Illuminating Catholics

Dawn Prosser and Karmen Bower
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Christianity
  • Weekly

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! Sound editing and episode artwork is by Renee Webb, design and content coordinator for the Diocese of Sioux City Office of Communications. We are funded in part by the generous donations to Together as One - Our Diocesan Annual Appeal.

  1. 8h ago

    Vocations Awareness Week 2026 with Father Jones and Deacon Goebel

    Send us Fan Mail The newest members of the Office of Vocations team - Father Zach Jones and Deacon Dan Goebel - join us for a special edition for National Vocations Awareness Week. They work alongside Vocations Director Father Travis Crotty, Director of Seminarians Father Shane Deman and Benefits Coordinator Michelle Steinbach. Learn about the annual events including Quest and Quo Vadis in the summer and the Thinking of Priesthood Day and Fireside retreat in the coming weeks. Father Jones also shares his Meatless Fridays for vocations initiative in hopes that the diocesan faithful will participate. Learn more at www.siouxcitypriest.com.  Father Crotty's memo on vocation lesson plans for K-12 HERE. Meatless Fridays video: HERE Seminarian Appeal: HERE Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more episodes on topics of the Catholic faith. We are funded in part by Together As One - our diocesan annual appeal. For more news from the Diocese of Sioux City, visit lumenmedia.org.

    Vocations Awareness Week 2026 with Father Jones and Deacon Goebel

  2. Oct 27

    Nuts and bolts of the Iowa Catholic SGO with Steve Kane

    Send us Fan Mail Starting Jan. 1, 2027, donors can earn dollar for dollar federal tax credits by supporting the Iowa Catholic Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). In turn, families desiring a Catholic school education have another tool to help them finance the cost. Steve Kane is our guest to explain how the SGO works and why we need this organization to provide school choice for our families.  Follow updates from the Iowa Catholic SGO on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61592299305655 Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more episodes on topics of the Catholic faith. We are funded in part by Together As One - our diocesan annual appeal. For more news from the Diocese of Sioux City, visit lumenmedia.org.

    Nuts and bolts of the Iowa Catholic SGO with Steve Kane

  3. Oct 20

    Jennie Murray of the National Immigration Forum

    Send us Fan Mail Pope Leo, the USCCB, the U.S. Border bishops, the Iowa Catholic bishops and Bishop John E. Keehner of the Diocese of Sioux City have all spoken out urging for meaningful immigration reform and defending the God-given of all human beings, regardless of immigration status.  Jennie Murray, president and CEO of the National Immigration Forum, shares the work of this non-partisan group that works to advocate for commonsense solutions for immigration reform, ensuring immigrants reach their fullest potential in this country, and share the value of immigration to this country, recognizing the dignity of each human being.  The Bibles, Badges and Business efforts of the forum bring together faith leaders, law enforcement and businesses to share the importance of immigrants in this country, contributing to our houses of worship, our communities and our workforce.  The Catholic Church is involved with the Forum with faith leaders from around the country including Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, who is very vocal regarding immigration and the church's position. Learn more about the complex issue of immigration and the work of the Forum and sign up for the Forum Daily at www.forumtogether.org.  Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more episodes on topics of the Catholic faith. We are funded in part by Together As One - our diocesan annual appeal. For more news from the Diocese of Sioux City, visit lumenmedia.org.

    Jennie Murray of the National Immigration Forum

  4. Oct 13

    100th anniversary of World Mission Sunday with Ines San Martin

    Send us Fan Mail The Pontifical Missions Societies is celebrating the 100th World Mission Sunday on Oct. 18. Ines San Martin, editor of the Mission Magazine for the societies, explains the wide scope and profound impact of the four missions that make up the Pontifical Missions Societies. Ines shares the history of the societies, including the leadership of now-Blessed Fulton Sheen from 1950 to 1966. She also shares her on-the-ground experiences in the missions in various corners of the world as part of her work for the magazine, giving us a glimpse into the lives of the Catholic faithful outside of the United States.  She reminds listeners to never discount the impact you can have by caring of others by contributing to the mission and praying for those in need.  Please participate in the World Mission Sunday collection in the Diocese of Sioux City Oct. 17 and 18. Learn more or contribute online here: https://pontificalmissions.org/ Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more episodes on topics of the Catholic faith. We are funded in part by Together As One - our diocesan annual appeal. For more news from the Diocese of Sioux City, visit lumenmedia.org.

    100th anniversary of World Mission Sunday with Ines San Martin

  5. Oct 6

    Spirit Lake writer Judge John Sandy

    Send us Fan Mail Judge John Sandy of the Iowa Court of Appeals shares his faith journey and how his faith is a guide for him in his work and life. He is also a writer of topics of faith and social justice and Lumen Media has published several of his articles (with more great writings to come). Judge Sandy is a parishioner of St. Mary in Spirit Lake, part of the Catholic Passage efforts in the Iowa Great Lakes area, a member of the Iowa Catholic Conference board of directors. Enjoy our interview with this busy graduate of the University of St. Thomas School of Law, husband and father of four.  Follow Judge John Sandy on Substack: https://substack.com/@jmsandy Find Judge John Sandy's columns on Lumen Media: https://www.lumenmedia.org/guest-commentaries Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more episodes on topics of the Catholic faith. We are funded in part by Together As One - our diocesan annual appeal. For more news from the Diocese of Sioux City, visit lumenmedia.org.

    Spirit Lake writer Judge John Sandy

  6. Sep 29

    Women's Gathering keynote Meg Hunter-Kilmer

    Send us Fan Mail Speaker, author and Notre Dame campus minister Meg Hunter-Kilmer is the keynote speaker for the Nov. 14 Women’s Gathering in Fort Dodge. She travels the world sharing God’s “fierce and tender love,” as well as her passion for Scripture and the saints. Hunter-Kilmer shares her faith journey, favorite Scripture passage, favorite saints and why she lived out of her car for 12 years. Come hear Hunter-Kilmer by registering for I will give you rest at www.scdiocese.org/gathering. Learn more about the speaker here: www.piercedhands.com. Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more episodes on topics of the Catholic faith. We are funded in part by Together As One - our diocesan annual appeal. For more news from the Diocese of Sioux City, visit lumenmedia.org.

    Women's Gathering keynote Meg Hunter-Kilmer

  7. Sep 22

    The Rosary and the Eucharistic Rosary Congress

    Send us Fan Mail Father Bill McCarthy and Sherry Hittle of St. Therese of Lisieux Parish talk about the rosary, its role in the faith and history and their own devotions to this powerful devotion as we lead in to October, the month of the Rosary.. Hittle also shares the details of the Sept. 27 to Oct. 3 fifth annual Eucharistic Rosary Congress held at Sacred Heart Church in Ida Grove see LINK. All are welcome to all or some of the congress. Resources on the Rosary: - Knights of Columbus resources - Hallow how to pray the Rosary - USCCB prayers of the Rosary Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more episodes on topics of the Catholic faith. We are funded in part by Together As One - our diocesan annual appeal. For more news from the Diocese of Sioux City, visit lumenmedia.org.

    The Rosary and the Eucharistic Rosary Congress

  8. Sep 15

    Twin parishes in Kossuth County and Haiti

    Send us Fan Mail Divine Mercy Parish of Kossuth County and West Bend has a 14 year relationship with their "twin parish" St. Jeanne de Chantal Parish in Haiti. Parish leaders Alan Laubenthal and Kim Dahlhauser share the history of the relationship, the poverty the Haitian parishioners experience and the importance of the twinning program. Divine Mercy has generously supported St. Jeanne de Chantal over the years, including raising emergency funds after a hurricane in 2014, establishing a medical clinic and mobile clinic. Divine Mercy members were awaiting a visit from Cardinal Chibly Langois of the Haitian Les Cayes Diocese this month until changes in immigration policy regarding Haitians squashed the plans.  If you are interesting in helping St. Jeanne de Chantal Parish or want to explore the possibility of having your own twin parish, e-mail us at news@scdiocese.org and we will put you in touch. Or learn more here: https://dmparish.org/twin-parish-st-jeanne-de-chantal or Parish Twinning program of the Americas: https://ptpausa.org/ Thank you for listening to this episode of Illuminating Catholics – shedding light to understand the modern church. Follow us for more episodes on topics of the Catholic faith. We are funded in part by Together As One - our diocesan annual appeal. For more news from the Diocese of Sioux City, visit lumenmedia.org.

    Twin parishes in Kossuth County and Haiti
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

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! Sound editing and episode artwork is by Renee Webb, design and content coordinator for the Diocese of Sioux City Office of Communications. We are funded in part by the generous donations to Together as One - Our Diocesan Annual Appeal.

Information

  • Creator
    Dawn Prosser and Karmen Bower
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    105
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Illuminating Catholics
  • Show Website
    Illuminating Catholics

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