M
Maranatha
Guest
Bishop-elect Nickless reflects on life in Denver as he prepares for Sioux City
**Q: What was your reception like in Sioux City yesterday (Nov. 10)? **
A: Yesterday was an unbelievably positive day. I began the day with Mass at the Carmelite monastery. There are 10 sisters who are Carmelites and they had been praying for two years for a bishop. So I wanted to say Mass there first. That was followed by a press conference and the meeting of the chancery staff. I then went to the cathedral for the noon Mass. They had invited as many priests in the area that could come on short notice. There were 17 priests there; one had driven over a hundred miles. I concelebrated Mass with them at the Cathedral of the Epiphany. I walked in and (the congregation) gave me a standing ovation; they just kept applauding. That was a wonderful reception. I visited Mater Dei School in Sioux City and had an assembly with the children. I wanted to signal my great love of Catholic schools. After that, we visited Briar Cliff University, the Catholic university in Sioux City. The campus was beautiful.
I felt so much at home. There were just warm and loving people everywhere I went. I also felt a very, very wonderful sense of peace and calm. And I think it’s because so many people have been praying for this and for me in different ways. I truly felt the effect of their prayer. There was a great awareness of God’s presence in all that was happening. That made me relaxed and able to enjoy the moments with the people. I just sensed so many people praying for me.
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**Q: What was your reception like in Sioux City yesterday (Nov. 10)? **
A: Yesterday was an unbelievably positive day. I began the day with Mass at the Carmelite monastery. There are 10 sisters who are Carmelites and they had been praying for two years for a bishop. So I wanted to say Mass there first. That was followed by a press conference and the meeting of the chancery staff. I then went to the cathedral for the noon Mass. They had invited as many priests in the area that could come on short notice. There were 17 priests there; one had driven over a hundred miles. I concelebrated Mass with them at the Cathedral of the Epiphany. I walked in and (the congregation) gave me a standing ovation; they just kept applauding. That was a wonderful reception. I visited Mater Dei School in Sioux City and had an assembly with the children. I wanted to signal my great love of Catholic schools. After that, we visited Briar Cliff University, the Catholic university in Sioux City. The campus was beautiful.
I felt so much at home. There were just warm and loving people everywhere I went. I also felt a very, very wonderful sense of peace and calm. And I think it’s because so many people have been praying for this and for me in different ways. I truly felt the effect of their prayer. There was a great awareness of God’s presence in all that was happening. That made me relaxed and able to enjoy the moments with the people. I just sensed so many people praying for me.
more