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Mental health in our world, our country and even in the Diocese of Sioux City is a growing concern. Suicide rates are alarming. Is anyone immune from life and work stressors that can lead to mental health challenges?

Although his own children are grown, Jeff Zyzda mentioned he was “nudged by the Holy Spirit” to explore some type of altar server program that Mater Dei Parish in Sioux City could establish. “I grew up as an altar server at St. Francis, (a Sioux City parish that closed in the late 1990s),” said the member of the parish who is also a candidate for the permanent diaconate. “Like everyone, I enjoyed serving but I didn’t think that much about the impact.” It was about two years ago when Zyzda began to really ponder about what could be done to give altar servers a little more direction and support in their ministry.

The USCCB released a statement from the Department of Migration and Refugee Services Advocacy and Policy Office this week to articulate the Catholic elements of reform based on social teaching - Catholic elements of immigration reform.

Commentary by Sister Anne Marie Walsh, SOLT Most of us could stand to have a little more joy in our lives. In fact, St. Thomas Aquinas said that man cannot live without joy. And if he does not find authentic joy, he will inevitably be drawn to carnal delights (pleasures of the flesh) and the innumerable addictions that derive from them. Pope St. John Paul II speaks of joy this way, “God made us for joy. God is joy, and the joy of living reflects the original joy that God felt in creating us.”

Iowa State University Women's Basketball program announced that Algona Bishop Garrigan graduate Audi Crooks reached 1,000 career points in her 49th career game - the fastest of any ISU women's basketball player to reach this milestone.

Storm Lake St. Mary High School named the 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame athletes that will be inducted at the Jan. 17 homecoming game, including the 1935-36 boys' basketball team. In addition to their athletic victories, 10 of the 12 members served in the military during WWII. Other inductees will include Tim White, Class of 1987 and former boys' basketball coach, Brad Wilkening.

Auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Dallas, Most Reverend J. Gregory Kelly was named Bishop of Tyler on Dec. 20.

(bilingual) Merry Christmas! Christmas begins this evening with vigil Masses held in parishes throughout our diocese. We are filled with hope at the news of our Savior, born of a virgin in humble surroundings. Today is also the first day of the Jubilee Year 2025 – ending Dec. 23, 2025. The Holy Father will open the holy door at St. Peter’s Basilica at 7 p.m. local time (noon for northwest Iowans) on Christmas Eve.

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the USCCB offered a statement on the president's commutations of federal death row sentences.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis called on Catholics to focus their Holy Year 2025 pilgrimages on Jesus Christ, who is both the path and destination for Christian hope. At his general audience Dec. 18, the pope began a new series of talks on "Jesus Christ our hope," which he announced will the theme for his weekly catechesis throughout the Jubilee Year, which is set to begin with the opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter's Basilica Dec. 24. Jesus, "is the destination of our pilgrimage, and he himself is the way, the path to be traveled," he said in the Vatican audience hall.

A new video series produced by the Knights of Columbus proclaims the truth and beauty of the Catholic vision of marriage and family life in the modern world. The Into the Breach: Mission of the Family video series is to help people of all ages strengthen and grow in their faith as a family.

A papal Missionary of Mercy brought storytelling and humor to the Advent parish mission – “60 Minutes for Jesus” - held at St. Mary Church in Remsen Dec. 15 to 17 as he presented talks each night for parishioners of Remsen and Marcus. Father Jim Sichko, a native of Texas and priest of the Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky, each night of the mission featured a 60-minute talk focused on the general themes of kindness, trust and leadership.

(bilingual) We have an opportunity with our good works to make an impact upon the communities in the Diocese of Sioux City every Christmas with our annual Catholic Charities Christmas Eve and Christmas Day special collection at each parish. Tenemos la oportunidad con nuestras buenas obras para hacer un impacto en las comunidades en la Diócesis de Sioux City cada Navidad con nuestra colección especial anual de Caridades Católicas de Nochebuena y día de Navidad en cada parroquia.

Bishop appoints four priests to the diocesan Presbyteral Council.

Father Thomas J. Topf, 87, died Dec. 11, 2024, at Holy Spirit Retirement Home in Sioux City. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 17 at Holy Cross Parish, St. Michael Church in Sioux City with Bishop Walker Nickless as celebrant and Father Will Vit as homilist. Visitation will be Dec. 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. with a rosary and vigil service at 6 p.m. at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars.

When several communities within the Diocese of Sioux City were impacted by record flooding last summer, Catholic Charities was one of the resources available to help. “After the floods, Catholic Charities did a lot of work with survivors,” said Nate Phillips, a therapist with Catholic Charities in Sioux City. “We set up booths, did a lot of debriefings, provided direct assistance when available. It made me proud of the work we did.”

After six years of serving in Sioux City, on Dec. 11 Sister Gabrielle Marie Oestrich moved back to the Immaculata Monastery in Norfolk, Nebraska, where she will serve as the prioress of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. “I was extremely humbled to know that the sisters put their trust in me and have confidence that I can help lead our community into the future,” she said. “It is a job that involves being responsible for the sisters’ spiritual well-being as well as their normal needs.”

(bilingual) USCCB: Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe es un poderoso recordatorio de que todos estamos llamados a ser uno en Cristo Jesús Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Powerful Reminder That We Are All Called to Be One in Christ Jesus

Grace Notes column by Sister Anne Marie Walsh, SOLT Jesus has laid down several conditions for entering the kingdom of God. These are well known and, of course, revolve around eliminating sin in our lives and becoming holy, becoming like Jesus. But he also said we have to become like little children. The problem is that many of us wouldn’t fit through the heavenly gates the way we are now. Our giant ego, our giant pride, our giant sensitivity, our giant selfishness, our giant need to be in control, keep us spiritually “obese.” (Photo of Irish writer Oscar Wilde)

The Carroll St. John Paul II Parish leadership “sees a spark of a revival” in the parish and the larger church. They hope to see it spread. The parish is hosting a two-day School of Healing through Encounter Ministries Feb. 28 and March 1 at Holy Spirit Church in Carroll. Program marketing promises “teaching, activating (and) deploying Catholics to participate in the healing ministry of Jesus.”