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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.

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.

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.

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.

It was in the spring of 2023 when Father Ross Caniglia, pastor of Our Lady of the Plains Parish of Lake City, Manson and Rockwell City, had two of his musical works published – a prayer set to music and a complete Mass setting. Later that year, in November of 2023, the priest began working on another melody. “If I recall correctly, I came up with the melody and then found the text which fit it well,” said Father Caniglia.

Catholic educational leaders from across the United States have issued an open letter expressing their gratitude and support for Cardinal Blase Cupich of the Archdiocese of Chicago, in light of his recent leadership and pastoral witness regarding immigration challenges in the Chicagoland area. The statement reaffirms the church’s enduring commitment to the dignity of every person, solidarity with immigrants and refugees, and the pursuit of justice and mercy in public life. Patty Lansink, superintendent of the Catholic schools for the Diocese of Sioux City was one of the signers.

Lumen Message column by Dawn Prosser, director of communications, on the first year anniversary of the diocesan podcast, Illuminating Catholics.

Marilyn Hoffman, Carroll St. John Paul II Parish member, supported her granddaughter’s career as a social worker. If the children or families her granddaughter worked with were in need, Hoffman stepped in to help. Although she died in February 2024, she is still helping provide for those in need. Amy Halder, Hoffman’s granddaughter, helps families as the student and family advocate for Storm Lake St. Mary School.

Although the Le Mars Copper Coin Thrift Store has only been open for two years, it outgrew its first building in a matter of months. Lorie Nussbaum, chair of the thrift store board, explained when the store opened in an existing storefront on Fifth Avenue it quickly ran out of space and needed to expand twice. “We kept growing and growing and finally we decided we have to do something. When we couldn’t find a space, we talked about building,” she said.

(Bilingual) As the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) gathered for their Fall Plenary Assembly in Baltimore, the bishops issued a Special Message addressing their concern for the evolving situation impacting immigrants in the United States. It marked the first time in 12 years the USCCB invoked this particularly urgent way of speaking as a body of bishops. The last one issued in 2013 was in response to the federal government’s contraceptive mandate. Al reunirse la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos (USCCB) durante su Asamblea Plenaria de Otoño en Baltimore, los obispos emitieron un mensaje especial en el que expresaron su preocupación por la situación cambiante que afecta a los inmigrantes en los Estados Unidos. Fue la primera vez en doce años que la USCCB recurrió a esta forma particularmente urgente de expresarse como cuerpo episcopal. La última vez que lo hizo fue en 2013, en respuesta al mandato federal sobre anticonceptivos.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is meeting in Baltimore this week for their plenary assembly. On Nov. 11, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, was elected as Conference president, and Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville was elected as Conference vice president. They succeed Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, the Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, and Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, who are concluding their terms as Conference president and vice president, respectively.

Father Clair Boes, retired priest of the diocese, 86, died Nov. 6 at the Marian Home in Fort Dodge. His funeral was held Nov. 14 at St. Mary Church in Storm Lake.

Members of the St. Therese Study Club in Sioux City gathered Nov. 11 to mark the 100th anniversary of the women’s group that is made up of parishioners of Holy Cross Parish. About 25 women – some dressed in fashion and hats of the 1920s - attended the anniversary event held at Sheryl McGowan’s residence, which included Mass celebrated by Father Roger Linnan, lunch and a program. In opening remarks, the current president of the club, Molly Sokolowski said it was meaningful to be gathered in a member’s home for the celebration as they did in the past.

Words matter. That is just one of the points made by Charleen Katra, executive director of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) during the Clergy Day held Nov. 6 at St. Mary Parish in Storm Lake that focused on inclusion of persons with disabilities into parish life. Due to the topic, lay catechetical leaders were also invited to attend this session.

The 800-550 Series CH-1 military chapel was constructed in August 1942 for the World War II-era Sioux City Army Base. Building 105-Chapel 2 was built for Catholic troops and was considered a temporary structure, intended to serve the base for five to seven years. Still standing decades later, the chapel will be demolished this winter to make way for “future development opportunities for the aviation industry,” according to the City of Sioux City. It was decommissioned this week.