The Iowa Catholic Conference (ICC), the public policy voice of the Catholic bishops of Iowa, has been following several pieces of legislation during this session at the Iowa statehouse. These items and their progress through the legislative system are shared by the ICC in weekly updates during the session: WIC restrictions, preschool access to state program, mid-year ESA signups, affirmative action affecting non-citizen professionals, black market abortion pill restrictions.

Lumen Media Report – The Diocese of Sioux City announced recipients of the 2026 Bishop’s Scholarships to attend Briar Cliff University this fall. The 2026 Bishop’s Scholars include: Emily Grell of Danbury, Corvin Griffin of Holstein and Sindy Rios of Sioux City. The scholarship is available to all high school seniors in the diocese. The scholars are eligible to renew their scholarships annually by maintaining a 3.0 cumulative GPA to receive a total of $30,000 over four years. The students receive $7,500 per year.

Three of the Society of Our Lady of the Trinity (SOLT) community from Willey participated in a new type of foreign mission with young families in tow. Sister Anne Marie Walsh, Sister Marie Hesed Champagne and Sister Jean Marie Walker spent nine days in Belize on mission with three young families through the SOLT Family Mission Experience.

Anthony Vera of Le Mars and seminarian studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome received the Ministry of Acolyte March 1 as the next step in his priestly formation.

Dr. John Flanery of Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools in Sioux City will be recognized with a Lead. Learn. Proclaim. Award from the National Catholic Educational Association at the April 6 Convention and Expo in Minneapolis.

The diocesan Catholic Schools Office is accepting nominations for the annual Catholic school leadership awards. Winners will be honored at the Oct. 11 Bishop’s Dinner for Catholic Schools, which is returning to the diocese after a short hiatus.

The Light is ON for You confessions will be held March 3 in parishes throughout the Diocese of Sioux City. Father Andrew Galles explained that this special block of confession time is intended primarily for those who needed to be invited back to the sacrament.

A large crowd of Catholic Charities supporters, staff, board members, clergy and community members gathered in Sioux City Feb. 23 for the grand opening, blessing and Siouxland Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting for the new 7,200 square foot Angeline’s Wing for Children and Families.

A unique bottle of bourbon will shine a light on a local parish and raise funds for a diocesan Catholic school. S & B Farms Distillery in Bancroft is donating a bottle of White Collar “wheated” bourbon to their Catholic school with a label sporting an image Father Zach Jones, parochial vicar, and Deacon David Penton of Divine Mercy Parish.

Gathered for the Rite of Election held Feb. 22, 65 catechumens – unbaptized seeking to become members of the Catholic Church – were reminded that while they chose to take the necessary steps to join the faith, it was God who first chose them. Bishop John E. Keehner was celebrant and homilist for the rite celebrated for catechumens from parishes throughout the diocese. “Today you have come to this Cathedral, the mother church of the Diocese of Sioux City, guided, I dare say, by the Holy Spirit, in order to proclaim your desire to enter into the mystery of the life, the death and resurrection of Jesus through the waters of baptism,” he said.

St. Joseph Parish in Salix is gearing up for the 100th anniversary celebration of its church building that will include Mass celebrated by Bishop John E. Keehner on April 26 at 11 a.m. According to Father Shinoj Jose, pastor, when he arrived at the parish on his first day in the summer of 2024 he noticed the cornerstone of the church was dated 1926. “At my first meeting with the finance council, I said we are going to have a wonderful gathering in 2026 to celebrate the 100 years,” he said, noting that St. Joseph Parish has the oldest church he has ever served.

Diocesan parishes and schools marked the beginning of the penitential season of Lent with Ash Wednesday services. Bishop John Keehner celebrated his first Ash Wednesday in the diocese during a noon Mass at the Sioux City Cathedral of the Epiphany.

Parishes, schools and other diocesan locations will soon have access to a tool that can save lives in and around their properties. Diocesan entities will be able to purchase naloxone nasal spray to have at their locations. Naloxone is used to reverse opioid overdoses quickly and effectively.

Pope Leo XIV declared a Jubilee Year for St. Francis of Assisi upon the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death. The year began on Jan. 10 and will end Jan. 10, 2027. As part of the observance, the diocese has selected two pilgrimage sites with a connection to the saint or under his patronage – Our Lady of Grace Chapel at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City and St. Francis of Assisi Church in Rockwell City, part of Our Lady of the Plains Parish.

A new fund has been established by Calvary Cemetery in Sioux City to provide the merciful act of offering a last resort burial option. According to Jeff Zyzda, it was just a few weeks ago during a semi-annual board meeting for Calvary when the conversation turned toward the fact that some funeral homes have cremains in storage because they don’t know what to do with them. During formation studies for the permanent diaconate, he learned about burying the dead being a corporal work of mercy.

After 45 years in active ministry, the Diocese of Sioux City’s longest serving deacon recently retired. Deacon Bob Lenz of Pomeroy, a member of the deacon class of 1980, officially retired on Feb. 4. His most recent assignment was serving at the merged parish of Our Lady of the Plains that has three secondary churches including Lake City St. Mary, Manson St. Thomas and Rockwell City St. Francis.

The inaugural Briar Cliff University (BCU) Franciscan Values Lecture Series tackled a difficult and often controversial topic – immigration. On Feb. 9, students, faculty and community members gathered to learn more about the historical context of immigration in the United States, Catholic social teaching and the local church’s response. The discussion included Welcome program staff from Catholic Charities and Bishop John Keehner's chief of staff, Deacon Mark Prosser.

Members of the diocesan permanent deacon community participated in a service day Feb. 7 in Sioux City at Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), building safe and comfortable beds for children in need. The organization’s motto is, “No kid sleeps on the floor in our town!”

(Bilingual) The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops outlines Lenten regulations regarding fasting and abstinence.

(bilingual) A Mass of Reparation will be offered March 23 by Bishop John E. Keehner for victims of clergy abuse in the Diocese of Sioux City. El 23 de marzo, el Obispo John E. Keehner ofrecerá una Misa de Reparación por las víctimas del abuso por parte del clero en la diócesis de Sioux City.