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September 7, 2006

Dear Friends in Christ,

This past year has brought great change in my life as I have been drawn by the Holy Spirit to become your Bishop and serve Northwest Iowa in the ancient Apostolic Tradition. These past months have been a great adventure of faith for me. I have begun to know and love the Church in the Diocese of Sioux City and I have been deeply impressed by the wonderful spirit of faith and devotion that I have discovered here. I am especially conscious of the hard work and dedicated service of all those who have come before us to build up the body of Christ in this beautiful place we call the Diocese of Sioux City. I am deeply moved by the deep faith of our people. Your warm welcome and your vibrant faith life is a great source of encouragement for me. The steady and faith filled labors of our priests, our deacons and our religious are a remarkable testimony of fidelity to the voice of the Lord in every place in countless situations. I am deeply moved by the beauty of the Church here in Northwest Iowa and I am honored to serve as your Bishop.

In this weekends scriptures readings we hear the voice of the Lord calling us to a brave and noble vision of life in the Church. Isaiah encourages us to stand firm, to "be strong and fear not!" for God comes to make us whole, to complete the work of salvation. In both the letter of James and in Mark's Gospel we hear the challenge that the fulfillment of the Gospel comes in very real and practical ways. We are called to live in imitation of God who promises to share his kingdom with those who love him. We are chastened to allow the Lord to heal us and make us hear and speak with courage and conviction.

For more than 30 years the Diocese of Sioux City has undertaken an annual appeal to invite the faithful of Northwest Iowa to enter more fully into the mission of Jesus here in our midst. The work of the Lord is carried out in each of our parishes and these holy labors are united with the labors and efforts of others in the work of our Diocese to build the kingdom day-by-day and year-by-year. The Diocesan Annul Appeal permits the faithful Catholics of the Diocese of Sioux City to join their efforts and their generosity with those of others and permits us to make a great offering to the Lord. The Diocesan Annual Appeal allows us to undertake great efforts that could overwhelm us individually and draws us to stand in solidarity with each other in our efforts to build up the kingdom of God.

You will soon be receiving a Diocesan Annual Appeal mailing. I hope that you will take some time to read it and then consider a donation to benefit this local Church of Sioux City. I do encourage the faithful of our diocese to take part in this annual act of stewardship. I ask that you carefully consider your contribution, pray about it and when you are ready, kindly place your DAA envelope with the enclosed pledge and/or check in your parish collection

I am grateful for the warm welcome that you have extended to me. I look forward to all that the Lord has in store for us. I thank you for your generosity in the past, for the way that you have allowed the Lord to carry out his work through you. I thank you for your deep witness to the faith and I thank you for the financial support that you have give to the Diocesan Annual Appeal.

May God bless your homes with his abiding peace and may he receive with Divine Joy the labors and intentions of our hearts.

Your brother in Christ,

Most Reverend R. Walker Nickless
Bishop of Sioux City

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