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"There is no faraway conflict when human dignity is at stake," Pope Leo XIV told thousands of people gathered at the Vatican for the midday recitation of the Angelus after the United States bombed targets in Iran.

(bilingual) “As your shepherds, your fear echoes in our hearts and we make your pain our own. Count on the commitment of all of us to stand with you in this challenging hour,” said Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), “Como pastores suyos, sus temores hacen eco en nuestro corazón y sentimos su dolor como nuestro. Cuenten con el compromiso de todos nosotros de acompañarlos en estos momentos difíciles”, aseguró el arzobispo Timothy P. Broglio, presidente de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos (USCCB, por su sigla en inglés).

After seeing a need for middle and high schoolers to gather during the summer, Ascension Parish initiated Summer Wednesdays. “The idea was born out of a few different things,” said Megan Ulrich, director of religious education (DRE) at Ascension Parish for the churches in Boone and Ogden.

As a young boy the thought of becoming a priest when he grew up was definitely on Avery Fetrow’s mind. “The earliest I remember thinking about the priesthood was when I was 5 or 6,” said the 2024 graduate of St. Mary High School in Storm Lake and member of his parish Knights of Columbus. “That is all I wanted to be from age 6 to 12.”

(bilingual) After serving 12 years as the only Yankton Benedictine in the Diocese of Sioux City, Sister Jodie Zimmerman, OSB, will be moving to her community’s monastery at the end of the month. She has been serving in pastoral ministry and religious education for Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Rock Valley St. Mary Church. Después de haber servido durante 12 años como la única benedictina de Yankton en la Diócesis de Sioux City, la hermana Jodie Zimmerman, OSB, se trasladará al monasterio de su comunidad a finales de este mes. Ha trabajado en el ministerio pastoral y en la educación religiosa en la Parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe y en la Iglesia de Santa María en Rock Valley.

Novena will begin June 19 — the anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s anniversary to the priesthood — and end June 27, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart.

The Most Reverend John E. Keehner, Bishop of Sioux City, hereby announces the following appointment, effective July 8, 2025: Reverend Jacob R. Rosenmeyer, is appointed as parochial vicar at Holy Trinity Parish in Fort Dodge and St. Mary Parish in Humboldt, with residence in Fort Dodge. In addition, he is assigned as chaplain of St. Edmond Catholic School in Fort Dodge.

With a few new twists added to the annual Office of Vocations summer Quest trip for young men, the four-day trip strengthened relationships and faith within the participants. The group of 44 including young men from throughout the diocese departed June 2 from Storm Lake headed for Winona, Minnesota and La Crosse, Wisconsin. Participants were from both public and Catholic high schools and colleges.

The Ave Young Women’s Retreat, a spiritual trip held June 2-5, provided participants with a chance to pray together, visit religious communities and have some outdoor recreation. Organizers Megan Ulrich of Ascension Parish of Boone County and Sandra Hildreth of Our Lady of the Plains Parish of Calhoun County accompanied 18 young women on a journey visiting sites and communities in Omaha, Gretna and Lincoln in Nebraska.

UPDATED 6/13/25 - Several of the parishes and churches in the Diocese of Sioux City along the route of the 2025 RAGBRAI bike ride across Iowa are planning events and meals for the anticipated guests in their communities.

Deacon Jacob Rosenmeyer of Divine Mercy Parish, Kossuth County and West Bend, will be ordained a priest on June 7 at 10 a.m. at the Sioux City Cathedral of the Epiphany at 1000 Douglas Street. All are welcome. For those who cannot attend, the Mass will be livestreamed on the Diocese of Sioux City YouTube channel.

Always on the lookout for programming to enrich the faith lives of parishioners, the director of faith formation at one Sioux City parish happened upon a Summer with the Saints 12-week program. Mary Lehr of Sacred Heart Parish in Sioux City said she loved the concept but was looking for something a little less structured so she borrowed the theme, adjusted the format and adapted it for her parish.

Deacon David Penton of Divine Mercy Parish of Kossuth County informally surveyed his fellow deacons to learn more about their involvement in various parish ministries throughout the diocese. Deacon Dennis Brockhaus shared that his fellow Knights had offered an Operation Handyman program to provide minor repairs and yardwork for anyone who might not be able to do the work themselves or find a contractor to do smaller jobs. “I thought it was a pretty good idea. We have elderly and low-income people in Algona that could use some help,” Deacon Penton said.

Last week’s abrupt termination of Catholic Relief Services' (CRS) McGovern-Dole Food for Education school feeding programs will deprive school-age children of their only reliable meal each day. Beginning in July, more than 780,000 children across 11 countries will be left without their school meal, as 11 out of CRS’ 13 projects have been terminated—deepening the crises of hunger, malnutrition and poverty that already threaten their ability to learn, grow and thrive.

UnityPoint Health and MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center have signed a letter of intent (LOI) for UnityPoint Health to acquire MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center and its facilities, including the hospital, physician practices and home care services. The decision reflects a thoughtful commitment on the part of these respected local medical communities to enhance access to high quality healthcare for residents of Sioux City and surrounding communities.

Marge Flannery of Fort Dodge and parishioner at Holy Trinity Parish, was recently honored for caring for children in the foster system for a half century. She shares her story with Lumen Media.

People sometimes complain that God doesn’t speak to them, or if he does, they don’t recognize his voice. We all know stories of people who suddenly hear God speak to them in the midst of extraordinary or dramatic events.

(bilingual) Bishop John Keehner's letter of support for the Pentecost weekend Aid to Domestic Churches special collection.

Cell phones are disappearing from diocesan classrooms. In January 2025, the Diocese of Sioux City School Board approved a ban on cell phones, smart watches and other communications devices during school day. Last month, when Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the HF 782 to limit cell phones in public schools, it was widely covered by media. The diocesan school board started discussions last fall about changing the current cell phone use policy. Patty Lansink, superintendent of Catholic schools, said she originally drafted a lengthy policy, but eventually the board adopted a more concise version.

LUMEN MEDIA Report – The Catholic Schools Office for the Diocese of Sioux City has announced winners of this year’s Bishop’s Education Awards. They will receive their awards at the fall Ministries Conference. Four teachers received Excellence in Education Awards and two staff members received Good Shepherd Awards.