the first in a series of articles related to faith formation, leading up to Catechetical Sunday that will be celebrated on Sept. 21. Youth groups in parishes throughout the Diocese of Sioux City serve students in a variety of ages. The Salt & Light group of St. Mary Parish in Humboldt started several years specifically for students in 11th and 12th grades. According to Deacon Don Evans, the group was established to try to buck the trend of students no longer participating in faith formation upon their confirmation.

The Society of Our Lady of the Trinity (SOLT) sisters are inviting young women from the United States, Mexico and Central America to join them on Oct. 3 for an evening with vespers, dinner and reflection. Convents in Texas, Arizona, Michigan, Missouri, North Dakota, Belize, Guatemala and Mexico – and even Willey in the Diocese of Sioux City - are hosting a Magnificat night with the SOLT sisters. This is the first time the entire SOLT community has planned this type of event.

Join your fellow Catholics and help provide a spiritual bouquet for the pope's 70th birthday on Sept. 14. The USCCB is joining forces with Our Sunday Visitor and other Catholic entities to present a massive spiritual bouquet to Pope Leo. The faithful are encouraged to enjoy pizza that day - one of the Holy Father's favorite foods.

Sister Anne Marie Walsh, SOLT column: You see this common theme of creatures or beings who, at times, may even seem like misfits in the universe, coming to the aid of threatened humanity with powers that surpass ordinary human capacity. The characters may not be real, but the fight certainly is. And so is the need for help that comes from beyond the ordinary.

The town of Danbury in Woodbury County has approximately 315 residents while the Danbury Catholic School has 63 students. Thanks to a generous community, big things are happening in the small elementary school from six-figure improvement projects to homemade meals.

Heidi Probasco of North Sioux City, South Dakota, has been hired as diocesan director of the Office of Stewardship and Development. She started her position Aug. 18 and said she is anxious to travel to meet the faithful throughout the Diocese of Sioux City. “I love interacting with people and getting to know them on a more personal level,” she said. “I love talking to people and being able to be of assistance to them.”

Bishop John Keehner blessed the new tabernacle and by association, rededicated the chapel at the Mary's Choice family planning center. He celebrated a Mass on the feast of St. Monica as part of the event. Board members, volunteers and supporters attended.

(bilingual) Bishop John E. Keehner of the Diocese of Sioux City released a bilingual statement regarding the shooting at a school in neighboring Minnesota earlier this morning.

August 22—The Memorial of the Queenship of Mary—A Reflection by Bishop Keehner A year ago, I began a three month sabbatical by serving as chaplain to a group of pilgrims visiting the shrines of France, Spain and Portugal. On this date in particular, August 22, I celebrated with them, in a side chapel at the Basilica in Lourdes, today’s Memorial of the Queenship of Mary. And while this date will forever hold a special place in my heart for that reason, what I found especially memorable, even “electrifying”, was the Rosary procession which took place the evening before.

(CNS) Pope Leo XIV asked Catholics to observe Aug. 22 as a day of prayer and fasting for peace and justice, particularly in Ukraine and in the Holy Land.

In the 65 years since Bishop Garrigan Schools of Algona first opened, the school system has experienced many firsts. On Aug. 28, the school will have another first when it officially establishes the Bishop Garrigan Athletics Hall of Fame and the first inductees are honored. According to John Kesselring, Bishop Garrigan PreK-6 principal and high school football coach, he was having conversations about a hall of fame with fellow teacher and coach Brian Patterson whose father had previously served as an athletic director.

Bishop John E. Keehner and the Sioux City Cathedral Parish are hosting a Blue Mass at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 29 at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City, 1000 Douglas Street. The Mass includes a procession of uniformed first responders - law enforcement, firefighters, and EMTs, families and staff. This will be the first Blue Mass that Bishop Keehner will celebrate in the diocese. He was ordained bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City on May 1.

(bilingual) Bishop John Keehner's letter of support to urge the faithful to support humanitarian efforts in Gaza. This follows the USCCB statement of Aug. 20: “The situation in Gaza and across the Middle East cries out for the assistance of the Catholic community of the United States,” said Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). In a letter to the U.S. bishops, he asked them to consider taking up a voluntary special collection in their dioceses, if they are able, to support the efforts of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA). Both organizations have well-established partnerships with the Catholic Church in the region to allow them to respond quickly and efficiently.

The permanent deacons of the Diocese of Sioux City made a pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend last weekend. Msgr. Ed Girres, rector of the shrine, led the pilgrimage for the deacons and their wives.

Bishop John E. Keehner celebrated a Mass of Welcome Aug. 12 at the Sioux City Cathedral of the Epiphany for a crowd of nearly 500. It was third and final Mass of Welcome held this summer so that the new bishop could start to meet the faithful of the diocese. Similar Masses were held previously in Fort Dodge and Storm Lake. In his homily, Bishop Keehner referenced the Gospel reading story of the lost sheep from Matthew 18.

The number of active women’s groups in Catholic parishes throughout the country has been waning for the last 20 to 25 years, but one diocesan parishioner is doing her part to reverse that trend. Lisa Jacobsen is trying to build up the Women of Faith group at Sacred Heart Church in Ida Grove, which is part of St. Therese of Lisieux Parish. While she moved to Ida Grove four years ago, she was told that the women’s group at Sacred Heart had been basically dormant for the last 20 years.

Even though Planned Parenthood may have closed in Sioux City, pro-life leaders have stressed the importance of continued prayers as abortions continue to happen. With that in mind, about a month ago Dawn Grimes of Mary’s Choice Pregnancy Resource Center in Sioux City announced it would expand the hours of adoration in the chapel at the center in the near future. Mary’s Choice now offers an online adoration signup.

As the Vatican prepares for a Sept. 7 canonization of Blessed Carlos Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, many of the faithful of the Diocese of Sioux City – especially young Catholics – are excited. Many have a devotion to the young saints. Parishes and schools across the diocese share their plans and enthusiasm for the future saints' canonization.