An ongoing partnership between the diocesan Office of Faith Formation and the Abounding Joy Ministry is providing another faith-based opportunity to help with healing for separated and divorced individuals.

In this Canon Corner column, Father Davis Esquiliano points out Good Shepherd Sunday 2026 is also World Day of Prayer for Vocations. However, we can go beyond one day for this important prayer intention.

Not long after opening the new Angeline’s Wing for Children and Families, Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Sioux City hired a new therapist who happens to be a religious sister. Sister Gianna Casino, a sister of the Leaven of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (LIHM), started at Catholic Charities on April 1. “It’s been very fruitful. I have found that it’s a deeply compassionate organization committed to serving those most in need with dignity and care,” she said. “I’ve found Catholic Charities to be very mission driven.”

Bishop John E. Keehner received two decisions from Vatican courts, upholding decrees he promulgated Nov. 10, 2025. Two diocesan parishioners challenged the decrees with appeals to the courts.

Sioux City Tolerance Alliance sponsored classroom visits by Violins of Hope, a global project built on a private collection of violins connected to Jewish musicians who lived during World War II and the Holocaust. Holy Cross School in Sioux City was one of the area schools to host the Violins of Hope program. A free concert was held April 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater in Sioux City.

Members of Knights of Columbus Council 2326 at Storm Lake St. Mary's Catholic Church have successfully raised $17,000 to help purchase a new ultrasound machine for Hope For Life, a local pregnancy resource center serving Storm Lake and surrounding communities.

With the increase in families using the local UDMO food pantry and the popularity of the Lakes Area Senior Center, the Iowa Great Lakes Knights of Columbus Council 5043 saw a need in the community and donated to these valuable organizations.

In conjunction with the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, the USCCB’s Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations released the Ordination Class of 2026 Study conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University. According to this survey, four in five ordinands reported regular participation in Eucharistic adoration before entering the seminary. Deacon Thomas Kollasch of the Diocese of Sioux City will be ordained a priest on June 27, 2026.

Sister Eleanor Ann Ortmann is celebrating her 70th anniversary as a Sister of Christian Charity this year. On Aug. 23, 1955, Eleanor Ann traveled from her hometown in LeMars to Maria Immaculata Convent, the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Christian Charity in Wilmette, Illinois.

At Cathedral Parish in Sioux City, the number of weddings has increased to the point where the parish had to rethink the schedule. Father David Esquiliano, pastor, said when he began his assignment in July 2019, the parish had numerous Saturday afternoons on the calendar. After COVID, things really got busy.

Board members of the FIRE Foundation of Northwest Iowa are taking their message of inclusive education on the road. Realizing the growing need to help Catholic schools be more inclusive, they plan to host events around the diocese to share their mission and their impact in the coming months.

Bishop John E. Keehner announced the appointments of seven priests and the retirement of two priests.

St. Rose of Lima School in Denison held their Field of Dreams themed gala on April 11.

For the second year, students from St. Edmond Catholic School in Fort Dodge were among the volunteers assisting as the winter and spring competitions for the North Central Iowa Special Olympics.

The Jubilee of Clergy Ordinations will be held on May 4 at St. Mary’s Church in Storm Lake. Bishop Emeritus Walker Nickless will be the principal celebrant of the concelebrated Mass as Bishop John E. Keehner recovers from surgery.

Bishop John Keehner names a retired priest as parish administrator.