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
Longtime priest for the Diocese of Sioux City, Fort Dodge native and St. Edmond graduate, Father Bill Schreiber of parishes in Jefferson, Churdan and Grand Junction joins us as we are celebrating Catechetical Sunday this week.
Father Schreiber shares his experiences in adult faith formation throughout his ministry, including the "pre-RCIA" years and how it has evolved to the current day. He noted he is looki...
Following up from an episode last March, producer Savannah Crossfield of Lucidity Pictures discusses an upcoming 6-part docuseries, Cradled in Glass - the cold, hard truth about IVF. The producer walks us through her curiosity about the hundreds of thousands of abandoned frozen embryos in the United States and how that sparked the desire to produce a docuseries that explores some bioethical considerations. The series ...
The Msgr. Lafferty Tuition Foundation has been around for many years, providing scholarships for Catholic school parents and Iowa tax benefits for supporters. But do we still need MLTF with ESAs helping so many families? The answer is yes and Danbury Catholic School Principal Molly Petersen helps us to understand what this program really is and how it's crucial to help families - even with ESA dollars available. ...
Elizabeth M. Kelly, award-winning speaker and author is the keynote speaker for the Nov. 15 diocesan Women's Gathering in Fort Dodge, Love Like a Saint, based up on her book of the same name. She contributes content to numerous publications, Relevant Radio, EWTN and others.
She shares how the book came to be, how to read and pray with it and what Women's Gathering participants can take home with them after t...
Father Michael Cronin, pastor of St. Rose of Lima in Denison, recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of his priestly ordination by participating in a Camino this summer. He shares the history behind this spiritual and physical journey, why pilgrims are called to walk the Camino and how he prepared for the walk.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern...
*Note to parents - some of the content discussed regarding human trafficking and sex trafficking may not be suitable for younger listeners.
Sister Shirley Fineran, OSF, longtime social work professor is a regular speaker on human trafficking in our nation and even in northwest Iowa. She shares what human trafficking is, how men and women and children become trafficked and the mental and physical wounds they suffer fro...
Dr. Ryan Allen of the FIRE Foundation of Northwest Iowa and diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Schools Patty Lansink share what the foundation does to facilitate inclusion in the 15 Catholic school systems in the diocese. Through grants and professional development opportunities, the foundation is supporting all diocesan schools. Students with disabilities can attend the same school as their siblings and friends than...
Revathi Vongsiprasom, immigration attorney, and Norma Garza-Ramirez, case manager, of the Welcome program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Sioux City serve many of the immigrants and refugees in northwest Iowa. They shared the challenges and struggles of their clients and ways they can assist. With the increased immigration enforcement in recent months, there is growing fear and uncertainty. Learn the facts fro...
In this episode of Illuminating Catholics, Matt Willkom of Iowa Catholic Radio shares where the station has recently expanded within the Diocese of Sioux City. Learn about Iowa Catholic Radio's local programming and some areas where they look to expand in the future.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more episodes on to...
For our 40th episode - Co-host Karmen Bower shares some of the efforts from her office during this busy summer (no rest for faith formation staff) including Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training in Le Mars.
The Office of Worship and the Office of Faith Formation offered a number of informational options regarding OCIA including a webinar, podcast episodes and regional meetings led by Father Andrew Galles, director o...
Our Faith Formation Office intern, alumna of Benedictine College and Sioux City Bishop Heelan High School, Grace Mahaney was called to participate in mission/service trips while in college. Now that she's earned her degree, she's going to embark upon a year of mission with Christ in the City, working with the homeless. Grace will live in community and get to know those experiencing homelessness in the Denver...
Pope Francis said artificial intelligence (AI) is an 'exciting and fearsome tool.' Our diocesan director of educational services, Kelly Kohout of the Catholic Schools Office dives into AI in the Catholic school setting. Learn if your students - and their teachers - are already using AI. How can AI enhance the educational experience in our Catholic schools?
How will YOU use AI? Try www.chatgpt.com for free.
Welcome to our second season as we begin the new fiscal year!
The new executive director of Siouxland Catholic Radio, Tim Swedean introduces himself and shares his vision for the Sioux City-based Catholic radio station. He was joined on the show by Tony Michaels, director of marketing and outreach, who is relatively new to the station. Learn how both men came from the secular business world to Catholic media. Tim and T...
We connected with Briar Cliff University alumna Beth Knobbe, senior trainer of presentations and facilitation for Catholic Relief Services in Chicago. Beth shares her appreciation for the Franciscan values she experienced at Briar Cliff. Her work with CRS includes talking to Catholic audiences about how our neighbors are across the street and across the globe as we are all God's children. She often speaks with Ca...
Deacon David Penton, coordinator of the Formation Office for the Permanent Diaconate, shares insights about his own journey to the diaconate, the formation process, what diaconate ministry looks like and more.
Learn more at: PERMANENT DIACONATE :: Diocese of Sioux City :: Sioux City, IA.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more...
Karmen Bower, director of the Office of Faith Formation, and her staff of three faith formation coordinators - Danielle Fennessy, Maddie McClarty and Delores Huemiller - share insights about their work in the Diocese of Sioux City. Learn how this office can help parishes in the diocese and about some of the upcoming programming.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to under...
In this episode of Illuminating Catholics, podcast hosts Dawn Prosser and Karmen Bower interview Maggie DeWitte, executive director of Pulse Life Advocates. Learn about this non-profit organization's prolife efforts. Find more information about Pulse Life Advocates at pulseforlife.org as well as the Iowa March for Life on June 21 in Des Moines.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – sh...
Faith Formation Office Coordinator, Danielle Fennessy, discusses the June 12 Miracle Church Bus trip for students in grades 6 to 8. Students will board busses in Willey and Breda about noon and then will visit the historic Carroll County churches in Breda, Mount Carmel, Templeton and Willey. Students will enjoy the journey together as well as experiencing the beauty at each site and how we can experience them with our...
Host Karmen Bower along with Allison Schoonover and Kathy Steffen of Carroll St. John Paul II Parish discuss Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) program. Also, those interested in learning more about CGS or want to implement it in your area, there will be Level I CGS training held in Carroll, starting Aug. 30. Be sure to check with your local parish to see if CGS is offered.
Helpful links as mentioned in the show:
Amy Jones of the Sioux City office and Lejeana Anliker of the Spencer office of Catholic Charities share the history and services offered through Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Sioux City. Learn more about the prevalence of mental health concerns with adults and children, how to get help and update on the construction and expansion. Remember to wear green May 15 to share the message to #makeitok and #stopthestig...
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