Remsen St. Mary School recognizes Gospel values and generosity with awards given to elementary students this week.

Storm Lake St. Mary's High School announced the 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees who will be honored Jan. 23 between the homecoming games vs. Manson Northwest Webster. The 2026 inductees: Bill McCoy, Class of 1968, the 1984 Softball Team, Abby (Richardson) Jacobson, Class of 2007, and Panther of Honor, Pete Laven.

As the diocese gears up for Briar Cliff Sunday on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, the focus is on a Briar Cliff graduate. Elise Mangan, former Bishop's Scholar, is a product of both Kuemper High School and Briar Cliff University. Now she serves as a language arts educator in a diocesan Catholic school.

Diocesan schools mark the feast of the Epiphany, celebrated the weekend of Jan. 3 and 4 this year. See photos from St. Rose of Lima School in Denison and Bishop Garrigan Schools in Algona.

Storm Lake St. Mary School leadership announced the theme for the annual auction as well as a $1.5 million building project at their Jan. 6 event theme announcement. The project includes a major renovation and modernization of the community gymnasium entrance and first floor of the high school.

Nearly 100 Storm Lake St. Mary High School graduates and supporters convened upon Iowa City Jan. 3 to cheer on the Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team and their head coach, Ben McCollum, 1999 Storm Lake St. Mary alumnus.

The diocesan group of seven seminarians at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota, started their spring semester on Jan. 5 and shared a photo of their first day back. Pray for our seminarians and pray for vocations.

Students at St. Rose of Lima School participated in las Posadas - re-enacting Joseph and Mary struggling to find a room at the inn before Jesus is born.

The Humboldt area Knights of Columbus presented the winners of their "Keep Christ in Christmas" poster contest before Christmas break. They also presented a check to Principal Sara Bormann for art supplies at St. Mary School.

St. Edmond Catholic School in Fort Dodge raised funds through the annual Festival of Trees event for the Remsen St. Mary High School students recovering from a traffic accident in November near Sioux City.

On Dec. 19, the St. Edmond transitional kindergarten staff upheld the tradition of presenting their students with a class t-shirt crafted by Stefanie Miller, along with special blankets made by Brittany Clark and her mother, "Grandma Mary."

Remsen St. Mary's School held a Las Posadas for the students recently.

Students at Emmetsburg Catholic School participated in an Advent retreat recently.

The Sioux City Cathedral Dual Language Academy recently celebrated las Posadas with students through prayer, call and response, traditional songs, games, crafts and the sharing of tamales. The celebration brought students together in a joyful and meaningful way, highlighting faith, culture, and community during the Advent season.

At the end of the recent all-school Advent prayer service at St. Edmond School in Fort Dodge, Tabitha Acree, elementary school principal was congratulated for receiving her doctorate in educational leadership.

The Crittenton Center employees will have access to discounted tuition at Briar Cliff University in an effort to expand access to higher education through BCU's Partner Tuition Advantage Program.

Each year, area fourth grade students are invited to participate in the Sioux City Public Museum’s History Project. As part of this program, students create a diorama representing one of the areas historic sites, buildings or churches. One Cathedral Dual Language Academy student's diorama will be on display for the Tour of Steeples in Sioux City. Poppy Benson, daughter of Andrew and Angela Benson, Sioux City Mater Dei Parishioners, created a diorama based on her church of attendance, Nativity.

This morning the Bishop Garrigan family gathered to remember their deceased alumni. The BGHS graduates were honored for their lasting impact on the school and their families were included in the school family's prayers.

Catholic educational leaders from across the United States have issued an open letter expressing their gratitude and support for Cardinal Blase Cupich of the Archdiocese of Chicago, in light of his recent leadership and pastoral witness regarding immigration challenges in the Chicagoland area. The statement reaffirms the church’s enduring commitment to the dignity of every person, solidarity with immigrants and refugees, and the pursuit of justice and mercy in public life. Patty Lansink, superintendent of the Catholic schools for the Diocese of Sioux City was one of the signers.

Briar Cliff University announced the appointment of Dan McDermott as the next director of athletics, effective Dec. 8, 2025. McDermott returns to Briar Cliff with more than 35 years of experience in intercollegiate athletics, coaching and sports administration.