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Divine Mercy Parish of Kossuth County and West Bend has a 14 year relationship with their "twin parish" St. Jeanne de Chantal Parish in Haiti. Parish leaders Alan Laubenthal and Kim Dahlhauser share the history of the relationship, the poverty the Haitian parishioners experience and the importance of the twinning program. Divine Mercy has generously supported St. Jeanne de Chantal over the years, including raising emergency funds after a hurricane in 2014, establishing a medical clinic and mobile clinic. Divine Mercy members were awaiting a visit from Cardinal Chibly Langois of the Haitian Les Cayes Diocese this month until changes in immigration policy regarding Haitians squashed the plans. 

If you are interesting in helping St. Jeanne de Chantal Parish or want to explore the possibility of having your own twin parish, e-mail us at [email protected] and we will put you in touch. Or learn more here: https://dmparish.org/twin-parish-st-jeanne-de-chantal or Parish Twinning program of the Americas: https://ptpausa.org/

Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more episodes on topics of the Catholic faith. We are funded in part by Together As One - our diocesan annual appeal. For more news from the Diocese of Sioux City, visit lumenmedia.org.

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Co-founders of the wildly successful Christ Our Life Conference Ellen Miller and Marilyn Lane share their inspiration for the every other year conference and all the hands that make it possible. They share how they are able to attract world-class Catholic speakers and thousands of attendees. Miller and Lane invite all to consider attending what could be a life-changing event on  Sept. 26 and 27. More information on tickets and hotel information is on the website: https://christourlifeiowa.com/

Students 23 years of age and younger are free and have a separate track for part of the conference.

Can't travel to Des Moines? You can purchase a livestream ticket at https://christourlifeiowa.com/ and watch from the comfort of your home. 

Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more episodes on topics of the Catholic faith. We are funded in part by Together As One - our diocesan annual appeal. For more news from the Diocese of Sioux City, visit lumenmedia.org.

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Most are familiar with the FOCUS missionaries on college campuses, evangelizing college students during a critical time in their lives. St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll has hired the diocese's first parish-based FOCUS missionary - Gregory Kinser. He shares his journey joining the Catholic faith as a high school student, becoming a missionary after college and the move to Carroll. Kinser offers his vision for his new ministry at the parish and why he felt drawn to this new position. 

Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more episodes on topics of the Catholic faith. We are funded in part by Together As One - our diocesan annual appeal. For more news from the Diocese of Sioux City, visit lumenmedia.org.

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Father Jake Rosenmeyer, parochial vicar of Holy Trinity Parish of Webster County and St. Mary Parish in Humboldt, talks about the life of St. Francis, his devotion to this popular saint and his connection to St. Clare. Father also talks about Briar Cliff University, the Year of St. Francis and diocesan pilgrimage sites (go to www.scdiocese.org/stfrancis for more information). 

Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more episodes on topics of the Catholic faith. We are funded in part by Together As One - our diocesan annual appeal. For more news from the Diocese of Sioux City, visit lumenmedia.org.

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Rachelle Rawson, executive director and co-founder of the faith-based Agape Community Services based in Sioux City. She shares the mission of the organization to serve area men post-incarceration, recovering from addictions or mental illness. They learn responsibility, job skills, lives of service and how to be strong Christian husbands, fathers and community members. The goal is to strengthen families by strengthening fathers. Construction continues on the 24,000 square foot facility on 40 acres of land. The curriculum is evidence-based and has partnered with numerous organizations, non-profits and churches in the area. Learn how Agape will serve the families and communities in our region in this episode. Learn more about Agape at www.agapesiouxland.org. 

Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more episodes on topics of the Catholic faith. We are funded in part by Together As One - our diocesan annual appeal. For more news from the Diocese of Sioux City, visit lumenmedia.org.

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María Ruiz Scaperlanda of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City - promoter of the canonization cause for Blessed Stanley Rother, martyred in mission territory of Guatemala where he was ministering in the midst of a civil war. Scaperlanda  wrote the biography “The Shepherd Who Didn’t Run: Blessed Stanley Rother, Martyr from Oklahoma,” a widely praised biography of the first American-born priest recognized as a martyr by the Catholic Church. His beatification was in 2017.

 A documentary narrated by Martin Sheen, American Martyr - The Stanley Rother Story, hits select theaters in English Aug. 25 and 26 and in Spanish Aug. 27. Find tickets in or near your community HERE. 

Learn about the documentary, the cause for canonization, Maria's devotion to Blessed Rother and encouragement to pray for the intercession of Blessed Stanley Rother in this episode. Report a miracle or favor: https://archokc.org/rothermiracle

Maria also shares a message in Spanish in this episode for our Spanish-speaking parishes. 

Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more episodes on topics of the Catholic faith. We are funded in part by Together As One - our diocesan annual appeal. For more news from the Diocese of Sioux City, visit lumenmedia.org.

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High school senior Sam Lange of the Archdiocese of Dubuque is a member of the National Youth Advisory Council for the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, where he was encouraged to lead a service project. Lange has created the Iowan Eucharistic Procession project, collaborating with dioceses and parishes to organize eucharistic processions in each diocese. Bishops will bless large puzzle pieces in the shape of each diocese's geographical area at the processions. The pieces will be united into the shape of Iowa at the Christ our Life Conference in Des Moines Sept. 26 and 27. The Diocese of Sioux City's procession will be Sept. 20 at Sts. Peter and Paul in West Bend starting with 10 a.m. Mass with Bishop John Keehner. The 0.6 mile procession around the Shrine Grotto of the Redemption will include prayer and hymns with a a meal to follow in the parish hall.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more episodes on topics of the Catholic faith. We are funded in part by Together As One - our diocesan annual appeal. For more news from the Diocese of Sioux City, visit lumenmedia.org.

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Since our last interview with Dr. Ryan Allen of the FIRE Foundation of Northwest Iowa  (https://firefoundationnwiowa.org), the organization gave $80,000 in grants to diocesan Catholic schools to foster inclusion in the schools The mission of the foundation is to champion inclusion of students with disabilities in Catholic schools by providing resources, fundraising and fostering a culture of belonging. What started as meetings of groups of parents has grown into an organization affecting Catholic schools throughout the diocese. Funds are raised in part through the annual Ignite the FIRE event. This year's will be Sept. 16 at the Sioux City Distilling Company. Support the mission and learn more HERE.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more episodes on topics of the Catholic faith. We are funded in part by Together As One - our diocesan annual appeal. For more news from the Diocese of Sioux City, visit lumenmedia.org.

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Heidi Probasco, diocesan director of stewardship and development shares more about the Oct. 11, 2026 Bishop's Dinner for Catholic Schools. Tickets will go on sale July 27. Find out which teachers and Catholic school employees will be honored as well as the return of the Clergy Award. Heidi shares other details such as an opportunity to pray through sung solemn vespers (optional) and a display of art from our Catholic school students. Bishop John E. Keehner will be our keynote speaker talking about the gifts of our Catholic schools. Come join us at the Oct. 11 event at the Marriott Riverfront in South Sioux City. Go to https://www.scdiocese.org/bishops-dinner to purchase and for other information. 

Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more episodes on topics of the Catholic faith. We are funded in part by Together As One - our diocesan annual appeal. For more news from the Diocese of Sioux City, visit lumenmedia.org.

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Another corporal work of mercy in the Catholic tradition is feeding the hungry and the conversation for this episode is the work of The Siouxland Soup Kitchen. Executive Director Lyn Kluender explains how the kitchen is supported by area community members, businesses and churches of various denominations. The Siouxland Soup Kitchen opened in 1987 in St. Joseph Church in Sioux City solely to feed the hungry. Today, they also serve the food insecure, families, children and low income as well as the unhoused - anyone who is hungry. Donors and volunteers in the region support the kitchen with food, cash and volunteer time. Learn how anyone can volunteer and/or contribute at www.siouxlandsoupkitchen.com 

Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more episodes on topics of the Catholic faith. We are funded in part by Together As One - our diocesan annual appeal. For more news from the Diocese of Sioux City, visit lumenmedia.org.