Bishop Nickless speaks to Sioux City Press Club: Stresses importance of media

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
Nov. 23, 2006

The Press Club of Sioux City invited Bishop R. Walker Nickless to be the guest speaker at their meeting on Nov. 17 at North Park Senior Living Community.

People of the press and marketing directors in Sioux City are members of the Press Club. Members gathered for lunch and to listen to the bishop's talk.

Jenny Welp, education and general assignment reporter at the Sioux City Journal and current president of the Press Club, introduced Bishop Nickless to members gathered and thanked him for coming.

"It is a great privilege for me to be here to talk to such important people," said Bishop Nickless. "All of you care very much about the community that we are apart of in one way or another. As one of the newest members on the block, I want to thank you for what you do."

He thanked those who were involved in televising and representing his appointment as bishop and his ordination last January.

"It was a wonderful experience to be able to come and be so welcomed so quickly and so easily," said the bishop. "For me, coming from Denver and never having been to Iowa before was a big change."

He noted that all of his family, friends and acquaintances are in Denver and Colorado. He added that he knew a few people in Davenport but no one else in Iowa.

"All of you and all of Iowa has made it so wonderful because you are so welcoming and so good. I can sense and feel the goodness of the people of Iowa," said Bishop Nickless.

The bishop explained that he saw the style of Cardinal J. Francis Stafford and Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver and what they did. He has tried to incorporate some of what he witnessed from them into his position in Sioux City.

"I have found the faith in Iowa to be very vibrant," said Bishop Nickless. "I talked about the fertile fields of Iowa and farming is such an important part of what we are about here. I see that in a unique way in the hearts and the persons of the people I have been in touch with. There is a solid faith here in Iowa. I see that everywhere I go here from the young people to the elderly and everywhere in between."

He added that people in the Diocese of Sioux City care about "values, God, the Gospel message of Jesus Christ and they are trying the best they can to put it into practice."

"For me to be able to come in and encourage that and help that is a real honor, a privilege and a very humbling experience for someone from Colorado," said the bishop. "I really do appreciate the openness and the goodness of the people here."

Bishop Nickless recounted what he has been able to do in the diocese for the past year starting in November 2005 - the announcement of his appointment as bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City. He told the story about the call he received naming him a bishop.

"I have been to almost all of our schools and to every corner of the diocese," he said. "Last month I had a meeting with all of the priests. This was the first time when all 125 priests and I were together. We met at a place away from the diocese so we could spend time in prayer and reflection."

He noted that his assignment is "wonderful." He plans to do many things for the diocese - "building on the past but seeing the needs of the future as well."

"I see a lot of work to do," said Bishop Nickless. "We need to encourage and promote vocations. One of the things that all of the bishops in Iowa face is a declining population. We look at that and see what that means for all of us. In the church, it means that we have to consolidate some parishes and look at schools. We also have to be very much aware of the elderly. There is a growing older population."

Following the bishop's comments, there was time for the members of the Press Club to ask him questions. Questions included topics such as his decision to become a priest, his hobbies and interests, relations with the media, what it means to be Catholic today, the Hispanic population in the church, the bishops meeting in Baltimore, hopes for the diocese, etc.

"The media gets out the news. We have to look for the good news, talk about the good news and work together. The media and the church are very close in terms of what we are trying to do," said Bishop Nickless. "We are trying to share a message and so is the media - something that people want to know and want to hear. I think it is crucial that the church be involved in any way they can with the media to make sure our message gets out with the professionals. We are very grateful for the support that the media gives us."