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Norma Garza-Ramirez and Laura Duenas of Catholic Charities share the increase in requests for aid at their office - even before the SNAP cuts - for food, coats, help with utilities and rent, etc. They also refer people to the myriad of resources available in the event that they are not able to help.

Those wishing to help can contact their local Catholic Charities office and contribute towards gift cards or other needs in your area. For information about Catholic Charities or to find an office near you, go to www.cathchar.com.

The Sioux City Office phone number is (712) 252-4547.

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.

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As we lead up to our observance of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, we had a conversation with two of our diocesan retired priests who also served as military chaplains. Msgr. Ken Seifried, Manson native, served as a U.S. Army chaplain and Father Francis Higgins, Fonda native, served as a chaplain for the U.S. Air Force. They share their vocation stories and why they wanted to serve as priest-chaplains. We thank these men for both their service as priests and their military service.

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.

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As we prepare for National Vocations Awareness Week Nov. 2 through 8, we interviewed leaders of two groups in the diocese that focus on supporting vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Andrea Bengford of the St. Serra Club of Siouxland and Kris Boeckman of the Carroll Area Vocations Ministry. they share how their groups operate and some of their activities to help foster vocations in our diocese.

To contact Andrea Bengford - bengforda@gmail.com

To contact Kris Boeckman - krisadb@gmail.com

Also, be sure to check out the diocesan vocations website at siouxcitypriest.org.

Pray for vocations!

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.

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National Catholic speaker Braden Johnson will serve as keynote for the Nov. 2 Called Youth Conference in Granville. He shares his faith journey from attending parties and working in the entertainment industry to an invitation to spend time in adoration, which changed his life to focus upon his relationship with the Lord. Find out more about why he is driven to "awaken hearts to fulfilment that can only be found in God."

Called is for middle and high school students and will include talks from Braden, adoration, confession, games, crafts, service project and All Souls' Day prayer for the faithful departed in the parish cemetery. The event ends with 4 p.m. Mass with Bishop John Keehner. Learn more or sign up at: www.scdiocese.org/called. Cost is only $20.

Learn more about Johnson at his website www.createtheculture.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.

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The Diocese of Sioux City is offering four Cycle Prep sessions for mothers and their young daughters starting Oct. 22. Andrea Ault, Bishop Garrigan High School alumna, will serve as facilitator for the Cycle Prep sessions. She shares how she learned about the Cycle Prep program and how it aligns with church teaching about the human body and God's design for our bodies.

For more information about the sessions held in Le Mars, Fort Dodge, Algona and Carroll, or to register for an upcoming session click here.

Additional resources from Ault:

Andrea Ault is a certified FEMM and teenFEMM teacher, a hormone coach through the Fiat Institute, and serves as the Community and Affiliate Coordinator for Pearl & Thistle. She is passionate about helping women and girls understand their bodies and cycles with confidence and clarity.

Andrea teaches teens, single women, and couples how to chart their cycles—both in person and virtually—through Radiant Clinic (https://radiantclinic.com/) a natural women’s health and fertility center based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Have questions about the workshop, cycle charting, NFP, or hormonal imbalance? Feel free to reach out to Andrea directly: 📧 andreakault@gmail.com

Cycle Prep: First Period Course for Girls (Individual use)

https://pearlandthistle.podia.com/cycle-prep-first-period-course-for-girls/1l8s9

Cycle Prep: First Period Course for Girls (Group Hosting for up to 30 Families)

https://pearlandthistle.podia.com/a60d07fb-5424-4dc0-af28-fba100b164b7/1l8s9

Cycle Prep *En Español* Curso Sobre Primer Periodo (Uso individual)

https://pearlandthistle.podia.com/cycle-prep-en-espanol/1l8s9

Cycle Prep *En Espanol* Curso (Para Grupos)

https://pearlandthistle.podia.com/22484b4c-793e-4443-8e84-4076b375f0f0/1l8s9

What Parents Should Know About (Pre)Teen Periods

https://pearlandthistle.podia.com/what-parents-should-know-about-pre-teen-periods/1l8s9

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.

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Maybe you've heard of Rachel's Vineyard or read about an upcoming retreat in your parish bulletin, but do you really know what it's about? Stormy Poss of Rachel's Vineyard is our guest, helping us to understand what the retreats entail and how they can help heal those hurt by a past abortion. Whether it's been a few years or decades, taking the time to step back and heal in a faith-filled environment. Stormy also shares how she became involved in the ministry and reflects on those who found healing and forgiveness after abortion. Learn more about Rachel's Vineyard and upcoming retreats around the region and around the country at: https://rachelsvineyard.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.

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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 looking forward to learning more about OCIA at this week's workshops. (See www.scdiocese.org/ocia for information on registering for the Sept. 27 workshop for initiation team members, held in Storm Lake. All are welcome.)

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.

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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 takes a deep dive into IVF science and processes, embryonic research, unintentional death of embryos, and the legal considerations regarding embryos and and abandoned embryos. Crossfield hopes to bring the facts regarding IVF to the public that are not often discussed or brought to light.

Our guest discusses embryo adoption as one of the current trends, which is covered in the docuseries. See document regarding the church and embryo adoption here.

See the church's document Dignitas Personae regarding the dignity of the human person.

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.