Lumen Media

10/02/2025

From LumeNotes:

Three Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sioux City will have increased access to mental and behavioral health care due to a three-year grant from the Wellmark Foundation totaling $232,500.

Patty Lansink, diocesan superintendent of Catholic Schools said the grant funds will benefit students at St. Rose of Lima School in Denison, St. Patrick School in Sheldon and St. Mary School in Storm Lake as they met the eligibility requirements.

The schools currently receiving mental health services through Catholic Charities therapists, but the grant will increase the access to two full days a week for St. Mary and one full day a week at both St. Rose of Lima and St. Patrick.

Three Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sioux City will have increased access to mental and behavioral health care due to a three-year grant from the Wellmark Foundation totaling $232,500.

10/01/2025

The Pontifical Mission Societies USA is inviting Catholics across the United States to unite in prayer this October by joining the daily recitation of the World Mission Rosary at 3 PM Eastern (2 PM Central, 1 PM Mountain, 12 Noon Pacific, 11 AM Alaska, 9 AM Hawaii) via Zoom, BEGINNING OCT. 1, the feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, patroness of the missions.

The initiative coincides with World Mission Month and leads up to World Mission Sunday on October 19, when every parish in the world prays for the missions and contributes to a universal collection supporting the 1,124 mission dioceses and territories where the Church is young, growing, and often facing poverty and persecution.

In his general audience of September 24, Pope Leo XIV invited Catholics everywhere to pray the Rosary daily throughout October for peace. The virtual World Mission Rosary promoted by The Pontifical Mission Societies USA, offers a concrete way to respond to this request.

“Pope Leo XIV has often urged us to pray for peace amidst the violence and conflict afflicting so many parts of the world. The World Mission Rosary gives us tangible means to do just that—lifting up each continent in prayer through Mary’s intercession,” said Monsignor Roger J. Landry, National Director. “We hope that this daily practice will help us remember our brothers and sisters in the Pope’s missions, many of whom live in countries scarred by war or religious persecution. By praying together and supporting the World Mission Sunday collection, we not only ask God for peace but also provide the resources the Church needs to bring Christ’s hope to those most in need.”

The World Mission Rosary was designed and promoted by Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen when he served as National Director of The Pontifical Mission Societies. Each decade of the rosary is dedicated to a different continent, fostering solidarity with the universal Church.

This is the Zoom link to join this daily initiative or scan the QR code on the graphic: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/5556577394?pwd=bgB3viGeaEJos1BIbPWIe8unNPfnH1.1

10/01/2025

From LumeNotes:

One can never have too many saints looking out for them in his or her life. Students at St. Edmond’s Catholic School in Fort Dodge have another heavenly friend to guide them as a new statue of St. John Bosco was dedicated in the school courtyard this week.

The life-size, bronze statue was blessed by Father Jake Rosenmeyer, school chaplain and Holy Trinity Parish parochial vicar, as students prayed along and learned a bit more about this saint who is a patron of both youth and educators.

“For teachers, St. John Bosco offers a lesson on teaching the charism of love and concern,” Father Rosenmeyer said. “For students, he shows a passion for the faith. To have a Catholic education is a huge gift for the students here.”

It was the St. Edmond’s Class of 2028 that led the effort to revitalize and place a statue in what had been a little-used courtyard, according to teacher Joan Shannon.

A little-used school courtyard is now home to a statue of St. John Bosco, new soil, plants and flowers thanks to the hard work of the Class of 2028 of Fort Dodge St. Edmond School and generous donors. Most notable is a life-sized bronze statue of St. John Bosco, blessed this week by Father Jake Rose...

09/30/2025

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 for today's episode, helping us to understand what the retreats entail and how they can help heal those hurt by a past abortion.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts or find it here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2418058/episodes/17912922

09/29/2025

From the recent LumeNotes AND Notas Lumen (Text Notes to 84576 to receive our Spanish language newsletter):

(Bilingual - see the link for Spanish)

From the U.S. Census:
National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the contributions of Americans tracing their roots to Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America and the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean. In 1968, Congress set aside a week for this observance and two decades later expanded it to a month stretching from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

The timing is historically significant as Sept. 15 is the anniversary of independence in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The designated period is also a nod to those from Mexico and Chile, which celebrate their independence Sept. 16 and Sept.18, respectively.

In the Diocese of Sioux City, the number of Hispanic parishioners continues to grow.

(Bilingual) National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the contributions of Americans tracing their roots to Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America and the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean. In 1968, Congress set aside a week for this observance and two decades later expanded it to a...

09/28/2025

From the recent LumeNotes: Nine middle and high school age parishioners of Storm Lake St. Mary Parish tried something new on Sept. 9 – attending 7 a.m. daily Mass as a group. After the Mass, they enjoyed donuts together in the parish center before heading off to their respective schools.

Amy Halder, Parish LifeTeen leader and St. Mary School student and family advocate, said the LifeTeen leadership team of herself, Kim Foell, Deb Peters and Dayna Toft, is encouraging students to make time for Mass each Tuesday morning and enjoy a light breakfast and social time following Mass

Nine middle and high school age parishioners of Storm Lake St. Mary Parish tried something new on Sept. 9 – attending 7 a.m. daily Mass as a group. After the Mass, they enjoyed donuts together in the parish center before heading off to their respective schools.

09/27/2025

From yesterday's LumeNotes:
Bancroft native and diocesan seminarian Thomas Kollasch is preparing for his ordination to the transitional diaconate on Oct. 2 at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Studying at The Pontifical North American College (PNAC) in Rome, he is one of a class of 17 to be ordained as deacons next week.

Ordination to the transitional diaconate is the final stage in seminary formation. The class of 17 will most likely be ordained as priests in June 2026. This week, Kollasch and his classmates are participating in a retreat prior to receiving holy orders.

Bancroft native and diocesan seminarian Thomas Kollasch is preparing for his ordination to the transitional diaconate on Oct. 2 at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Studying at The Pontifical North American College (PNAC) in Rome, he is one of a class of 17 to be ordained as deacons next week.

09/27/2025

Short video recap of the ministries conference in Carroll this week!

Educators at Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sioux City took part in the biennial Diocesan Ministries Conference that featured keynote speakers, workshops...

09/26/2025

From this morning's LumeNotes:

The Diocesan Ministries Conference held Sept. 22 at Kuemper High School and Holy Spirit Church in Carroll provided an opportunity for about 600 educators from all Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sioux City to come together for learning, prayer and networking.

According to Patty Lansink, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools, the theme of the conference was Embracing Innovation and Empowering Learners. She said the overall impression of the day was extremely positive.

The Diocesan Ministries Conference held Sept. 22 at Kuemper High School and Holy Spirit Church in Carroll provided an opportunity for about 600 educators from all Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sioux City to come together for learning, prayer and networking. According to Patty Lansink, diocesan....

09/24/2025

From LumeNotes: As we continue our Catechetical Sunday recognition this week, we highlight the parishes in Granville, Alton and Hospers for their family nights to build community and faith.

After COVID-19 kept religious education classes from meeting in person for several months, the parents in the Granville, Alton and Hospers parishes “were longing for face-to-face interaction in the community,” according to Diane Rainbolt, director of religious education (DRE) for the three paris...

09/23/2025

Continuing our Catechetical Sunday celebration, longtime diocesan priest Father Bill Schreiber of parishes in Jefferson, Churdan and Grand Junction talks about adult faith formation and catechesis throughout his years in ministry - including the "prek-RCIA" years through current day.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts or at: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2418058/episodes/17873997

09/22/2025

From LumeNotes: Trainers from the Josephinum Diaconate Institute recently led the continuing education session for our permanent deacons, stressing the need for continuing formation and planning for the changes of stages in a deacon's ministry.

The permanent deacons and candidates of the Diocese of Sioux City gathered in Storm Lake last weekend for their fall continuing education day to learn more about the role that ongoing formation should have in their lives. Instructors from the Josephinum Diaconate Institute – Deacon Matt Coriale, e...