News - September 2024 RSS Feed

Built in 1884, Holy Family Church in Emmetsburg is the oldest church in continuous use in the Diocese of Sioux City. It’s undergoing a $900,000 renovation to better serve the needs of its aging congregation. This stage of the renovation is part of a $1.8 million project to expand and enhance the church building, according to Father Paul Kelly, pastor of Holy Family as well as parishes in Estherville, Armstrong and Graettinger.

Many years ago, Father Brian Hughes read a book containing meditations on talks about the nature of the liturgy that were presented by a German priest chaplain to university students. The book noted these talks were delivered at the beginning of Mass, prior to the official start of the liturgy, not as part of the homily. “I thought that was a brilliant way to get the whole congregation together – teach everyone about the Mass, reaching a bigger audience than you would by offering an adult education class to a handful of people,” noted Father Hughes.

It’s been an interesting journey across the globe for a man who grew up in small towns in northwest Iowa. Brett Meister has traveled the world, met two different popes, and is now finding a new calling as director of communication for the Diocese of Phoenix. “I was a little nervous, honestly,” Meister said of his career change in serving one of the largest dioceses in the southwest United States.

Denison St. Rose of Lima Parish unveiled a life-sized marble casting of Michelangelo’s Pieta Sept. 20, following a prayer service. Father Michael Cronin, pastor, blessed the new artwork, located in the narthex of the church.

Among the 60 to 70 participants in a disability inclusion conference held in the Archdiocese of Dubuque were five from the Diocese of Sioux City. Embracing God’s Vision of Love was held Sept. 24 to offer insight about accompanying families with special needs and forming more welcoming parishes. The keynote speaker was Charleen Katra, executive director of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability.

(bilingual) Catholics active in their faith attend Mass at least weekly and most have a good general knowledge regarding the ritual and what’s happening during the Sunday and/or daily liturgies. However, many may not have attended many Catholic funeral Masses and don’t realize what the church teaches about death and funerals. Los católicos activos en su fe asisten a Misa al menos una vez a la semana y la mayoría tiene un buen conocimiento general sobre el ritual y lo que sucede durante las liturgias dominicales y / o diarias. Sin embargo, es posible que muchos no hayan asistido a muchas Misas fúnebres católicas y no se den cuenta de lo que la iglesia enseña sobre la muerte y los funerales.

Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City is excited to announce the members of the 2024 Homecoming Court. The crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen will take place during a special assembly on Sept. 27.

Nineteen boys and 27 girls competed in the annual CYO cross country meet in Holstein last week.

Bishop Heelan claimed the championship in the annual CYO volleyball tournament held in Algona last Saturday. Kuemper Catholic finished second, followed by Gehlen Catholic, St. Edmond, Remsen St, Mary and Bishop Garrigan.

(Bilingual report. Spanish below) Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Sioux City will offer Suicide Support Groups this fall. One group will be facilitated in English and the other in Spanish. Meetings for each begin November 5.

Ascension Parish of Boone County hosted a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level 2 Training in Madrid on Sept. 21.

With a theme of a Blast from the Past, Gehlen Catholic School will kickoff Homecoming activities with a Powderpuff game on Sept. 29. Various dress-up days such as movie character day are planned for the week. Pictured here is the Homecoming court: (Front L to R): Rysaiah Sitzmann, Aurora Goebel (Emcee), Jocelyn Roder, Samantha Zubrod, Haley Gries and Emerson Schmidt and (Back L to R): Jake Bogen, Alex Peters (Emcee), Cole McCarty, Zach Harpenau, Kale Pearson and Tyler Czyz.

As part of the Carroll Kuemper Homecoming activities Sept. 27 and 28, the school will celebrate 150 years of Catholic education in Carroll County.

As part of the Sept. 14 ongoing formation day for the permanent deacons of the Diocese of Sioux City, Catholic Charities presented Welcoming Immigrants in rural Iowa to our Catholic Communities. Amy Bloch, Catholic Charities executive director, and Norma Garza Ramirez, case manager for Welcome, were presenters. (Welcome provides immigration legal services, case management and mental health care in the diocese through Catholic Charities.)

The six recipients of this year’s Catholic school leadership awards were recently recognized by Bishop Walker Nickless and the Catholic Schools Foundation of the Diocese of Sioux City.

The 2024-25 Together As One (TAO) Annual Appeal kicked off in parishes last weekend, Sept. 14-15, raising funds for ministries, services and programs in the Diocese of Sioux City that benefit thousands of Catholic households in northwest Iowa. According to John Schmitz, diocesan director of stewardship and development, this year’s support goal is just over $1 million for the 42 parishes in the diocese, with each parish having an individual parish goal.