The diocesan Office of Vocations is offering three events this summer for youth and young adults for faith and prayer opportunities alongside their peers. - June 1 to 4 – Quest pilgrimage for young men - July 30 to Aug. 1 - Ave retreat for young women - July 30 to Aug. 2 – Quo Vadis discernment retreat for young men

When Jimmy Fitzsimmons is ordained a transitional deacon by Bishop John E. Keehner on June 6, the seminarian will not only be taking a big step closer to the priesthood but continuing his journey of drawing closer to Jesus.

Wall Lake native Garrett Hugeback said the excitement is “incredible” as he and his Kenrick-Glennon Seminary classmates prepare for ordination to the transitional diaconate. Hugeback and fellow diocesan seminarian Jimmy Fitzsimmons will be ordained at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City June 6. (See related article.)

Seven area women were inducted into the Confraternity of Christian Mothers at Sioux City Mater Dei Parish - Immaculate conception Church May 19 at a morning Mass with Father Peter Nguyen presiding.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will gather for the 2026 Spring Plenary Assembly in Orlando, Florida, June 10-12. The public sessions on June 10 and 11 will be livestreamed on the USCCB website.

SPIRIT LAKE – The Knights of Columbus Iowa Great Lakes Council 5043 oversaw the exemplification for two new members. The ceremony was held May 9 after Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. Inducted by District Deputy Jim Miller, with State Chaplain Father Dan Guenther presiding, the new members included Robert Egan and Jim Barnett. Egan is a member of the Spirit Lake Knights of Columbus, and Barnett is in the Spencer Council.

The Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Daughters of America Court 216 in Fort Dodge recently awarded scholarships to St. Edmond High School graduating seniors.

(Bilingual) La Oficina de Formación en la Fe de la Diócesis de Sioux City organiza un taller para padres en español el 25 de junio en la parroquia de Santa María, en Storm Lake. La presentadora del programa es Luisa Wendt, de Familias Conectadas. The Diocese of Sioux City Office of Faith Formation is hosting a parenting workshop in Spanish on June 25 at St. Mary’s Parish in Storm Lake. The program presenter is Luisa Wendt of Familias Conectadas.

(Bilingual) Reflection on the Consecration to the Sacred Heart by Archbishop Alexander K. Sample, chairman of the Committee for Religious Liberty. Reflexión sobre la Consagración al Sagrado Corazón Por el Arzobispo Alexander K. Sample, Presidente del Comité para la Libertad Religiosa

On July 7, 2021, the seven Catholic faith communities in Kossuth County and Sts. Peter and Paul in West Bend were canonically merged and the mammoth Divine Mercy Parish was erected. The combined parish ministers to around 2,000 registered families. Father Matthew Solyntjes, pastor, and Father Zach Jones, parochial vicar, realized that the fifth anniversary of the merged parish would be in July and that somehow, it should be celebrated.

A few weeks ago, Storm Lake St. Mary’s School announced that due to a lack of coaches and an insufficient number of players interested in softball that the school would not have a Panther softball team for the 2026 season. Thanks to a warm welcome from Remsen St. Mary's, the Storm Lake girls have an opportunity to play high school competitive softball this summer.

(Bilingual) As the final days of the school year quickly tick away, the long awaited summer vacation nears. Summer can provide a great chance for needed downtime, but therapist Denys Azpeitia of Catholic Charities pointed out that the transition to summer and changes with routine can sometimes create stress, anxiety or feelings of loneliness for students. Mientras los últimos días del curso escolar pasan rápidamente, se acercan las tan esperadas vacaciones de verano. El verano puede ser una gran oportunidad para disfrutar de un descanso muy necesario, pero la terapeuta Denys Azpeitia, de Caridades Católicas, señaló que la transición al verano y los cambios en la rutina pueden, en ocasiones, provocar estrés, ansiedad o sentimientos de soledad en los estudiantes.

Jerry Mathine was in his mid-20s when he became a catechist for the religious education program at St. Elizabeth Seton in Glidden. After 57 years of service, the 83-year-old recently retired as a catechist. “I love teaching young people and I just stayed with it,” said Mathine, a Nebraska native who moved to Glidden with his wife Rita in August of 1967 to teach at Glidden-Ralston High School. He was a business teacher and coach for 33 years at the school and is the father of two daughters.

Guest column: Art Cullen, Pulitzer Prize winning Storm Lake Times Pilot editor was asked to speak to the Sisters of the Presentation last month. Following the presentation, he penned a column giving a nod to the religious order whose sisters provided a Catholic education for the Cullens and made a lasting impact upon the author.

Sixty-eight golfers from seven diocesan high schools participated in the annual CYO golf tournament at Fort Dodge last week. Kuemper Catholic won the team championships in both the boys and girls meets

Members of St. Mary Parish in Humboldt were among participants of the Walk to Mary Pilgrimage in Wisconsin. The pilgrimage started at the National Shrine of St. Joseph and the pilgrims walked 22 miles to Mary at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, Wisconsin.