News - February 2025 RSS Feed

Last spring, the Diocese of Sioux City was able to award $2.18 million to 2,700 Catholic school students through the diocesan scholarship program. Stacia Thompson, coordinator of enrollment and outreach for the Catholic Schools Office, said her office anticipates a similar amount of dollars available to award for Catholic school scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year. She encourages parents to apply before the May 1 deadline.

“This is an annual trip sponsored by the Vocations Office and hosted by the seminarians of the diocese. It’s an opportunity to meet other young men around the diocese to grow in your faith to be challenged in brotherhood and to be open to God’s call in your life,” Father Travis Crotty, director of vocations described the annual Quest trip. Quest 2025 will be held June 2 to 5 and is open to high school and college aged men. The group will travel to Winona, Minnesota and La Crosse, Wisconsin.

(bilingual) This penitential season calls all of us to practice self-discipline and self-control in a more intense way. Fasting and abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as well as abstaining from meat each Friday of Lent will help us all to make these 40 days a special time of grace and renewal. Esta temporada penitencial nos llama a todos a practicar la autodisciplina y el autocontrol de una manera más intensa. El ayuno y la abstinencia de carne el Miércoles de Ceniza, y el Viernes Santo; así como la abstinencia de carne cada viernes de Cuaresma, nos ayudarán a hacer de estos 40 días un tiempo especial de gracia y renovación.

St. Andrew Catholic Daughters of Sibley presented awards to the first place winners in their education contest on Feb. 26. It was open to CDA members and students.

On Feb. 12 Father John E. Keehner was named as the next bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City, but planning for the transition has been years in the works. Executive transition committee Deacon Mark Prosser, diocesan chief of staff and chancellor, said not long after Bishop Walker Nickless submitted his letter to the Holy Father upon the bishop’s 75th birthday on May 28, 2022, the framework for the episcopal transition was set in place. At that time an executive episcopal transition committee, led by the deacon, was established to oversee the process.

A Danbury Catholic schoolteacher recently released a children’s book designed to help young ones not only pray but build excitement for reading. Prayer Everyone, Anywhere is the name of the book penned by Cameron Brenner. The target age group is for children in preschool through second grade.

The season of Lent begins March 5 with Ash Wednesday. The regulations for Catholics during this season from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops are as follows: • Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence (no eating meat) for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.

Nominations for the 2025 Catholic school leadership awards – the Excellence in Education Award and the Good Shepherd Award - are now being sought. The Excellence in Education Award is given to teachers who emphasize Catholic identity and academic excellence in their classrooms and serve as a role model to their students and peers. The Good Shepherd Award is for any school employee who is a witness to their faith inside and outside of the school and has a joyful passion for serving their community.

Sioux City Sacred Heart students pray the rosary for the Holy Father’s health and well-being while viewing people praying the rosary in the Vatican.

As the climate crisis continues to impact communities worldwide, many people struggle with eco-grief—the deep emotional and spiritual distress caused by environmental destruction. To address this growing concern, a coalition of faith-based organizations is hosting a virtual event, “Eco-grief: Finding Hope Across Generations,” on March 27, from 6:30-8 p.m. CST. This engaging webinar will feature author and eco-theologian Victoria Loorz, along with a panel of young climate activists from Catholic Climate Covenant and Franciscan Action Network. Together, they will explore the emotional and spiritual toll of climate change while offering pathways to hope and resilience through faith, advocacy, and intergenerational solidarity.

Revival is here and ​more opportunities to participate in activities with the Eucharistic Revival will be coming to Iowa this spring. During the summer of 2024, an unprecedented National Eucharistic Pilgrimage moved from the four corners of the United States to Indianapolis, culminating in the 10th National Eucharistic Congress. Given the outpouring of stories involving the Eucharistic Lord's healing, conversion, unity and peace along the 2024 pilgrimage routes, the Committee for the National Eucharistic Revival have decided to keep the momentum going in 2025

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Sioux City will offer a Suicide Support Group this spring, beginning April 1. The six-week program provides a safe and compassionate space for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. This support group is open to adults (18+) who have lost a family member or friend to suicide at least 30 days prior to the first session. People of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome.

Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools is proud to announce its 2025 Hall of PRIDE class, honoring six outstanding alumni for their achievements in Crusader athletics. The inductees, spanning multiple generations, have made a lasting impact on Heelan sports and beyond. This year’s honorees include: • Dan LaFleur (’71) – Multi-sport standout, University of Iowa football player. • Al Jones (’76) – First Team All-State football player, Heelan basketball MVP, Wayne State athlete. • Bobby Soule (’83) – Four-time state champion in cross country/track, Iowa State Big 8 Champion. • Jamie (Dardis) Miller (’99) – Record-setting softball star, University of Kentucky standout, IGHSAU Hall of Fame inductee. • Brandon Wegher (’09) – Iowa high school football legend, Heelan state champion, former NFL player. • Zach McCabe (’10) – Basketball and football star, two-time state champion, University of Iowa basketball player.

The Catholic Church now recognizes the “offering of life” of the Venerable Father Emil J. Kapaun, CH (CPT), USA, a U.S. Army chaplain who suffered an agonizing death 75 years ago in a North Korean Prisoner of War (POW) camp at the service of fellow captive soldiers. On Monday, Pope Francis authorized the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to promulgate a decree that Father Kapaun “offered his life” prematurely out of Christian charity. The decree opens the path forward for Father Kapaun’s Beatification. - From the Archdiocese of the Military Services, USA

The diocesan Faith Formation Office and Office of Worship offered a series of trainings for implementing OCIA throughout the diocese. The last session was held Feb. 25 in Alton. Father Andrew Galles was the main presenter. More information on OCIA resources are coming.

Retired priest Father Merle Kollasch of Bode served as the Divine Mercy Parish Catholic Sun program speaker on Feb. 23. He spoke on the Lord's Prayer at St. Joseph School, St. Joe.