Illuminating Catholics

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...

Send us Fan Mail Hosts of Illuminating Catholics Director of Communications Dawn Prosser and Director of Faith Formation Karmen Bower of the Diocese of Sioux City (Iowa) share their vision for the podcast. Also, learn more about their backgrounds and what brought them together to present Illuminating Catholics. They also share their history and interest in sharing Catholic Church topics via podcas...