MEETING WITH THE BISHOP: Confirmation students from Estherville parish visit places of faith in Sioux City

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
Feb.1, 2007

ESTHERVILLE - Confirmation students from St. Patrick's Parish in Estherville traveled to Sioux City to visit the Cathedral of the Epiphany, Briar Cliff University, the Carmelite Monastery and Trinity Heights.

Father Jerome Cosgrove, pastor at St. Patrick's Parish, commented that the reason for the visit to Sioux City was to visit "places of importance in their faith."

There are 16 students in the confirmation class that traveled to Sioux City.

"We got to see a lot of different things," said Father Cosgrove. "The Cathedral is the central church of the diocese, the church of the bishop. They need to be aware of the fact that we belong to the wider church, bigger church, not only in size but also in the scope of service and care. The Carmelites represent a whole different form of life in the church that they are not aware of."

The last stop of the day for the students was the Cathedral where they met Bishop R. Walker Nickless and talked to him about their visit to Sioux City.

The bishop told the students that the diocese is "lucky to have Briar Cliff, especially because it is a Catholic university."

The students told Bishop Nickless that going to the Carmelite Monastery was a different experience for them.

"It is a real calling to give up everything and to be there like they are - praying for us," said the bishop. "It is another great gift in the diocese to have people who pray for you. The Carmelite Sisters pray for each of us that belong to the Diocese of Sioux City everyday."

He explained that the sisters have hundreds of people who ask them to pray for special intentions.

"If you have something that is really difficult in your life or your family, you can call them or write them and they will pray for that intention in the prayers and the Masses that they have," said Bishop Nickless.

The bishop then asked the students some questions about himself and the Cathedral. He told the students that there are three things a bishop does. He is a shepherd, a teacher and a leader. He tries to say Mass each Sunday at 5 p.m. at Cathedral to get to know the people.

"We gather at the Cathedral as a diocese for anything important," said Bishop Nickless. "There is something very different about this church that no other church has - the cathedra (the chair). Every Cathedral has a chair that only the bishop can sit in. That is the sign of the authority of the bishop. When he comes to the Cathedral, he celebrates Mass from that chair."

The Cathedral is the central church of the diocese and it belongs to everyone, noted the bishop.

"What we do here should be something very special," said Bishop Nickless. "The Cathedral is used for all the special occasions in the diocese."

The bishop asked the students if they had any questions for him. They asked him about the call he received when he found out he would be the bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City. He received the call on Halloween of 2005.

"That was a great surprise and being here has been a blessing," said Bishop Nickless.

The bishop asked about what they are learning in their religious education classes. The students are currently studying the commandments.

"Anyone who is a human being living in the world follows the commandments. Those are the basic ways that people live their life," said Bishop Nickless.

He talked to them about the sacrament of confirmation and the other sacraments of initiation - baptism and Eucharist.

"When you receive the sacrament of confirmation, there is something that God gives you - the fullness of the Holy Spirit," said Bishop Nickless. "It is a totally free gift. You don't have to do anything to receive that gift."

After talking to the bishop, some of the students went up to the choir loft to see the new organ.

The students attended the evening Mass at Cathedral before heading back to Estherville. Bishop Nickless presided at the Mass and Father Cosgrove concelebrated.