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Fort Dodge St. Edmond Catholic School Chaplain Father Jake Rosenmeyer and Sioux City Bishop Heelan High School Campus Minister Grace Lange join us for the first episode of 2026. The two share how they keep the faith alive in their schools, helping to maintain the Catholic identity on the campus. Be sure to listen for a surprising experience that Father Rosenmeyer and Grace have in common!

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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Parishioners of Spencer Sacred Heart Parish want to make sure no one has to spend their Christmas dinner alone. The faithful volunteer on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to host a meal in their parish center for anyone who wants to come. The tradition began when Father Roger Linnan (now retired) was pastor and he wanted to host a Christmas dinner. Longtime volunteer and parishioner Kris McDermott shares how the dinner started and how the Sacred Heart community comes together to make it happen year after year.

This is our last episode of 2025. We will be back with a new episode Jan. 6. Merry Christmas from Illuminating Catholics! Have a blessed holiday.

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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Retired diocesan priest and Ayrshire native (Emmetsburg Catholic High School alumnus) Father Emmet Farrell was ordained in 1965 and after three years left diocesan ministry for missionary work in Latin America. Returning to the United States in the 1980s, much of his focus was on social justice issues. After Pope Francis' encyclical, Laudato Si (Care for our Common Home), was released in 2015, the retired priest started the Care of Creation Ministry in the Diocese of San Diego, regarded as a leader in creation care. Father Farrell received The Pope John XXII Award from the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests for his work.

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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Brandon Marsh, executive director of the Coralville John Paul II Medical Research Institute shares the mission of the institute, which is guided by Catholic moral teachings "and serving the sanctity of all human life." Founded by Dr. Alan Moy in 2007, the institute funds ethical research and advances in health care that reflect the teachings of the Catholic Church. The institute's foundation provides grants and financial support to organizations that uphold the sanctity of all human life in their work. Listen to the episode and be sure to visit their website at https://www.jp2mri.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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Father Andrew Galles, our diocesan director of worship, shares the hopeful anticipation of the season of Advent with us. From the Isaiah readings at daily Masses to the weekend Gospel readings, O Antiphons, the collect (opening prayers) and the beautiful liturgical music of Advent, the church offers so much to help us truly experience Advent. Father Galles offers suggestions outside of the liturgy for the faithful to best prepare for the great feast of Christmas after the conclusion of Advent. You won't want to miss this episode!

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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Diocesan archivist Cecilia Lopez shares the history of the diocese serving vulnerable populations. She takes us back in time to the establishment of the good Shepherd Home for Girls, St. Monica's Home for Unwed Mothers and St. Anthony's Orphanage. Each was located in Sioux City but served people in need from a much larger geographical area. Learn more about the issues of that time, Bishop Garrigan's leadership and the priceless contribution of religious communities in caring for our most vulnerable populations. 

Love history? Check out the Lumen Media/Globe archives 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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We hear the term pastoral planning, but do we know what it is and what it entails? It’s a tough topic and often emotional and we have straight talk on this episode with Deacon Mark Prosser, director of pastoral planning and Bishop John Keehner’s chief of staff, and Father David Esquiliano, diocesan judicial vicar and pastor of the Sioux City Cathedral Parish, to help us understand what’s happening in the diocese and around the nation. Learn more about the terminology used, history and data regarding pastoral planning in the diocese. 

More information is available 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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Norma Garza-Ramirez and Laura Duenas of Catholic Charities share the increase in requests for aid at their office - even before the SNAP cuts - for food, coats, help with utilities and rent, etc. They also refer people to the myriad of resources available in the event that they are not able to help.

Those wishing to help can contact their local Catholic Charities office and contribute towards gift cards or other needs in your area. For information about Catholic Charities or to find an office near you, go to www.cathchar.com.

The Sioux City Office phone number is (712) 252-4547.

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 lead up to our observance of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, we had a conversation with two of our diocesan retired priests who also served as military chaplains. Msgr. Ken Seifried, Manson native, served as a U.S. Army chaplain and Father Francis Higgins, Fonda native,  served as a chaplain for the U.S. Air Force. They share their vocation stories and why they wanted to serve as priest-chaplains. We thank these men for both their service as priests and their military service. 

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 prepare for National Vocations Awareness Week Nov. 2 through 8, we interviewed leaders of two groups in the diocese that focus on supporting vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Andrea Bengford of the St. Serra Club of Siouxland and Kris Boeckman of the Carroll Area Vocations Ministry. they share how their groups operate and some of their activities to help foster vocations in our diocese. 

To contact Andrea Bengford - [email protected]

To contact Kris Boeckman - [email protected]

Also, be sure to check out the diocesan vocations website at siouxcitypriest.org.

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.