Mater Dei Parish

06/26/2026

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06/25/2026

🎉 Save the Date!🎉 Sunday, August 9, from 6-9 p.m.

It’s the Mater Dei Parish Picnic!

Join us for an evening of faith, family, food, and fun at the Sergeant Bluff Pool!

✨ Be part of our beautiful Living Rosary
✨ Honor our Knights of the Altar
✨ Celebrate our newly ordained deacons, Jeff Schoep and Jeff Zyzda

Enjoy:
🍔 Great food
⛺ Fellowship under the Big Tent
🎈 Activities and fun for all ages

No RSVP needed.

More information, visit materdeisc.org/parish-picnic or call the Parish Office at 712-276-4821.

06/24/2026

👉You are an important member of our Mater Dei Parish family. Mater Dei is "Our" parish! Every person and every gift makes an impact!

To those who have given to our capitalcampaign, Thank You! And, God Bless You! 🫶

If you haven't, pease make your donation today to Our Faith. Our Future. Our Legacy. Capital Campaign.

📲Call the Pylelos, your volunteer or Lisa Niebuhr in the Parish Office at 712-541-5226.

Together, we will ensure Mater Dei remains a vibrant parish with transformative ministries for generations to come.

John Pylelo Bobbie Pylelo Dave Ferris Landon Killion Lisa-Paul Niebuhr

06/23/2026

You're invited! Details below 👇for you to attend ordination or to watch live online.

Ordination is this week! Be sure to keep Deacon Thomas Kollasch of Bancroft in your prayers as he prepares for his priestly ordination Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral. If you can't join us in person, watch the livestream on the Diocese of Sioux City YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/

06/22/2026

During this month as we consecrate our hearts and lives of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, turn your heart to Him asking for His love and forgiveness. This quarter's City-wide Reconciliation will be held at Sacred Heart Church here in Sioux City.

06/21/2026

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad

- Author Unknown

06/21/2026

Dear friends in Christ,

Our readings invite us to trust God, especially when life is hard. Jeremiah feels fear and rejection, yet he says God is with him. The psalm speaks of God listening to those who suffer, and St. Paul explains that sin entered the world through Adam, but Jesus brings grace and new life.

In our Gospel, Jesus tells His followers not to be afraid. God cares for every-one and knows every need. If we stand with Jesus, He will stand by us. These readings invite us to live with courage and to trust that God is with us.

It used to be that things would slow down in the parish during the summer, with school out, people on vacation, and summer activities scaled back. That is not the case anymore, or at least not here at Mater Dei.

The normal routine of Baptism classes, wedding preparations, J-1:38 sessions, Product Pantry distributions, Eucharistic Adoration, Men’s prayer group meetings, Joyful Catholic activities, homebound visits, rosary makers, quilters, the Friday night gamers, and more activities continue all summer long.

Some particular events I would encourage you to take note of:
🤔 The Alpha program on June 21st (Alpha is for those who are curious about faith, God and religion. No pressure, no judgment, just real connection, Alpha brings people together for thought-provoking talks and honest conversations).

🔥July 2, a weekly study, “The Wild Goose” commences (the “Wild Goose” program invites you to rediscover the presence of the Holy Spirit in you, and to experience that presence in a deeper and more personal way).

🇺🇸 July 12, we will have a “Patriotic Rosary Rally”, and on August 1st at 10:00 am our parishioners Jeff Schoep and Jeff Zyzda will be ordained Deacons. If you haven’t been to an ordination at the Cathedral, this would be a wonderful opportunity to attend one.

✝ Lastly, events that are still being planned include a weekly study and discussion on Pope Leo’s encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas”, a reception for Jeff and Jeff’s ordination, and a parish celebration that will be held at the Sergeant Bluff swimming pool. More details to come.

In the meantime, Fr. Peter and I look forward to seeing you at Mass!
Prayers and Blessings, Fr. Brad

06/19/2026

"Many hands make light work!" We need 👉you as we approach $2.5 million in pledges and gifts. Every gift matters.

Join those who have graciously given! Drop off your pledge or gift in the offertory plate this weekend and note "capital campaign" or contact 📲 Lisa Niebuhr at 712-541-5226.

To those who have contributed thus far, 'Thank you!"😇

06/19/2026

When we think of Church summer programs, our thoughts turn to VBS, retreats, or mission trips.

This year, Mater Dei added something brand new: a summer camp designed specifically for students who missed the usual Confirmation preparation timeline.

Twenty (20) youth in grades 7–9, along with their parents, committed to an accelerated summer program to get back on track in their sacramental journey.

Dcn. Roder shared the parish saw an unprecedented number of families whose children had missed the regular Confirmation process.

Rather than waiting until fall of 2027 to be Confirmed, these families expressed a strong desire to be active in their faith now 📍 so their student could be ready for Confirmation this September.

“This is just what the OOSBOTs (Out of Sequence, Back on Track) is made to do!” exclaimed Dcn. Roder.

OOSBOTs Summer Camp began in early June & meets Wednesdays from 4–5:15 p.m. through mid-August.

The curriculum includes:
• Sacramental preparation using a foundational Confirmation textbook
• Saint studies & discussions about Christian identity
• Conversations about who we are in Christ, our purpose, & what happens after death
• Memorization of the kerygma so students can share the Gospel & the gifts of the Holy Spirit
• Deep dives into our baptismal roles of priest, prophet, & king
• A growing understanding of what they will receive in the Sacrament of Confirmation

Parents attend with their children, strengthening family faith formation & creating shared spiritual momentum.

OOSBOTs Summer Camp is already bearing fruit. A student invited a friend who wasn’t originally part of the program.

The friend thought the OOSBOTs Summer Camp sounded interesting — and simply wanted to check it out. That kind of curiosity & openness is exactly what the program hopes to inspire.

Student's Perspective: Heath Carpenter, an East High freshman this fall.

Heath chose the summer option because he had more free time — and quickly discovered how much he didn’t know about the Catholic faith. He especially enjoyed learning about the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, including piety.

The best part? “Getting closer to God,” Heath said.

Heath encourages other students not to be lazy or skip faith formation classes.

After this photo, Heath and Dcn. Roder discussed how fortitude will impact Heath on and off the football field.

Please keep Heath and all the youth in your prayers.

More information: materdeisc.org/faith-formation-spotlight

06/18/2026

This summer, our staff, some of our Safety and Security Committee members, plus Anne Bride and Jenny Bauerly from Mater Dei Schools, participated in two important safety trainings focused on strengthening our parish and school community’s readiness to respond in an emergency.

Capt. Aaron Lisle and Lt. Joe Rodriguez from the Sioux City Fire Department provided excellent hands‑on instruction in CPR and AED use, ensuring participants gained the confidence and skills needed to act quickly during a cardiac emergency.

Austin Pierce, Prevention Specialist with Rosecrance Jackson, led our Narcan and Naloxone training. Staff and volunteers learned how opioids affect the brain and can lead to substance use disorder, how to identify overdose risk factors, how to respond to a suspected overdose or poisoning, and proven strategies to reduce opioid‑related harm.

These trainings will be offered this fall to ushers, other safety and security volunteers, faith formation leaders, and other interested individuals.

They reflect Mater Dei Parish's and School's ongoing commitment to create a safer, more prepared, and more compassionate environment for you - our parishioners, students, and all who enter our doors.