A New Tradition: Fifth graders attend Mass at Cathedral with Bishop Nickless

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
April 19, 2007

Hundreds of fifth-grade students from Catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Sioux City filled the Cathedral of the Epiphany on April 17 for a Mass celebrated by Bishop R. Walker Nickless.

This liturgy is something that the bishop plans to make a yearly tradition. About 20 priests, mainly those affiliated with the Catholic schools, concelebrated.

Every fifth grader from all of the schools was in attendance - about 470 of them. Principals, teachers and adult chaperones added about another 70 people to the gathering.

"I have been looking forward to this Mass for a long time and I want to welcome all of the fifth graders from schools throughout the diocese. It is wonderful to have you here to be in the Cathedral and share in the most important prayer in our lives - the celebration of the Mass," said the bishop in opening comments.

In the homily, Bishop R. Walker Nickless started his sermon by acknowledging that the students were probably wondering why they were chosen to attend the Mass.

He told the students that he specifically picked fifth graders to attend this liturgy because they were sometimes lost in the middle because younger and older elementary students often received much of the attention and special opportunities.

"You are very important and very special to me so I wanted you to be here because of that," he said. "Secondly, I wanted you to come because I wanted you to see the Cathedral. A cathedral church is called the mother church of the diocese. This belongs to everyone."

Bishop Nickless mentioned that the cathedral contains the bishop's chair and told them about symbols of the Office of Bishop such as the pectoral cross, crosier (staff), miter and others.

He also stressed the value of Catholic schools.

"Catholic schools are very important to me and I really want to thank your parents, your teachers and all of the priests and all of the people who make it possible for you to go to a Catholic school," said Bishop Nickless. "It's really a wonderful way to learn about your faith."

He asked them to look around at the full church and noted that "this is just one grade."

The bishop then called forward two fifth-grade students to help him with the homily. He asked them questions that related to the readings. One of the questions centered on which of the three in the Trinity reminded them of wind - the Holy Spirit.

In the readings, Jesus had told the people that they must be born again. The bishop asked them through what sacrament were people born again - baptism. He then asked about the sacrament in which people received the Holy Spirit - confirmation.

Referring to the first reading that centered on encouragement extended to Barnabus, Bishop Nickless said, "That's what we need to do for one another in our classrooms, in our families and in our world - to encourage people to live together as one."

The bishop used the occasion to encourage the students to reflect upon what God wanted them to do in their lives. He urged them to keep open the possibility of serving the church as a woman religious or priest.

"What God wants us to do in our lives is far more important than what we want to do," said Bishop Nickless. "If we don't do what God wants us to do, then we will never be happy."

Fifth graders participated in the Mass by serving as lectors, gift bearers, song leaders and more.

Following the liturgy, the students went to Trinity Heights where they ate picnic lunches and toured that spiritual development.

The students offered positive feedback on the experience.

Taylor Allen, a student at Pocahontas Catholic, said it was fun to meet the bishop and she looked forward to the tour of Trinity Heights.

She had never been to the Cathedral and thought it was very nice.

Sharon Addengast of St. Patrick's School in Sheldon thought it was great to be at the Cathedral with the bishop. She mentioned that she previously had lived in Sioux City so had visited the Cathedral in the past.

"It was fun and nice to meet the other students," she said.

Brad Roling, a fifth grade student from St. Mary's in Remsen, liked seeing the Cathedral and was surprised by how big the church was.

He thought it was really cool that all of the fifth graders were able to attend the Mass.

Callaghan Coleman, a fifth grade student from St. Mary's in Humboldt, thought the Cathedral was wonderful.

"I didn't think that it was possibly man-made," he said. "I was talking with a friend and we both thought it was amazing."

Coleman also looked forward to the tour of Trinity Heights and thought the grounds were beautiful.

Sidney Loxterkamp, a student at Kuemper Catholic, liked attending the Mass with the bishop. She had the chance to see one of her cousins at the gathering.

She also liked it that Bishop Nickless praised Catholic schools.

Flor Garcia, a student from Sacred Heart in Sioux City, thought it was interesting that the bishop had a Mass just for the fifth graders.

"It made me feel kind of special," she said.

Garcia liked seeing all of the students from the other schools.

Kevin Vickery, superintendent of Catholic schools for the diocese, said the day was "a wonderful celebration of building the community of the church around the Eucharistic table."

In addition to the Mass, he mentioned that he saw great excitement in the students as they toured Trinity Heights.

"There was so much interest in the various shrines and parts of Trinity Heights. Our kids really are thirsting for these types of experiences," noted Vickery. "I think the more that we can realize that young people really want to have these experiences and we, as adults, have to find ways for them to happen for our young people."