It has been one year since a native of Youngstown, Ohio, sat in the cathedra at the Cathedral of the Epiphany to take possession of the Diocese of Sioux City. Bishop John E. Keehner was ordained as bishop of the diocese May 1, 2025, by Dubuque Archbishop Thomas Zinkula. It’s been a whirlwind since that day. Bishop Keehner said in some ways, it doesn’t feel like a year has gone by. He pointed out numerous highlights in that time, things that surprised him, challenges and his support system.

Bishop John E. Keehner names a diocesan priest as parish administrator.

Actor Jim Caviezel who portrayed Christ in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ will provide the keynote for the Nov. 21 Pulse Live Advocates 16th annual fundraising dinner at the Iowa Event Center in Des Moines.

Richard, "Dick" Seivert, longtime teacher and coach at Le Mars Gehlen Catholic High School and leader of the Then Feed Just One program to feed the poorest of the world, died April 27. He was responsible for helping numerous diocesan parishes and schools conduct food packaging events and shipping the food to Honduras and other places experiencing poverty. He also helped the diocese send food and supplies to the border.

To celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States, The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion – the first and only approved Marian apparition site in the U.S. – is hosting the Catholic Saints of America exhibit July 1-9, 2026. This first-of-its-kind Carlo Acutis-inspired exhibit will honor the holy men and women of America Saints, Blesseds, Venerables, and Servants of God who have shaped our faith and serve as powerful examples of Christian virtue.

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Our Lady of La Salette #1585 of Milford hosted a Salad Luncheon on April 18. The theme was “Spring Flowers Bring May Flowers.” Fashion Formula of Spirit Lake provided the Style Show. Profits from the salad luncheon and raffle items are used to fund court projects.

LeMars Gehlen Catholic middle school students participated in a Poppy Week poster contest through the American Legion Auxiliary Post #241. Three winners were named.

Algona Bishop Garrigan High School Seniors accepted a Carrie Chapman Catt Award in Des Moines for registering to vote.

Nearly 100 diocesan Catholic school students participated in the third annual Diocesan Religion Bee held at St. Edmond Catholic School in Fort Dodge. Fifteen teams from Catholic Schools throughout the Diocese of Sioux City participated in the competition. This year, Sacred Heart School in Boone’s Team 1, took home the win. The school is led by Principal Sue Eldridge and that team was guided by Mary Beth Niday, 6-8 grade teacher.

Storm Lake St. Mary School students, faculty and staff packaged 73,440 meals with Then Feed Just One Thursday. On packaging the 128th box shortly after lunch, they crossed the one million meal mark since they started packaging meals in 2010.

At least 25 priests in the Diocese of Sioux City have a woman praying a holy hour for them every day. Fifteen years ago, the Seven Sisters Apostolate was launched in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Archdiocese and the movement came to the Diocese of Sioux City around 2018. “We all need to pray for our priests and bishop and this has been a wonderful vehicle to promote that prayer opportunity,” stressed Mary Stevens of Sioux City, diocesan contact for the apostolate. “My goal is for each of our priests to have that kind of prayer support.”

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.