In the spirit of Laudato Si and the church's Season of Creation, students in Trisha Boettger's first grade class at St. Rose of Lima School in Denison built and stained two birdhouses that are hung in the school's campus area. Boettger said her mother and stepfather helped "make this happen."

The Storm Lake FFA Chapter, which includes students from Storm Lake St. Mary's and Storm Lake Public High School volunteered at the Clay County Fair.

Storm Lake St. Mary's and Carroll Kuemper High School students experienced a recent pilgrimage day at the Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, organized by Msgr. Ed Girres.

(CNS) Led by their priests, Catholics need to come together and face the truth about what their local church is doing and why, Pope Leo XIV told clergy and laypeople in his diocese. This process of discernment and "pastoral evaluation does not ask you to do more; on the contrary, it gives you permission to do less -- and to do it better," the pope, who is bishop of Rome, said to applause.

Father Merle Kollasch, retired diocesan priest living in Bode, penned this guest column on his cousin, Msgr. A.J. "Joe" Elbert.

Of the 19 Sister of St. Francis, Dubuque, celebrating milestone jubilees this year, 11 of them have ties to the Diocese of Sioux City. Those sisters include Sisters Marci Blum, Mary Lee Cox, Pat Farrell, Margie Feldner, Mary Beth Goldsmith, Gwen Hennessey, Carol Hemesath, Elvira Kelley, Kathy Knipper, Frances Nosbisch and Grace Ann Witte.

Decree from Bishop John E. Keehner on the Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Moorland.

For the fifth consecutive year, Sacred Heart Church in Ida Grove that is part of St. Therese of Lisieux Parish will host a Eucharistic Rosary Congress. The Eucharistic Rosary Congress will kick off with a Eucharistic Procession at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 27, followed by a roast beef dinner. The opening day of adoration begins on Sept. 28 following Mass.

Gehlen Catholic High School in LeMars crowned their homecoming royalty today. King and Queen: Halle Walgenbach - daughter of Jake and Joell Walgenbach and Wyatt Konz - son of Brian and Sheri Konz.

Parishes throughout the United States celebrate the contributions of catechists each year on the third Sunday of September. Some parishes will offer a blessing and highlight their catechists at weekend Masses to commemorate Catechetical Sunday on Sept. 20. Faith formation directors and catechists share their experiences sharing the faith with the youth of their parishes.

The third annual Called Youth Conference hopes to inspire youth in seventh to twelfth grades to seek holiness. Slated for Nov. 1, the conference will once again be held at St. Joseph Church and the former school building in Granville. Highlights of the day include a keynote, breakout sessions, service project and Mass celebrated by Bishop John E. Keehner.

During his reflection offered Sept. 12 during a prayer service for the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Abortion, Bishop John E. Keehner asked those gathered to choose life. The service was held at the Circle of Life Memorial to the Unborn at Trinity Heights Queen of Peace Shrine in Sioux City. It was one of more than 200 services held throughout the country.

The Storm Lake Knights of Columbus contributed funds to Lakeside Presbyterian Church's program to help with food insecurity at the local public and Catholic elementary schools. The goal is to make sure students have food to come home to when they leave school at the end of the week.

As part of the diocesan Catechetical Sunday commemorations, parishes were invited to submit names of catechists reaching milestone anniversaries for their service to parish religious education, faith formation and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd programs. Included in this article is a listing of the submissions and the parishes they serve.

(Bilingual) As we celebrate Catechetical Sunday, we recognize in a special way those who give of their precious time and resources to serve as catechists in our parishes, sharing their faith with children, youth, and adults. Al celebrar el Domingo de la Catequesis, reconocemos de manera especial a quienes dedican su valioso tiempo y recursos a servir como catequistas en nuestras parroquias, compartiendo su fe con niños, jóvenes y adultos.

Column from Judge John Sandy of Spirit Lake St. Mary Parish - Art and music put us in contact with the Creator. Thomas Merton, in No Man Is an Island, describes it as attuning the soul to God. In a creative sympathy the artist finds the living law that governs the universe. What Merton called the secret gravitation drawing all things toward God as their center, true art lays bare in the depths of our own nature the law that has governed the universe.

Beginning Sept. 14 and continuing through November, Catholic Charities will offer expanded telehealth appointment hours, including early morning, evening and limited weekend availability. The expanded hours are part of Strong Minds, Strong Farms, a new rural mental health initiative made possible in part through a Working Here Grant from Farm Credit Services of America.

The Catholic Church in the United States will observe National Migration Week beginning Sept. 21 and culminating with the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees on Sept. 27.