Book covers diocesan history
Globe staff report

Posted June 6, 2002

Shortly after planning began in 1998 for the Diocese of Sioux City's centennial celebration, a diocesan parishioner was contracted to write a book on the history of the diocese. Three years later, the 609-page book titled Frontiers of Faith: A History of the Diocese of Sioux City was printed.

The diocesan history book, written by Richard Roder of Remsen, will be sold for $15 at the Centennial Mass to be held June 16 at the Sioux City Convention Center. A display will be set up in the atrium of the center.

When determining what would be included in the book, it was the consensus of the centennial planning committee that rather than a town by town or parish-by-parish based history, it should be more of an overview of the church dating back to the pre-diocesan era.

"I think the readers of this book will make many wondrous discoveries," said Roder. "One of the benefits of a comprehensive history is that, for the first time, the component parts of the diocesan can see their relationship to the whole."

The book includes amazing things that have happened in the diocese as a result of faith such as a priest kneeling before St. Joseph's altar as a storm blew out the church windows or parishioners living in dug-out holes in the earth while working on their Catholic school.

"These are the rare stones and gems that are the work of our devotion," stressed the author. "What the book means most to me is that they not be forgotten. If the book causes one wayward soul to reconsider his faith, if it is the one record to perpetuate the memory of a single brave act of faith, then it has been worth the effort to me."

The book also highlights pre-diocesan history from about the time of the Marquette and Joliet Expedition in 1673. The history is followed from St. Louis where the bishops and archbishops took charge of caring for the upper regions of the Mississippi River.

"The progression of new dioceses across the nation - from east to the west - was all vital to what happened when our diocese was established," said Roder. "It had to be covered in detail to explain exactly how the church approached Sioux City and how it passes us by to go further West."

The book covers the establishment of the Diocese of Dubuque since northwest Iowa was part of that diocese prior to 1902. It also relays the different people who came into Iowa from the east such as the river men, trappers, missionaries and explorers as it details the progression of the church across the state.

Frontiers of Faith follows the development of the Diocese of Sioux City from its infant stages with the immigrant Irish bishop, through a native-born bishop and into the modern era.

"During the writing of the book, I expected that the early pioneer chapters would be more interesting than those in the 20th Century. I was wrong," said Roder. "The entire book is chock full of interesting events and people. Even after the lands were settled and parishes were formed, 'pioneers' found other frontiers."

For more information about the book, contact Kathy LaBrune at (712) 255-7933. Books may be ordered by sending $15 plus $3 for shipping to Frontiers of Faith, P.O. Box 3379, Sioux City, IA 51102-3379.