News - January 2026 RSS Feed

Bishop John E. Keehner's General decree establishing the seventh edition of the Ethical and religious directives for Catholic Health Care Services as particular law in the Diocese of Sioux City.

The Knights of Columbus Iowa Great Lakes Council 5043 oversaw the exemplification for three members. The ceremony was held Jan. 11 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. Honored with the third degree by District Deputy Jim Miller, with State Chaplain Rev. Dan Guenther presiding, were Vance Katzfey, Okoboji, Jason Dahna, Graettinger and Nicholas Poss, Ashton. With family members in attendance, the men committed themselves to the first three degrees of the Knights of Columbus: charity, unity and fraternity.

As the diocese gears up for Briar Cliff Sunday on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, the focus is on a Briar Cliff graduate. Elise Mangan, former Bishop's Scholar, is a product of both Kuemper High School and Briar Cliff University. Now she serves as a language arts educator in a diocesan Catholic school.

Men of the Diocese of Sioux City will have a chance to build community with one another and learn ways to help them stand strong in the faith at the 2026 Men’s Conference slated for March 21 in Le Mars. According to Delores Huemiller, one of three diocesan faith formation coordinators, the theme of this year’s conference is Standing Strong as a Man, Parent and Grandparent. It is open to all men in the diocese, including high school juniors and seniors. “Men will be encouraged to be firm in their faith, be firm in their convictions and be strong, Catholic men in the church and the world that we need today,” she said.

Through a partnership between the Diocese of Sioux City and Abounding Joy Ministries, an online divorce and separation workshop will be offered at a discount in the diocese. Build a New Life will begin Jan. 22 and run for 12 weeks, providing tools for emotional healing, spiritual renewal and practical rebuilding, “grounded in the truth and love of the church.” Certified Catholic divorce healing coach Carolyn Klika Catino of Abounding Joy Ministries will lead the workshop.

Diocesan schools mark the feast of the Epiphany, celebrated the weekend of Jan. 3 and 4 this year. See photos from St. Rose of Lima School in Denison and Bishop Garrigan Schools in Algona.

Storm Lake St. Mary School leadership announced the theme for the annual auction as well as a $1.5 million building project at their Jan. 6 event theme announcement. The project includes a major renovation and modernization of the community gymnasium entrance and first floor of the high school.

Siouxland Catholic Radio 88.1 FM launched a new locally-produced show, Father Knows Best, with diocesan priest, Father Mark Stoll. The first episode aired Jan. 7 at 9 p.m.

The Le Mars Knights of Columbus Council #1466 presented $58,890 to Life Skills and $6,210 to Iowa Special Olympics.

Mater Dei Parish of Sioux City is offering a men's retreat - Here I Am, Lord: Men of Mission on Jan. 17 at Immaculate Conception Church in Sioux City. the event will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $20 per person.

As in past years, youth and young adults from the Diocese of Sioux City attended the SEEK 2026 conference Jan. 1 to 5 as part of 26,000 participants in Columbus, Ohio, Denver and Fort Worth. Carroll St. John Paul II Parish sent 13 parishioners, four chaperones - including Father Patrick Behm, pastor, to the Columbus SEEK event. Sioux City Mater Dei Parish and several donors sponsored the expenses of the SEEK experience for 16 students.

Nearly 100 Storm Lake St. Mary High School graduates and supporters convened upon Iowa City Jan. 3 to cheer on the Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team and their head coach, Ben McCollum, 1999 Storm Lake St. Mary alumnus.

This is not an age where we want to lose the edge in our discernment. If we do, we can easily end up in dangerous positions, dangerous especially to our souls. One of the things that is more and more prominent is the number of people who become entangled in occult activities (especially witchcraft and New Age) without even recognizing it at first. This is because doors in the spiritual realm get opened.

Catholics nationwide are invited to pray “9 Days for Life,” an annual Respect Life novena starting Jan. 16.

The diocesan group of seven seminarians at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota, started their spring semester on Jan. 5 and shared a photo of their first day back. Pray for our seminarians and pray for vocations.