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We had a conversation with Jim Murray, our new interim superintendent from Humboldt, and Dr.  Dora Jung, our new Director of Catholic Schools from Sioux City, who will be leading our Catholic Schools Office. They both will hit the ground running July 1 as they begin their new positions with the Diocese of Sioux City and become acquainted with communities, schools, administrators and students. In this episode, you will "meet" Jim and Dora and catch the excitement they have for our unique 14 Catholic school systems in the diocese. 

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 Dan Greving, native of Willey and pastor of St. Donatus Parish (Alton, Granville and Hospers churches), helps us to understand Mary's role in the church, her intercessory role, basis in Scripture, Marian feast days and devotions for the Month of May. He clears up misconceptions such as worshipping Mary, adoration vs. veneration and praying to Mary versus requesting her intercession. 

For more in Marian theology, Father recommends The Heart of Mary: Marian Theology and Doctrine and Introduction to Mary by Dr. Mark Miravalle.

Another resource - Hail, Holy Queen by Scott Hahn.

Not sure how to pray the rosary, our "go-to devotion" to Mary? Here's a guide: https://www.usccb.org/how-to-pray-the-rosary

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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We interviewed Jerrett and Luisa Wendt of Built on Rock Parent Coaching. They share the journey that led them to Built on Rock, a Catholic parenting program. Despite many parenting courses, they found themselves at "rock bottom" and found a faith based approach. They will be presenting to parish formation leaders at a workshop in June and offering an evening session in Spanish. Learn more about the resources they offer at www.builtonrock.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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Podcast co-hosts Dawn Prosser and Karmen Bower interview Father David Esquiliano, judicial vicar for the Diocese of Sioux City, about the Freemasons and Catholic teaching about the fraternal organization.

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 Travis Crotty, director of vocations, shares the activities planned for the upcoming months including the June 1-4 Quest pilgrimage to Pilsen, Kansas, hometown of Father Emil Kapaun, servant of God, and Oklahoma City to visit the shrine of Blessed Stanley Rother. Also, there is a July 31 to Aug. 2 Quo Vadis retreat in the Iowa Great Lakes region. Learn more or register here. He explains the highlights of each opportunity. Both trips are designed for men high school (finished at least their freshman year) through college age. Visit www.siouxcitypriest.org for the Vocations Office website. 

Ordinations open to the public, held at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Epiphany:

June 6 – transitional diaconate ordination of James Fitzsimmons and Garrett Hugeback

June 27 – priestly ordination of Deacon Thomas Kollasch (livestreamed on the diocese YouTube channel)

August 1 – permanent diaconate ordination of Kevin Holzman, Jeff Schoep, Will Swanson and Jeff Zyzda (livestreamed on the diocese YouTube channel)

Pray for vocations!

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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Our embedded Catholic Mutual Group claims and risk manager, Dustin Heino, discusses the work of Catholic Mutual, including providing support and resources for parishes enhancing their safety and security measures. As there have been acts of violence, medical emergencies, natural disasters and other situations at houses of worship around the country, parishes need to be prepared for the worst and pray for the best. Dustin has provided numerous resources for parishes and has helped parishes form their own safety and security teams and develop safety plans in the Diocese of Sioux City. He points out it is our moral, ethical and legal obligation to be prepared - is your parish prepared? Resources available at www.cmgconnect.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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Catholic therapist Justin Derry has recently served as breakout speaker for two diocesan conferences - the Turn Youth Conference in Ogden and the March Men's  Conference in Le Mars. He shares an overview of his talking points from the presentations, including decision making, values and listening to God from a Catholic perspective. He also shares about his background and family. Justin lives in rural Granville and practices through Integrative Psychology Services.

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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Kenrick-Glennon Seminarians Jimmy Fitzsimmons of Sioux City and Garrett Hugeback of Wall Lake stopped into our podcast studio on their Easter break for today's episode! They share their vocation stories as well as a glimpse into seminary life. They also give us an overview of their thesis topics. They will be ordained as transitional deacons June 6 at the Cathedral, and ordained as priests (God willing!) in 2027. Keep them and all our seminarians in prayer.

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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As we approach Divine Mercy Sunday on April 12, we had a conversation with Father Matthew Solyntjes, pastor of Divine Mercy Parish of Kossuth County and West Bend. Father Solyntjes unpacks the Divine Mercy with the history and St. Faustina's role, Divine Mercy devotions, and how the fairly new parish selected its patronage. 

St. Faustina's diary

Divine Mercy events 2026

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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Dr. Matthew Draud, president of Briar Cliff University, and Dr. Michael Horka, campus minister at Briar Cliff, help us to usher in the Year of St. Francis at the Franciscan university. Bishop John Keehner has designated BCU's Our Lady of Grace Chapel and St. Francis of Assisi Church in Rockwell City as pilgrimage sites for the jubilee year. In this episode, we learn about the Franciscan values that direct the university, what's going on at BCU today, the Franciscan sisters' involvement and how to visit the chapel on campus during this jubilee year.

Follow BCU's events here: https://www.briarcliff.edu/current-chargers/upcoming-events

To contact Dr. Horka: [email protected]

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.