Illuminating Catholics

Send us Fan Mail 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 fami...

Send us Fan Mail 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 ordai...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail Our director of worship, Father Andrew Galles explains what the anointing of the sick is, when it should ideally be administered and changes in the rite. He also answers practical questions such as when should you call a priest? What is Extreme Unction and is that still a term we use? It's good to have this information before you need it for yourself or a loved one.  Thank yo...

Send us Fan Mail Retired priests in the diocese remain active - really active - by volunteering their time in our parishes, schools and communities. Father Rich Ball of Mapleton and Father Tom Hart of Humboldt share their biographies and histories in the diocese. They also share the many ways that they remain very active and are invaluable providing ministry and work in their respective areas. Be...

Send us Fan Mail Our diocesan judicial vicar, Father David Esquiliano, dispels myths and misconceptions about cremation in the church. He shares the history of the practice and what the preferred practices for funerals, burial and care of cremated remains (also called cremains). Learn the facts for when you plan for your final plans or for a loved one. Thank you for listening to this episode of Il...

Send us Fan Mail Dawn Prosser interviews Dr. Ray Gaurendi who will be the keynote speaker of the 2026 Men's Conference slated for March 21 at All Saints Parish, St. Joseph Church, in Le Mars, Iowa. Learn about the theme of the conference, why men would be interested in attending the gathering and why it's important for men to stand firm in their faith. To sign up for the conference, go t...

Send us Fan Mail Our diocesan director of education services, Kelly Kohout, as been part of a collaborative effort to rewrite and re-tool the assessment that Catholic schools and religious education programs can use to measure the effectiveness of their religion curriculum. She explains how the ACRE (Assessment of Catholic Religious Education) is used in our diocesan Catholic schools as well as ar...

Send us Fan Mail As we prepare for the Lenten season, beginning with Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, do we really know what we are commemorating? Are we making the most of this penitential season of Lent? One of our vicars general and pastor of Mater Dei Parish in Sioux City Father Brad Pelzel helps break down the season for us and offers practical suggestions for your Lenten journey.  There's still...

Send us Fan Mail Bishop John Keehner makes his first appearance on the podcast since his May 1 ordination (he did join us while still Bishop-elect in March 2025). As the faithful are getting to know him, they often ask what his hobbies are. Today he talks extensively about his genealogy research and what he has learned about him family and relationships from this research. There were even a few su...

Send us Fan Mail The diocese's new director of stewardship and development, Heidi Probasco, shares the news that the Bishop's Dinner for Catholic Schools is returning to the diocese! Probasco shares the details and a few new twists to engage more Catholic school supporters. A great announcement for Catholic Schools Week! Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics –...

Send us Fan Mail The author of A Place Called Golgotha: Meditations on the Last Words of Christ, Elizabeth "Liz" Kelly joined us for an episode to focus on the book, which is the basis for the Lent 2026 diocese wide study. She discusses when and why she started authoring faith-based books and the background behind writing A Place Called Golgotha. Each section of the book includes storyte...

Send us Fan Mail Certified Catholic divorce healing coaching of Abounding Joy Ministry will be leading the online Build a New Life workshop for separated and divorced Catholics, offered through a partnership with the Diocese of Sioux City. The workshop begins Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. Central time. Register and find the generous discount codes for the 12-week workshop at scdiocese.org/divorce .  She talks...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 parishione...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 i...

Send us Fan Mail 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 outsi...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 contri...

Send us Fan Mail 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 p...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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:  Mar...