Welcome Masses for Bishop Keehner set

By DAWN PROSSER
Director of Communications
 
The faithful of the Diocese of Sioux City will have a chance to meet Bishop John E. Keehner this summer at events in each of the three deaneries. The bishop was ordained May 1 at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City.
 
“We knew we had just a limited number of seats for people from across the diocese and literally across the country for the ordination,” explained Deacon Mark Prosser, bishop’s chief of staff and chancellor. “Bishop Keehner was very interested in this as he wanted to get out into the diocese as soon as possible.”
 
As the bishop expressed a desire to meet the people of the diocese, Masses with receptions to follow were immediately scheduled. Deacon Prosser said the pastors in Fort Dodge, Storm Lake and at the Cathedral Parish “all graciously offered to host those Masses.”
 
The three communities, located along Highway 20, are centrally located in the east, central and west deaneries of the diocese.
 
The Masses of Welcome with Bishop Keehner all begin at 5:30 p.m. with receptions to follow:

• June 24 at Holy Trinity Parish in Fort Dodge
• July 16 at St. Mary Parish in Storm Lake
• Aug. 12 at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City

 
“They are open to anybody and everybody. The intent is to meet your bishop, welcome him to the diocese, get to talk to him at a reception afterwards,” the deacon said. “And hopefully begin what will be years of conversation with the bishop and the faithful of the Sioux City Diocese.”
Regional planning
Each location has staff and volunteers busy planning for welcoming not only the bishop and their own parishioners but also Catholics from the surrounding communities.

“We’re the first one out of the gate,” said Cheryl Sherry, parish life and communications coordinator for Holy Trinity Parish. “(We are) very excited that people all over the east deanery are coming to Fort Dodge for the welcome Mass.”

She noted that the new Holy Trinity Church can seat 1,000 people and is hopeful for a large crowd. Jason Swedlund, director of sacred music and liturgy, is planning special music with a small group for the Mass. The large narthex of the church will provide an area for Bishop Keehner to greet people in a receiving line.

Guests will be invited to cross the plaza over to the St. Edmond Elementary School commons for the reception. Old Boston restaurant will cater pulled pork sandwiches, chips and pasta salad.

The faithful of the central deanery host site are anxious to welcome the new bishop in July.

“Our parish organizations and community are proud to be able to welcome Bishop Keehner to Storm Lake and also to welcome the diocesan faithful of our deanery who are invited to come celebrate and greet our new bishop,” noted Will Swanson of the St. Mary Knights of Columbus.

Swanson explained the Knights and the St. Mary Guild are hosting and covering the cost of the reception after the Mass of Welcome.

“We will be serving Mark Snyder’s award-winning smoked pork loin, salads, sides and dessert in a semi-casual setting in the St. Joseph Parish Center at St. Mary Church,” he said. “There’s quite a buzz about the joy of his arrival to our diocese and we couldn’t be more proud to be selected to host.”
Father David Esquiliano, pastor of the Cathedral Parish and rector of the Cathedral of the Epiphany said his parishioners are pleased the parish is one of the three sites for diocesan Masses of Welcome and reception.

“They are excited about that and also about showing some Cathedral hospitality, not just for the bishop, but for people that may come from the deanery and beyond,” the pastor said.
He noted the timing of the event was close to the date for the annual parish fiesta, so the parish staff suggested the efforts of a weekend fiesta could be moved to the Aug. 12 Mass and reception.

“We are a multicultural parish, so our different ethnic and cultural groups are coming together and we plan to have some Vietnamese food, Mexican food, Central American food, Guatemalan and Salvadorian food as well as the classic staples of hamburgers and hot dogs,” Father Esquiliano said, noting a prayer group is planning to provide desserts.
He is hopeful the faithful of the western deanery come to enjoy great ethnic food and entertainment as well as meeting the new shepherd of the diocese. Visitors may also enjoy visiting one of the Jubilee Year of Hope pilgrimage sites.

“We really want to welcome of course Bishop Keehner, but also all the people from the diocese,” Father Esquiliano said. “With us being a jubilee site there will be people that might prefer to come to this one because it is not just welcoming the new bishop but also receiving the indulgences that come with praying at a jubilee site.”

Regardless of where parishioners live in the diocese, they are welcome to attend any of the three summer events. To assist organizers in planning for the Masses and the food, those who plan to attend are asked to RSVP via a bilingual (English and Spanish) online form HERE.

(Cover photo: Parishioners of hte Sioux City Cathedral Parish will be preparing ethnic food for the Aug. 12 Welcome Mass and reception for Bishop Keehner. Be sure to RSVP./Lumen Media file photo.)