Happy anniversary, Illuminating Catholics!

Lumen Message column
By DAWN PROSSER
Director of Communications
 
A Lumen Media/Office of Communications milestone nearly passed without us noticing.
 
The Illuminating Catholics podcast, published by Lumen Media for the Diocese of Sioux City, dropped its first episode Nov. 11, 2024. The episode featured co-hosts, Karmen Bower, director of faith formation, and myself. We shared a bit about our backgrounds and our vision for the podcast.
 
Since that first drop, we’ve recorded an episode for each week – and one bonus episode of an interview with then Bishop-elect John Keehner on March 6 of this year. Listeners have accessed the podcast on their favorite podcast app, which by far is Apple Podcasts, from a link in LumeNotes or social media and even on the diocesan YouTube channel.
 
In 12 months, all Illuminating Catholics episodes combined number 14,679 downloads.
 
We are most appreciative of the podcast listeners who let us know that they are listening, which episode they just listened to and which topic or speaker touched them the most. Our co-workers, clergy, parish and Catholic school staff members and even our own family members are following the podcast.
 Illuminating Catholics cover art by Renee Webb.We owe our thanks to the many guests who agreed to be interviewed on Illuminating Catholics whether you are promoting a Catholic-based program or organization or speaking on topics important to the faithful. So many of you were so quick to accept our invitation to shed light upon your expertise, your faith or your story.
 
Thanks to technology, we have interviewed guests from Rome (thanks, Deacon Thomas Kollasch and Anthony Vera), in the diocese and outside of our 24 counties via Zoom. Those that are close to our studio in Sioux City often stop in and oblige to don the big studio headphones for their interview.
 
The podcast platform provides the Communications Office the opportunity to enlighten listeners on a variety of topics – even if they are in their car, on the treadmill or multi-tasking. In today’s busy world with many potential distractions, we are finding that Catholics may not have time to read the content in LumeNotes and on the Lumen Media website – or they skim the headlines - it’s more convenient to listen to a 25-minute podcast interview. In any case, we are happy we found a way to connect with you that fits your lifestyle.
 
We are also most grateful to Aaron Lorch of Catholic Passage, Father Shane Deman and Father Travis Crotty of the former Outcast Catholic for their advice and guidance as we acquired equipment and prepared to drop that first episode.
 
To all who support the diocesan Together as One campaign, we thank you. Your contributions help us provide Illuminating Catholics and quality diocesan news at through LumeNotes, social media and lumenmedia.org.
 Father (then seminarian) Jake Rosenmeyer stopped in over Christmas break 2024 to discuss his thesis on the podcast.Behind the scenes, Renee Webb of the Lumen Media/Communications staff created the Illuminating Catholics logo and artwork, promotional graphics and edits the sound on each episode.
 
We are blessed with Karmen Bower who creates time in her schedule to serve as co-host, offering her expertise and insight to each episode.
 
Lastly, thank you to Bishop Keehner who supports our efforts and Bishop Walker Nickless before him as we began this adventure.
 
As we celebrate our first anniversary, we look forward to dropping more Catholic podcasts each Tuesday to enlighten you all and many more milestones. (Not a listener yet? Click here for all available episodes.)

Cover photo - Scripture scholar and pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Sioux City, Father Tim Friedrichsen was our first guest on Illuminating Catholics last November.

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