News - April 2026 RSS Feed

(Bilingual - Spanish available at the link) When a teacher at the Cathedral Dual Language Academy in Sioux City reached out to the principal about the possibility of starting a traditional dance group for students, Jody Ferris’ response came quickly. “It was an immediate and enthusiastic yes,” said Ferris, who is in her first year serving as principal of the school. “It aligned so naturally with our school community.” Erika Garcia, who teaches fourth and fifth grade students reading, writing and religion in Spanish, had pitched the idea of starting the dance group because it is her hope “our students don’t just become bilingual in language and literacy, but also bi-culturally."

More than 500 students from diocesan Catholic schools across the diocese attended the Mass for fifth graders celebrated April 30 at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City. Given that Bishop John E. Keehner continues his recovery from foot surgery, Bishop Emeritus Walker Nickless presided. “Welcome all of our fifth graders from throughout the diocese. Thank you for coming so we could all be together for this special Mass,” said Bishop Nickless opening comments. Not long after he became bishop 20 years ago, he initiated the annual tradition of having this Mass.

Members of various Seven Sisters Apostolates throughout the diocese gathered for an annual meeting in Sioux City hosted by the apostolate’s diocesan contact Mary Stevens. Sister Marie Hesed Champagne, SOLT, was the program speaker, presenting Strengthen the Hands that Serve, held in the Mater Dei Parish - Immaculate Conception Church parish center.

Bishop John Keehner announced a new assignment for one diocesan priest effective Aug. 5.

It has been one year since a native of Youngstown, Ohio, sat in the cathedra at the Cathedral of the Epiphany to take possession of the Diocese of Sioux City. Bishop John E. Keehner was ordained as bishop of the diocese May 1, 2025, by Dubuque Archbishop Thomas Zinkula. It’s been a whirlwind since that day. Bishop Keehner said in some ways, it doesn’t feel like a year has gone by. He pointed out numerous highlights in that time, things that surprised him, challenges and his support system.

Bishop John E. Keehner names a diocesan priest as parish administrator.

Actor Jim Caviezel who portrayed Christ in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ will provide the keynote for the Nov. 21 Pulse Live Advocates 16th annual fundraising dinner at the Iowa Event Center in Des Moines.

Richard, "Dick" Seivert, longtime teacher and coach at Le Mars Gehlen Catholic High School and leader of the Then Feed Just One program to feed the poorest of the world, died April 27. He was responsible for helping numerous diocesan parishes and schools conduct food packaging events and shipping the food to Honduras and other places experiencing poverty. He also helped the diocese send food and supplies to the border.

To celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States, The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion – the first and only approved Marian apparition site in the U.S. – is hosting the Catholic Saints of America exhibit July 1-9, 2026. This first-of-its-kind Carlo Acutis-inspired exhibit will honor the holy men and women of America Saints, Blesseds, Venerables, and Servants of God who have shaped our faith and serve as powerful examples of Christian virtue.

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Our Lady of La Salette #1585 of Milford hosted a Salad Luncheon on April 18. The theme was “Spring Flowers Bring May Flowers.” Fashion Formula of Spirit Lake provided the Style Show. Profits from the salad luncheon and raffle items are used to fund court projects.

LeMars Gehlen Catholic middle school students participated in a Poppy Week poster contest through the American Legion Auxiliary Post #241. Three winners were named.

Algona Bishop Garrigan High School Seniors accepted a Carrie Chapman Catt Award in Des Moines for registering to vote.

Nearly 100 diocesan Catholic school students participated in the third annual Diocesan Religion Bee held at St. Edmond Catholic School in Fort Dodge. Fifteen teams from Catholic Schools throughout the Diocese of Sioux City participated in the competition. This year, Sacred Heart School in Boone’s Team 1, took home the win. The school is led by Principal Sue Eldridge and that team was guided by Mary Beth Niday, 6-8 grade teacher.

Storm Lake St. Mary School students, faculty and staff packaged 73,440 meals with Then Feed Just One Thursday. On packaging the 128th box shortly after lunch, they crossed the one million meal mark since they started packaging meals in 2010.

At least 25 priests in the Diocese of Sioux City have a woman praying a holy hour for them every day. Fifteen years ago, the Seven Sisters Apostolate was launched in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Archdiocese and the movement came to the Diocese of Sioux City around 2018. “We all need to pray for our priests and bishop and this has been a wonderful vehicle to promote that prayer opportunity,” stressed Mary Stevens of Sioux City, diocesan contact for the apostolate. “My goal is for each of our priests to have that kind of prayer support.”

An ongoing partnership between the diocesan Office of Faith Formation and the Abounding Joy Ministry is providing another faith-based opportunity to help with healing for separated and divorced individuals.

In this Canon Corner column, Father Davis Esquiliano points out Good Shepherd Sunday 2026 is also World Day of Prayer for Vocations. However, we can go beyond one day for this important prayer intention.