Due to the Blizzard warning from now until 6:00 p.m. Friday 1/15/2021, the 8:00 a.m. Mass on Friday 1/15/2021 is cancelled at OLGC-Holstein. [1/14/2021, 4:15 p.m.]

RESERVATIONS to attend Masses of Christmas Eve and Day are REQUIRED due to limited seating due to Diocesan COVID protocols. DEADLINE TO REGISTER is Tuesday December 22, noon. A list of all attendees will be required. Only persons on the list will be admitted....

The Diocesan COVID Task Force [CTF], which has consistently strongly encouraged everyone to wear proper face masks, to maintain 6’ physical [social] distance from those not living in their households, and to wash/sanitize their hands regularly, meet this past week to evaluate the current situation.  As a result, the CTF and Bishop Nickless has issued the following mandates effective 20 November 2020 affecting our parishes until further notice: All “In person” parish group meeting/events...

"With regard to resuming public Masses in our parishes, the Diocese of Sioux City has based and will continue to base decisions on scientific data and reliable projections. There is a number of criteria the Diocese is waiting to be met before it is deemed safe and responsible to open up churches again. This includes the downward trajectory of new COVID-19 cases reported within a 14-day period, the downward trajectory of hospital bed, intensive care, and ventilator usage, and the downward trajectory of daily death reports. In addition to these things, it is necessary to have adequate contact-tracing and a robust testing program. Achieving these conditions will indicate that it is reasonably safe to resume, with precautions, the public celebration of the Mass."

Click on the title above to view Bishop's Nickless' latest message to the faithful.

As the world continues to face the ongoing effects of the global pandemic of the coronavirus, Bishop Nickless will join bishops of the United States on May 1, 2:00 p.m. CDT, from the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City in renewing the consecration of the United States of America.

As the world continues to face the ongoing effects of the global pandemic of the coronavirus, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the USCCB has announced that the U.S. bishops will join the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on May 1 in renewing the consecrations of the two nations to the care of our Blessed Mother.

Following the proclamation of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds Monday, April 27 that religious and spiritual gatherings are no longer prohibited, Bishop Walker Nickless of the Diocese of Sioux City is not yet lifting the suspension of public Masses he made March 16. The bishop is aware of the governor’s proclamation and is carefully considering how to proceed, taking into consideration to well-being of the priests and the faithful of the diocese at this time. When changes are made from the status quo regarding Masses, the bishop’s office will announce those changes to the public as soon as possible.

Click on the title above to view Bishop's Nickless' message to the faithful.

Because of the coronavirus emergency, eBreviary.com has created a temporary web page offering a printable prayer PDF for the current hour every day. Click the title above or the photo to go to their website and pray the current hour of the day that is prayed by priests, deacons, and religious each day.

The Bishop recorded a new video today that is now available at: https://scdiocese.org/messages-from-bishop or by clicking the title above or the bishop's photo.

composed by St. Alphonsus Liguori in the 18th century: My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

We are truly experiencing historic times, as we navigate through the spread of COVID-19, and the ever-developing ways we are called to respond to it. I am sure you are all feeling the same way at your place of work and at home with your families. We are all saddened by the suspension of Mass, and the cancelling of parish and diocesan activities, but we also know how important it is to keep people safe. Please know that you are in our prayers, and we will continue to pray for your health and well-being. At this point it is critical to make you aware that we do not have an end date for these changes and it is not safe to assume that it is okay to begin to reschedule cancelled events in the days (and even weeks) following the conclusion of the present 8-week suspension. From what we have been told, it is very possible that the present suspensions will in fact be extended. With that all that being said, we are making changes here at the Chancery that we want you to be aware of...

Bishop Walker Nickless issued the mandate to suspend all Sunday and public Masses effective immediately. This suspension will extend for eight weeks, and then will be re-evaluated as the coronavirus situation develops. ...

This afternoon I took part in a conference call with the bishop and pastors from around the Diocese of Sioux City... regarding the status of the COVID-19...Thus, as stated by the bishop this afternoon, I am mandating the following: All parish facilities-church buildings, offices, and shrines [Maryhill Tower and shelter house] will remain locked 24/7 until an all clear is given.....

How might we go about making a spiritual Communion? St. Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868), the French “apostle of the Eucharist,” suggested the following format ...

The following events are restricted until further notice: Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) ...

As of this moment all the following events at Immaculate Conception-Cherokee and Our Lady of Good Counsel-Holstein are CANCELLED: All public celebrations of the Mass. ...

Please join me in praying for all those throughout the world affected by the Coronavirus. May those who have died rest in peace and may their families and friends be strengthened by God our Father’s loving care....After consulting with my advisors, including the Presbyteral Council, I have decided to mandate the following actions for all in the Diocese of Sioux City...

such as the flu and the Coronavirus...If you are experiencing any symptoms—please exercise your best judgment about attending Mass or parish events....