News - November 2025 RSS Feed

This morning the Bishop Garrigan family gathered to remember their deceased alumni. The BGHS graduates were honored for their lasting impact on the school and their families were included in the school family's prayers.

Fourteen altar servers at Sioux City Mater Dei Parish were promoted to the next rank in the parish Knights of the Altar program. The promotions were held on Christ the King Sunday.

Bishop John E. Keehner received two letters appealing decrees promulgated on Nov. 10. One decree erected the parish of St. Donatus in Alton by merging the parishes of St. Mary in Alton, St. Joseph in Granville and St. Anthony in Hospers. The second decree expanded St. Rose of Lima Parish in Denison by merging the parishes of Sacred Heart in Manning, St. Ann in Vail and St. Rose of Lima in Denison.

Three diocesan Catholic high schools saw action on the gridiron at the University of Northern Iowa Dome in Cedar Falls in the 2025 Iowa high school football tournament with two taking home titles and one capturing second place.

Bilingual column by Father Andrew Galles, diocesan director of worship, regarding our new liturgical year starting Nov. 30 (vigil on Nov. 29) of this year.

(Bilingual) Bishop Keehner's Thanksgiving message - published in English and Spanish.

Nebraska and Iowa will meet Friday in Lincoln for the 15th annual Heroes Game, presented by Pioneer Seeds. As part of the rivalry game, citizen heroes were selected from each state, with St. Donatus parishioner Jayce Koob of Granville selected as Iowa’s Hero and Ashley De La Cruz-Martin chosen as Nebraska’s Hero. Both will be recognized Friday, Nov. 28, at Memorial Stadium.

With the increase in families using the local UDMO food pantry, the Iowa Great Lakes Knights of Columbus Council 5043 saw a need in the community and made a quick decision at its monthly meeting to donate to Upper Des Moines Opportunity. Knights of Columbus Officers presented a check Nov. 11 to Jason Petersen, representing Upper Des Moines Opportunity.

The Iowa Great Lakes Knights of Columbus Council 5043 held its annual Soup and Dessert Supper Sunday, Nov. 2. Over 400 attended the event which raised funds for community initiatives.

Bishop John E. Keehner participated in discussions and a vote on the “special message” issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) at his first Plenary Assembly as Bishop of Sioux City. The USCCB pointed out in the press release that a special message had not been issued in 12 years. The bishops issued a special message Nov. 12, addressing “their concern for the evolving situation impacting immigrants in the United States” due to the surge in enforcement “prompting anxiety and fear in communities across the country.” Bishop Keehner said it was “the most weighty issue we dealt with,” at the November Plenary Assembly.

Statement in response to requests for making financial contributions to assist victims of the vehicle accident involving Remsen St. Mary students.

About 160 women attended the first Women’s Gathering held in Fort Dodge at St. Edmond School and Holy Trinity Church. Author, and retreat leader Elizabeth Kelly served as speaker for the day with the theme of Love Like a Saint, based upon her book of the same name. Bishop John E. Keehner offered a welcome and blessing for the women to kick off the all-day event. In addition to Kelly’s talks, Women’s Gathering attendees participated in small group discussions, confessions and adoration.

A native of Whittemore, retired diocesan priest Father Merle Kollasch has lived near his old stomping grounds since retirement in 2009 – in the rectory of St. Joseph Church in Bode that is part of Divine Mercy Parish. “It’s about 20 miles from Whittemore – a beautiful home… with an attached garage,” said the 91-year-old priest. “People here are so kind to me.” Another plus of his current location is that Bode is only 30 miles from his last assignment at then Resurrection of Our Lord Parish in Pocahontas (now part of St. Sebastian) where he served from 1995 to 2009.

Bishop John E. Keehner was the principal celebrant for the Red Mass on Nov. 18 at Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City to honor those working in the legal profession, including members of the judiciary, attorneys, those working in the legislative offices and those working in church law. The Red Mass is so named due to red vestments worn as not only a remembrance of the martyrs Thomas More and John Fisher but also in invocation of the Holy Spirit to shed his wisdom on all members of the judiciary, including legislators, judges, attorneys, legal assistants and all members of the legal and governmental professions.

A two-vehicle crash just before 1 p.m. on Nov. 15 at the intersection of Highway 75 and C-80 near Hinton, just north of Sioux City, sent several people to the hospital including members of the Remsen St. Mary’s School girls’ basketball team. According to a press release from the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, the accident involved a 2014 StarCraft Prodigy bus that carried two coaches and seven players from Remsen St. Mary’s and a 2016 jeep with four passengers. In response to the numerous requests from the public to financially assist the students and their families, Remsen St. Mary School administration has established accounts at two financial institutions to accept donations.