On Nov. 5, the Algona Bishop Garrigan School community gathered for a special Veterans Day Mass to honor the men and women who have served the country. The Mass ministries were led by members of the school family who have a special connection to the military.

Bishop John Keehner made his first visit to the University of Northern Iowa and the St. Stephen the Witness Catholic Student Center yesterday. He met with several students from the diocese, offered confessions and celebrated a Mass.

Members of the Storm Lake St. Mary Class of 1999 gathered at Carver Hawkeye arena to cheer on their classmate Ben McCollum as he led the University of Iowa men's basketball team in his first game as head coach Nov. 4.

Briar Cliff University announced the appointment of Dr. Brian Peterson as the next provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, effective January 5, 2026. Dr. Peterson joins Briar Cliff from LaGrange College, where he has most recently served as vice president for academic affairs.

Some of the Remsen St. Mary middle school students attended The Called Youth Conference in Granville Nov. 2. Nearly 300 youth from around the diocese came together to learn, share, and grow in their faith.

Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sioux City often commemorate Dìa de los Muertos with ofrendas and photos of their loved ones who have died. Storm Lake St. Mary first, second and fourth grade students created artwork around their display in time for parent-teacher conferences. The Sioux City Cathedral Dual Language Academy has an ofrenda displayed in the school.

Six students of Remsen St. Mary School earned Gospel Spirit Awards this week.

Storm Lake St. Mary’s School sixth grade traveled to Spirit Lake to view glacial land formations on Oct. 17. This trip was an introduction to a soil and conservation unit led by Colleen Schwanz of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

People who work in the legal profession and courts in Fort Dodge and Webster County were honored at the Red Mass held Oct. 23 in Fort Dodge.

Briar Cliff University in Sioux City has announced the establishment and expansion of two endowed scholarships supporting students pursuing degrees in education. The Sister Ruth Schock Endowed Scholarship has been increased to $100,000, and the newly created Franciscan Educators Endowed Scholarship has been established at $100,000.

Briar Cliff University in Sioux City hosted its annual Donor Scholarship Dinner on Oct. 20 at the St. Francis Center on campus. The evening brought together scholarship donors and student recipients to celebrate the generosity that makes a Briar Cliff education accessible and life-changing.

Two teachers, Dr. John Jorstad ’90 and Jennifer Collins Clay ’92, were honored by Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools of Sioux City with the Excellence in Education Award, and three Legacy Teachers — Pat Sitzmann, Brendan Burchard, and Mary Kay Augustine — were recognized with Legacy Awards for their lifelong service.

LeMars Gehlen Catholic School announced the overwhelming success of its annual Jaywalk-a-thon student fundraiser, which raised more than $46,000 to support faith-based education and student programs.

(bilingual) Students at Denison St. Rose of Lima School have been celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 15- Oct. 15 with a variety of activities. last week, students in various grade levels had several art projects relating to Hispanic Heritage Month.

A family mentoring program at Fort Dodge St. Edmond School serves both as a way to welcome new families as well as to help them navigate their new school. Once mentored themselves, the Ponce family is now serving as mentors to a new St. Edmond family.

Briar Cliff University’s Theology Department Hosted its annual Sr. Ruth Agnes Ahlers Lecture in the St. Francis Center on Oct. 1. T Dr. Trish Zimmerman of St. Olaf College was the event's featured speaker.

Three Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sioux City will have increased access to mental and behavioral health care due to a three-year grant from the Wellmark Foundation totaling $232,500.

Denison St Rose of Lima School now has a rosary hall, in the school.

Kuemper Catholic High School of Carroll captured the championship at the annual CYO volleyball tournament held recently in Le Mars. Sioux City Bishop Heelan High School finished second, followed by Remsen St. Mary High School, Le Mars Gehlen Catholic, Algona Bishop Garrigan and Fort Dodge St. Edmond.

Fifty-three high school students from five diocesan high schools competed in the annual CYO cross country meet at Holstein last week. Kuemper Catholic High School of Carroll won the boys race with a team score of 22, followed by Bishop Heelan High School of Sioux City and St. Edmond High School of Fort Dodge. In the girls' race, Heelan won with a team score of 23, followed by St. Edmond and Kuemper.