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For Respect Life Month, Prosser and Karmen Bower shine a light on Dawn Grimes of Mary's Choice Family Resource Center in Sioux City and Jason Schwarte of New Creation Pregnancy Resource Center in Carroll. Learn more about the great work of these organizations to support life and support moms and families in this episode.

Find more information about Mary's Choice at:  Mary's Choice - Get Help | Services | Diapers

Find more information about New Creation at: New Creation Pregnancy Resource Center - 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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National Catholic speaker Braden Johnson will serve as keynote for the Nov. 2 Called Youth Conference in Granville. He shares his faith journey from attending parties and working in the entertainment industry to an invitation to spend time in adoration, which changed his life to focus upon his relationship with the Lord. Find out more about why he is driven to "awaken hearts to fulfilment that can only be found in God."

Called is for middle and high school students and will include talks from Braden, adoration, confession, games, crafts, service project and All Souls' Day prayer for the faithful departed in the parish cemetery. The event ends with 4 p.m. Mass with Bishop John Keehner. Learn more or sign up at: www.scdiocese.org/called. Cost is only $20.

Learn more about Johnson at his website www.createtheculture.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.

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The Diocese of Sioux City is offering four Cycle Prep sessions for mothers and their young daughters starting Oct. 22. Andrea Ault, Bishop Garrigan High School alumna, will serve as facilitator for the Cycle Prep sessions. She shares how she learned about the Cycle Prep program and how it aligns with church teaching about the human body and God's design for our bodies. 

For more information about the sessions held in Le Mars, Fort Dodge, Algona and Carroll, or to register for an upcoming session click here. 

Additional resources from Ault:

Andrea Ault is a certified FEMM and teenFEMM teacher, a hormone coach through the Fiat Institute, and serves as the Community and Affiliate Coordinator for Pearl & Thistle. She is passionate about helping women and girls understand their bodies and cycles with confidence and clarity.

Andrea teaches teens, single women, and couples how to chart their cycles—both in person and virtually—through Radiant Clinic (https://radiantclinic.com/) a natural women’s health and fertility center based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Have questions about the workshop, cycle charting, NFP, or hormonal imbalance? Feel free to reach out to Andrea directly: 📧 [email protected]

Cycle Prep: First Period Course for Girls (Individual use)

https://pearlandthistle.podia.com/cycle-prep-first-period-course-for-girls/1l8s9

Cycle Prep: First Period Course for Girls (Group Hosting for up to 30 Families)

https://pearlandthistle.podia.com/a60d07fb-5424-4dc0-af28-fba100b164b7/1l8s9

Cycle Prep *En Español* Curso Sobre Primer Periodo (Uso individual)

https://pearlandthistle.podia.com/cycle-prep-en-espanol/1l8s9

 Cycle Prep *En Espanol* Curso (Para Grupos)

https://pearlandthistle.podia.com/22484b4c-793e-4443-8e84-4076b375f0f0/1l8s9

What Parents Should Know About (Pre)Teen Periods

https://pearlandthistle.podia.com/what-parents-should-know-about-pre-teen-periods/1l8s9

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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Maybe you've heard of Rachel's Vineyard or read about an upcoming retreat in your parish bulletin, but do you really know what it's about? Stormy Poss of Rachel's Vineyard is our guest, helping us to understand what the retreats entail and how they can help heal those hurt by a past abortion. Whether it's been a few years or decades, taking the time to step back and heal in a faith-filled environment. Stormy also shares how she became involved in the ministry and reflects on those who found healing and forgiveness after abortion. Learn more about Rachel's Vineyard and upcoming retreats around the region and around the country at: https://rachelsvineyard.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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Longtime priest for the Diocese of Sioux City, Fort Dodge native and St. Edmond graduate, Father Bill Schreiber of parishes in Jefferson, Churdan and Grand Junction joins us as we are celebrating Catechetical Sunday this week. 

Father Schreiber shares his experiences in adult faith formation throughout his ministry, including the "pre-RCIA" years and how it has evolved to the current day. He noted he is looking forward to learning more about OCIA at this week's workshops. (See www.scdiocese.org/ocia for information on registering for the Sept. 27 workshop for initiation team members, held in Storm Lake. All are welcome.) 

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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Following up from an episode last March, producer Savannah Crossfield of Lucidity Pictures discusses an upcoming 6-part docuseries, Cradled in Glass - the cold, hard truth about IVF. The producer walks us through her curiosity about the hundreds of thousands of abandoned frozen embryos in the United States and how that sparked the desire to produce a docuseries that explores some bioethical considerations. The series takes a deep dive into IVF science and processes, embryonic research, unintentional death of embryos, and the legal considerations regarding embryos and and abandoned embryos. Crossfield hopes to bring the facts regarding IVF to the public that are not often discussed or brought to light.

Our guest discusses embryo adoption as one of the current trends, which is covered in the docuseries. See document regarding the church and embryo adoption here.

See the church's document Dignitas Personae regarding the dignity of the human person.

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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The Msgr. Lafferty Tuition Foundation has been around for many years, providing scholarships for Catholic school parents and Iowa tax benefits for supporters. But do we still need MLTF with ESAs helping so many families? The answer is yes and Danbury Catholic School Principal Molly Petersen helps us to understand what this program really is and how it's crucial to help families - even with ESA dollars available. Also learn how donors benefit from participating and how the Danbury and surrounding community members support the school!

Learn more about contributing here: https://scdiocese.org/mltf

Apply for scholarship funds: https://scdiocese.org/scholarship

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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Elizabeth M. Kelly, award-winning speaker and author is the keynote speaker for the Nov. 15 diocesan Women's Gathering in Fort Dodge, Love Like a Saint, based up on her book of the same name. She contributes content to numerous publications, Relevant Radio, EWTN and others. 

She shares how the book came to be, how to read and pray with it and what Women's Gathering participants can take home with them after the event. 

Learn more about Liz here.

Learn more about the Love Like a Saint event and/or register 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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Father Michael Cronin, pastor of St. Rose of Lima in Denison, recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of his priestly ordination by participating in a Camino this summer. He shares the history behind this spiritual and physical journey, why pilgrims are called to walk the Camino and how he prepared for the walk.

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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*Note to parents - some of the content discussed regarding human trafficking and sex trafficking may not be suitable for younger listeners. 

Sister Shirley Fineran, OSF, longtime social work professor is a regular speaker on human trafficking in our nation and even in northwest Iowa. She shares what human trafficking is, how men and women and children become trafficked and the mental and physical wounds they suffer from the experience. Sister Shirley separates truth from fiction about trafficking. She opened Lila Mae's House in the Sioux City area to provide a safe place for female victims with staff trained in trauma recovery for trafficked adults. the organization helps the women with wellness, job training, life skills and more. 

Human trafficking is a federal crime. Stay informed about human trafficking in our area at iowanaht.org (Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery).

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.