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Illuminating Catholics
Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church
Welcome to the Illuminating Catholics - podcast of the Diocese of Sioux City. Your hosts are Dawn Prosser, director of Communications for the diocese and Karmen Bower of the Faith Formation Office. We will shed light upon topics of faith in the modern church. Our guests include Catholic clergy, religious sisters and other experts in their fields to help us understand what’s happening in the church today. We will explore issues (even tough ones) and find answers to common questions about Catholicism. Thank you for joining us for today’s Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Be sure to subscribe!
We are funded in part by the generous donations to Together as One - Our Diocesan Annual Appeal.
Episodes
87 episodes
Serving those experiencing homelessness - Shayla Moore of The Warming Shelter
Wrapping up Season Two with Shayla Moore, executive director of The Warming Shelter in Sioux City. As it is a Corporal Work of Mercy to provide shelter to those experiencing homelessness, in this episode, we learn more about the origins of the ...
Our Lady of Champion - Catholic saints exhibit and national novena
Looking for a regional site for a meaningful road trip? The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Champion, Wisconsin is about 7 to 8 hours away from diocesan parishioners, and many have visited. John Paul Brissette of the shrine shares th...
Beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen with Peoria Bishop Tylka
Diocese of Peoria Bishop Louis Tylka invites all to make a pilgrimage to St. Louis Sept. 24 to celebrate the beatification of Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen. The archbishop is a native of Peoria and was a pioneer in using the new media to ev...
CGS and upcoming trainings with Kelley Grothus of Ascension Parish
Kelley Grothus, director of religious education (DRE) of Ascension Parish - St. Malachy Church in Madrid is passionate about Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. She shares her history of working with the program, how it works and how it meets the ...
Bishop Keehner on his pastoral letter Sic Deus Dilexit Mundum
Bishop John E. Keehner promulgated his first pastoral letter on May 31 - solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. The letter, Sic Deus Dilexit Mundum, God So Loved the World - A pastoral reflection on the meaning of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for our...
Meet the new school leadership team Jim Murray and Dr. Dora Jung
We had a conversation with Jim Murray, our new interim superintendent from Humboldt, and Dr. Dora Jung, our new Director of Catholic Schools from Sioux City, who will be leading our Catholic Schools Office. They both will hit the ground r...
Month of Mary with Father Dan Greving
Father Dan Greving, native of Willey and pastor of St. Donatus Parish (Alton, Granville and Hospers churches), helps us to understand Mary's role in the church, her intercessory role, basis in Scripture, Marian feast days and devotions for the ...
Built on Rock Parent Coaching
We interviewed Jerrett and Luisa Wendt of Built on Rock Parent Coaching. They share the journey that led them to Built on Rock, a Catholic parenting program. Despite many parenting courses, they found themselves at "rock bottom" and found a fai...
Judicial vicar discusses church teaching on Freemasons
Podcast co-hosts Dawn Prosser and Karmen Bower interview Father David Esquiliano, judicial vicar for the Diocese of Sioux City, about the Freemasons and Catholic teaching about the fraternal organization.
Vocations events with Fr. Travis Crotty
Father Travis Crotty, director of vocations, shares the activities planned for the upcoming months including the June 1-4 Quest pilgrimage to Pilsen, Kansas, hometown of Father Emil Kapaun, servant of God, and Oklahoma City to visit the shrine ...
Safety and security in parishes with Dustin Heino
Our embedded Catholic Mutual Group claims and risk manager, Dustin Heino, discusses the work of Catholic Mutual, including providing support and resources for parishes enhancing their safety and security measures. As there have been acts of vio...
Conversation with Justin Derry on decision making, values and listening to God
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 pres...
Kenrick seminarians share formation experience
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. ...
Divine Mercy unpacked with Father Matthew Solyntjes
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 ro...
Year of St. Francis with Briar Cliff University leadership
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 ...
Conversation on anointing of the sick with Father Galles
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...
Conversation with retired priests Father Ball and Father Hart
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 dioces...
What does the church teach about cremation with Father Esquiliano
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...
Conversation about 2026 Men's Conference with Dr. Ray
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 inter...
Revamped ACRE assessment with Kelly Kohout
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 religio...
All about Lent with Father Pelzel
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 Siou...
Conversation with Bishop Keehner on genealogy
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 exten...
Bishop's Dinner returns - conversation with Heidi Probasco
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 schoo...
Conversation with Liz Kelly on diocese Lenten book study
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...
Carolyn Klika Catino of Abounding Joy Ministry
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 J...
