Illuminating Catholics

Send us Fan Mail Do you try to read Scripture and maybe don't understand it at first? Our resident "Scripture Scholar," Father Tim Friedrichsen of Sacred Heart Parish in Sioux City enlightens listeners as he breaks down the senses of Scripture for us. Knowing the different types and intent of the authors, we can better understand what the words mean for us today. He recommends a Cat...

Send us Fan Mail Mental health therapist, Shalea Schloss of the Sioux City Catholic Charities office, is the guest for today's episode in light of Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month in April. She shares her background and interest in working in mental health, red flags to look for regarding potential child abuse and resources in northwest Iowa for children and families.  Helpful links...

Send us Fan Mail As Karmen said on the podcast - it's a bittersweet time as Bishop Walker Nickless is winding down his 19+ year time as serving as our bishop in the Diocese of Sioux City. He talks about his time growing up in Denver, his vocation story, parish ministry in the Archdiocese of Denver, the call to serve as the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City and his time as a bishop....

Send us Fan Mail Retired priests Father Craig Collison and Father Merlin Schrad have a long history of ministry in the diocese and also share a longtime friendship. Each share their background and ministry path. Surprisingly, they served in many of the same locations - just not at the same time. Although retired, they both remain busy with helping active priests by assisting with Masses, confessio...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we tackle a difficult topic in the church. We had a conversation with Katie McMahon of Shiloh post IVF Ministries about her infertility and IVF journey. We also explored the church's teaching regarding IVF and why it is not in alignment with the church. Learn more about the IVF process and the resources that Shiloh offers for parents who have used IVF or those...

Send us Fan Mail Joe and Matt share the loyalty of the Men's Conference attendees from year to year and why they keep coming back. The two Le Mars All Saints parishioners and conference organizers talk about what to expect at the Saturday, April 5 Men's Conference in Le Mars. Songwriter, singer and professional Catholic speaker Steve Angrisano is the keynote speaker. There will be breako...

Send us Fan Mail Retreat organizers Deacon Pat Brockhaus of Holy Cross Parish in Sioux City and Mary Lehr of Sacred Heart Parish have been working with Danielle Fennessy of the diocesan Faith Formation Office to present Into the Garden for any area youth grades 6-12. The retreat features Steve Angrisano and will be held April 6 at Sacred Heart Parish in Sioux City. (More information and registrati...

Send us Fan Mail Zooming in from Ashtabula, Ohio in the Diocese of Youngstown, Bishop-elect John E. Keehner joined our hosts for a conversation. Even if you watched the press conference, you will want to listen and learn more about the Bishop-elect's life in Ohio, what is ministry is like and what he is looking forward to when he takes possession of the diocese as our 8th bishop.  Please keep...

Send us Fan Mail Retired priest of the diocese and former diocesan director of worship, Father Bruce Lawler, is today's podcast guest. He shares his history serving in the diocese prior to his retirement and talks about the pillars of Lent - prayer, fasting and almsgiving, what they mean and why we participate in these practices. He also discusses other important Lenten activities that help u...

Send us Fan Mail Trinity Heights Queen of Peace Shrine in Sioux City is one of the four 2025 Year of Hope Jubilee pilgrimage sites . Terry Hegarty, longtime executive director, has a wealth of knowledge of the history of the shrine and its features, such as the large statues. He also shares about the EWTN Hidden Gems filming (also at the Grotto of the Redemption), and the beautiful new chapel that...

Send us Fan Mail We had a conversation with Tom Chapman, executive director of the Iowa Catholic Conference, explaining what the ICC is and how it serves our bishop and Catholics throughout our state. He is a native son of the diocese from Spirit Lake and shares his background, his work at the state capitol and working with the four Iowa bishops. Learn why we should be informed about legislative i...

Send us Fan Mail Learn more about the history of jubilees, 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope pilgrimage sites in the Diocese of Sioux City and how a pilgrim can obtain plenary indulgences during this holy year. Our diocesan Director of Worship Father Andrew Galles explains everything jubilee for us.  Learn more about the diocesan jubilee year here .   Learn more about Father David Esquiliano's Jubile...

Send us Fan Mail Hosts of the March 1 Turn youth conference share how they have collaborated to offer this regional event - open to all youth in grades 7-12 in the diocese. Megan Ulrich of Ascension Parish based in Boone, Sandra Hildreth of Our Lady of the Plains Parish based in Lake City and Stephanie Hall of St. Joseph Parish in Jefferson (all of Greene County). The Ascension Parish faith format...

Send us Fan Mail Catholic Schools Week special edition! Briar Cliff University students Trey Jungers and Derek Scheuring talk about living out their faith on a Catholic college campus. Jungers is a graduate of Newell-Fonda High School and Scheuring is an alumnus of Denison St. Rose of Lima and Denison High School. They share why they chose a Catholic college and how important it was to them to rec...

Send us Fan Mail Patty Lansink, our diocesan superintendent of schools, talks about the 15 different Catholic school systems in the diocese and how each has a unique character to serve students of all faiths, cultures and abilities. System-wide, enrollment has collectively risen 5% over last year. Lansink also shares how the MLTF program and ESAs help make Catholic education more affordable for pa...

Send us Fan Mail Sister Anne Marie Walsh of the Society of Our Lady of the Trinity authors a column for Lumen Media and is a speaker and retreat leader. She lives near Willey (Carroll County) at the Domus Trinitatis Center for renewals and retreats.  Sister Anne Marie shares her history growing up in a Catholic community outside Milwaukee. She first discerning a vocation in a time when the religio...

Send us Fan Mail Hosts of the popular Outcast Catholic podcast are also our diocesan Office of Vocations leaders. Father Shane Deman is director of seminarians for our diocese and also vice-rector at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary and Father Travis Crotty is director of vocations as well as chaplain for Sioux City Bishop Heelan High School and Briar Cliff University. They share their vocations stories a...

Send us Fan Mail Happy New Year's Eve! Sister Jane Conrad and Sister Joy Peterson of the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary out of Dubuque share the rich history of ministry of the community with roots in Cork, Ireland, as they celebrate 150 years of "tending the light." Learn why the lantern is an important symbol of the sisters, the start of their ministry in the Dioc...

Send us Fan Mail Deacon Jake Rosenmeyer, seminarian for the Diocese of Sioux City studying at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, discusses his thesis regarding care for the earth. He shares highlights from A Theology of Agriculture and its Relationship with Laudato Si, including Scripture basis from Genesis, the dignity of work and feeding the world and man's role as steward of the land. Living in a r...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Matthew Draud , the new president of Briar Cliff University, shared his extensive background in higher education and the path that led him to the top leadership role at Briar Cliff. He shares his impressions of Briar Cliff with its Franciscan values and Franciscan roots, academic and campus highlights that attract students to the only Catholic university in the diocese. The pr...

Send us Fan Mail Msgr. Ed Girres, rector of the West Bend Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption helps us to understand the rich history of the shrine and how to encounter Christ in a pilgrimage to the shrine. You will learn which grotto is Monsignor's favorite and what is significant about the center of the campus of the shrine. Monsignor shared that the grotto (and Trinity Heights) will be...

Send us Fan Mail Diocesan judicial vicar and pastor of the Cathedral Parish in Sioux City Father David Esquiliano discusses marriage from a canon law (church law) perspective. He explains how marriages between a man and a woman are a covenant founded in Scripture and how a couple preparing for marriage with a priest is preparing for a life together, not just the sacramental ceremony itself. We als...

Send us Fan Mail What was known as RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) is now OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults). But what does this mean for those looking to join the church or for the faithful in the pews? (Hint: the faithful in the pews are an important component of OCIA.) Diocese of Sioux City Director of Worship Father Andrew Galles and Director of Faith Formation Karm...

Send us Fan Mail Father Tim Friedrichsen, pastor of Sioux City Sacred Heart Parish and Scripture scholar shares what we will hear proclaimed in the readings at Sunday Mass this Advent. Father noted we will hear from the book of Luke this year. Join us as we take a deeper dive into the Scripture, guided by Father Friedrichsen.  Father has served on the faculty of Catholic University of America in W...

Send us Fan Mail Executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Sioux City, Amy Bloch, discusses the state of youth mental health in the nation and in northwest Iowa. As children are experiencing depression and even contemplating suicide, parents, schools and therapists can ensure they receive help. Bloch shares the warning signs, how to get help and discusses the new Angeline's W...