The Spalding Catholic staff and students collected money to send care packages to Brian Schmit and Anthony Vera who are attending Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary. Brian attended Spalding Catholic Elementary and they both graduated from Gehlen Catholic High School. Spalding sent them messages of love and support along with some goodies as they continue their faith-filled journey.

Father Travis Crotty, director of vocations for the Diocese of Sioux City, visited Sacred Heart Grade School in Sioux City on Nov. 8, during Vocations Awareness Week.

Father Shane Deman, director of seminarians for the Diocese of Sioux City, recently completed his fall visit to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota, to visit with the three diocesan seminarians studying there.

It's not all studying at seminary. Diocesan seminarian Anthony Vera of Le Mars participated in a hot wings eating competition on Oct. 26 on the campus of St. Mary's Univesity in Winona, Minnesota.

Father Travis Crotty, director of vocations, joined Father Mike Erpelding at St. John's in Onawa for Pizza with Padres on Oct. 25. The two priests discussed their experiences with the priesthood and encouraged young people of the parish to consider God's call in their lives. To top off the night, the parish gave Father Crotty a West Monona hat!

Diocesan seminarians Anthony Vera and Zach Steffens recently visited Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis on their fall break from Immaculate Heart of Mary College Seminary of Winona, Minnesota. They had time to do some sightseeing, including visiting the Gateway Arch.

A student from St. Rose of Lima in Denison opted to dress as a priest for Career Day dress up as part of Homecoming activities. The student poses here with pastor Father Michael Cronin and parochial vicar, Father Shinoj Jose.

Father Travis Crotty spoke to 7th and 8th graders during an educational chastity program held Sept. 9 at St. Mary Parish in Storm Lake. The program called Real Love & Real Life was sponsored by the Diocese of Sioux City and facilitated by Family Honor, Inc.

Father Travis Crotty, diocesan director of vocations, and Father Zach Jones, parochial vicar of Divine Mercy Parish of Algona, recently spoke to a class at Gehlen Catholic High School in Le Mars.

Father Travis Crotty, director of vocations for the Diocese of Sioux City, visited with the Christian Leadership Team at Gehlen Catholic School on Aug. 31.

Seminarians of the Diocese of Sioux City joined with those from across the state in the 2023 Iowa Seminarian Convocation held recently in the Diocese of Davenport. They enjoyed fraternity, prayer and formation during the gathering. The convocation is sponsored each year by the Knights of Columbus.

The Office of Vocations has announced the Diocese of Sioux City has two new seminarians, including Brian Schmit of St. Anthony Parish of Hospers. Schmit is the son of James and Joan Schmit. He is a 2022 graduate of Gehlen Catholic School in Le Mars and recently completed his freshman year at Iowa State University. This year, he will begin the propaedutic stage of formation at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota.

Before Matthew Staley sensed he was being called to the priesthood, he felt a call to virtue. “I felt called to be a better man and I knew that the faith was the way to do that,” said the new seminarian studying for priesthood in the Diocese of Sioux City. “I wanted to grow closer to God and live my life in accordance with how God would want me to live my life.” A native of Charter Oak, Staley was a member of St. Boniface Church in his youth where his parents led the youth group, which is now in church building status. St. Rose of Lima Parish in Denison is now his home parish. His parents are Rick and Julie Staley. He is the youngest of four children. The oldest sibling is Alyssa Herbold of Kingsley, who has four children with husband Phil, followed by brother Ryan and his wife Monica of Eden Prairie, Minnesota and sister Katie of Council Bluffs.

Young men of high school and college age joined the Diocese of Sioux City's Vocations Office and diocesan seminarians for a discernment weekend called Quo Vadis. The 2023 reatreat was held Aug. 4 to 6.

Along with Fr. Shane Deman and the seminarians for the Diocese of Sioux City, I would like to invite you to attend our Quo Vadis discernment retreat free of charge. We usually host this annual retreat at a camp on Lake Okoboji, however this year our retreat falls on the same weekend as Bishop Nickless’ 50th anniversary of priestly ordination. We will host Quo Vadis in and around Sioux City to celebrate the gift of the priesthood in the life of our bishop. We will stay in cabins near Salix, IA. The weekend will include a beautiful cathedral Mass, various witness talks given by our seminarians and time to pray and discern with brothers who are open to the possibility of God calling them to the priesthood in the Diocese of Sioux City. Quo Vadis means, “Where are you going?” It is believed that when Peter was trying to flee Rome due to persecution, he encountered Jesus in a vision who asked him, “Quo Vadis?” This question led Peter to experience conversion and ultimately his martyrdom for Christ. We each need to allow Jesus the space to ask us this question. Please consider attending the Quo Vadis retreat. To register for Quo Vadis please email Michelle in the Vocations Office at michelles@scdiocese.org. God bless, Fr. Travis Crotty

Father Travis Crotty, vocation director for the Diocese of Sioux City, and diocesan seminarian Anthony Vera visited Remsen St. Mary High School on May 17. The two spoke to the students about the vocation to holiness which prepares us to discern priesthood and religious life.