Bishop reflects upon episcopacy, looks towards retirement

By DAWN PROSSER
Director of Communications
 
(The following includes excerpts from an Illuminating Catholics podcast interview with Bishop Walker Nickless earlier this month. Listen to the entire interview here.)
 
After almost 20 years of serving as shepherd of the Diocese of Sioux City, Bishop Walker Nickless will retire as of the conclusion of the May 1 episcopal ordination Mass of his successor, Most. Rev. John E. Keehner. Bishop Nickless said he has enjoyed his priesthood and episcopacy and is looking forward to simply being a priest.
 
“I went to the seminary to become a priest, not a bishop. There’s a difference and so when I can do priestly things, that’s what gives me life,” he said.
 
The call
He was serving as a vicar general for the Archdiocese of Denver in late 2005 when he received a voice message on his chancery office phone.
 
“There was a beep on my telephone answering machine. I looked at it and it said, Washington, D.C. and I said, ‘Uh-oh, what does this mean?’” he recalled noting it was the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo Higuera announcing that he had been appointed as bishop of Sioux City. “He asked if I would write a letter to (Pope Benedict XVI) and accept.”
 
Then Msgr. Nickless accepted the appointment and was soon headed to visit Sioux City, a place he had never visited before.
 
“I was overwhelmed, of course, but so grateful for Msgr. Roger Augustine, who was the (diocesan) administrator at the time and Msgr. (Michael) Sernett … and Jim Wharton who was here as director of communications and fundraising. The three of them let me see what the diocese was going to be like,” Bishop Nickless said of the warm reception he received at the diocese.
 

Bishop Nickless' 2006 episcopal ordination

He was ordained bishop of the diocese Jan. 20, 2006, and began his nearly 20-year episcopacy.

“I didn’t know what I was getting into. It’s a huge difference to go from being a pastor in a parish to becoming a bishop. So, I made a lot of mistakes at the beginning. I didn’t know what I was doing,” Bishop Nickless said.
 
Highlights
When asked about the high points of serving as the Diocese of Sioux City bishop, he first mentioned celebrating ordination and confirmation Masses.
 
“The most exciting things were the sacraments I was able to celebrate, especially the sacrament of holy orders and confirmation and to be with the young people,” Bishop Nickless said.
 
The bishop estimates that he confirmed thousands of young people in the Sioux City Diocese and Archdiocese of Denver. (It was common for a vicar general in the archdiocese to preside at confirmations.)
 
“Being with the young people, challenging them, seeing the enthusiasm of their faith, seeing how scared they are that I’m going to ask them a question they don’t know the answer to. Being able to tell them, relax, it’s the Holy Spirit that’s going to guide you and fill your hearts,” he said. “That’s been a wonderful experience.”
 
With longevity in his time in the diocese, Bishop Nickless has been able to journey with some parishioners through important milestones in their faith.

 

Newly-ordained Father Brian Feller and Father Michael Cronin bless Bishop Nickless

“One of the blessings is that two of the young men that I confirmed are now priests, that I had the privilege of ordaining. It’s kind of like watching your children grow up, confirm them and then ordain them,” he said. “They’re both doing great pastoral ministry – Father Travis Crotty and Father Zach Jones.”
 
Father Crotty serves as diocesan director of vocations and chaplain of Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City and Briar Cliff University. Father Jones serves as parochial vicar of Divine Mercy Parish of Kossuth County and West Bend.
 
The bishop said he was honored to ordain priests and permanent deacons and also walk with them on their formation journeys.
 
“(Priests) spend nine years in the seminary. I get to know everything about them. I see their evaluations, their reports, watch them grow and see them struggle. Then to bring them to the end and to be able to ordain them is a great, great privilege and a great blessing,” he said of the men he has ordained.
 
As is required of the church, Bishop Nickless drafted and signed his letter of resignation to the Holy Father on May 28, 2022, his 75^th birthday. He had hoped to remain as bishop for his 50^th ordination anniversary that August – and remained as bishop for nearly three more years.
 
The bishop had just celebrated a citywide Catholic Schools Week Mass at Bishop Heelan High School this winter when he told the students that he was certain Pope Francis had forgotten about replacing him. When he returned to the chancery, there was a voicemail from Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio. He advised Bishop Nickless that his successor had been named.
 
“I immediately called the Bishop-elect (Keehner) and he was just as shocked as I was. It was like déjà vu – it brought back every memory that I had of coming here,” Bishop Nickless recalled.
 
He noted that when the appointment became official the morning of Feb. 12, the moment was “bittersweet,” especially at the press conference.
 
“When Bishop-elect Keehner was announced, I told everyone that I have a smile on my face but a tear in my eye. And that’s how I still feel. It’s hard to leave something after almost 20 years, but’ it’s time to pass the torch,” he said.
 
As the days of his episcopacy are now few in number, he said he is looking forward to a slower pace.
 
“Not going to meetings – that will be nice. I can get back to being a priest. I look forward to spending some time reading and in prayer and not being in a hurry. I always seem to be in a hurry – going from one place to another. I can slow down,” he said.
 
The large Nickless family in Denver have been waiting for the oldest brother of 10 siblings to return home and spend time with them once he is officially retired.
 
“I said you might have to wait a little longer because I’ve kind of fallen in love with the Midwest and Iowa,” Bishop Nickless said. “The Midwestern approach to life and Sioux City has been a great blessing for me. It’s a perfect place for me to enjoy life and be a priest. I’ll be available to help out if the (priests) want me to do that.”
 

Bishop Nickless at a 2022 retreat with his priests

He said he didn’t want to leave his successor without guidance if Bishop-elect Keehner needed assistance. 
“The main thing I want to do is stay out of the new bishop’s way. Let him get his feet on the ground and always be available if he has some questions. You just have to jump in and I want to let him be able to do that,” Bishop Nickless stressed.
 
The retiring bishop said he will treasure his time as shepherd in the diocese and is grateful for the support and prayers of his flock.
 
“Thanks for blessing me, thanks for your prayers, thanks for your patience,” he offered his sentiments to the faithful of the diocese. “It’s been a wonderful experience, more than I could have ever imagined.”