Several of our diocesan parishes are commemorating the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Diocese of Sioux City and patroness of the Americas. The feast day is Dec. 12.

“A pilgrimage is a sacred journey to a holy place, made with the intention of encountering God in a special way,” from Humboldt St. Mary Parish’s advertisement of their upcoming Advent pilgrimage. The parish is inviting the public to participate in the St. Mary’s Pilgrimage of Hope on Dec. 10 at the church as part of the Jubilee Year of Hope. It is the first time the parish has offered this type of pilgrimage.

(Bilingual article) We celebrate two great feasts in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary—the Solemnity of her Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8, which is the patronal feast of our nation, and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12, the patronal feast of the Americas. Celebramos dos grandes fiestas en honor a la Santísima Virgen María: la solemnidad de su Inmaculada Concepción el 8 de diciembre, que es la fiesta patronal de nuestra nación, y la fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe el 12 de diciembre, la fiesta patronal de las Américas.

Diocesan priests were advised on Nov. 26 that in some cases, Bishop John E. Keehner will grant pastors the faculties to confirm baptized adults. This would allow adult Catholics to be confirmed outside of the traditional parish confirmation Mass with students, which is celebrated by the diocesan bishop.

When the Diocese of Sioux City was looking for new payroll software, it found a web-based program that offered not only more features but also the ability for use across the diocese. According to Denise Kneifl, parish accounting and payroll specialist for the diocese, earlier this month the diocese implemented a new software program called Paylocity that is used in about 60 dioceses across the country.

Bishop Heelan High School recently honored Bishop Emeritus Walker Nickless for his years of support of the school in the dedication and naming of the legacy case that contains school memorabilia of the last 77 years. During a presentation at the Sioux City high school on Dec. 1, a plaque bearing the name of the Bishop Nickless Legacy Case was unveiled and the case was blessed.

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.

Catholic Daughters of Our Lady of Good Counsel Court 216, Fort Dodge, honored two local Veterans presenting them with quilts made by CDA members.

Byzantine Catholic Divine Liturgy is offered at two sites in Iowa for those of the Byzantine tradition who would like to participate or those interested in attending.

The Iowa Great Lakes Knights of Columbus Council 5043 was presented this week with the prestigious Star Council 2024-2025 award. Knights of Columbus members received the award from District Deputy Jim Miller at its monthly meeting Dec. 1. Of the 17,000 Councils worldwide, fewer than 3,000 local councils receive the award each year. The Star Council award recognizes outstanding achievement in membership, insurance and programming.

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.

Fourteen altar servers at Sioux City Mater Dei Parish were promoted to the next rank in the parish Knights of the Altar program. The promotions were held on Christ the King Sunday.

Bishop John E. Keehner received two letters appealing decrees promulgated on Nov. 10. One decree erected the parish of St. Donatus in Alton by merging the parishes of St. Mary in Alton, St. Joseph in Granville and St. Anthony in Hospers. The second decree expanded St. Rose of Lima Parish in Denison by merging the parishes of Sacred Heart in Manning, St. Ann in Vail and St. Rose of Lima in Denison.