In a memo to the priests and deacons of the Diocese of Sioux City today, Bishop Walker Nickless noted amended protocols for the diocese in the wake of recent changes to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for masking indoors.
The memo notes that all references to masking have been removed from the protocols. This includes no longer strongly suggesting that the faithful wear masks during any Mass or parish event in the diocese. Also, Mass presiders and distributors of the Eucharist no longer need to be masked while distributing Communion.
However, some protocols do remain until further notice, including:
Bishop Nickless and his senior advisors will continue to monitor data and network across the state and region with public health experts and other resource groups as it applies to monitoring COVID-19 trends in the future.
En Español
The four bishops of Iowa released a joint statement regarding the reception of COVID-19 vaccines for the faithful: Since with the development of COVID-19 vaccines to help combat the coronavirus pandemic, over 56% of Iowans have received the vaccine.
The faithful of the Catholic Church are receiving the vaccine in larger numbers than any other denomination. Despite the effectiveness, many are hesitant to receive the vaccine for a variety of reasons.
We restate that vaccination has been proven to be the most effective way to fight the virus that continues to affect and kill so many. In communion with Pope Francis, we remind the faithful that the common good of public health should generally take precedence over any moral reservation about receiving vaccines; they will not be effective if people do not use them.
Most Rev. Michael Jackels
Archbishop of Dubuque
Most Rev. R. Walker Nickless
Bishop of Sioux City
Most Rev. Thomas Zinkula
Bishop of Davenport
Most Rev. William Joensen
Bishop of Des Moines
Bốn giám mục iowa đã đưa ra một tuyên bố chung liên quan đến việc tiếp nhận vắc-xin COVID-19 cho Các tín hữu: Kể từ khi phát triển vắc-xin COVID-19 để chốnạnối coronavirus 56 Ing hi coronavirus, 56% hi coronavirus đã được tiêm vắc-xin.
Các tín hữu của Giáo hội Công giáo đang nhận được vắc-xin với số lượng lớn hơn bất kỳ giáo phái nào khác. Mặc dù hiệu quả của nó, Nhiều người trong dân số đang do dự khi nhận được vắc-xin.
Chúng tôi khẳng định rằng tiêm chủng đã được chứng minh là cách hiệu quả nhất để chống lại virus tiếp tục ảnh hưởng và giết chết rất nhiều người. Khi hiệp thông với Đức Giáo Hoàng Phanxicô, chúng tôi nhắc nhở các tín hữu rằng lợi ích chung của sức khỏe cộng đồng nên được ưu tiên hơn bất kỳ vi sự vo vo vô vô chún chún bất kỳ muệ voi v không sử dụng chúng.
Most Rev. Michael Jackels
Archbishop of Dubuque
Most Rev. R. Walker Nickless
Bishop of Sioux City
Most Rev. Thomas Zinkula
Bishop of Davenport
Most Rev. William Joensen
Bishop of Des Moines
Los cuatro Obispos de Iowa emitieron un comunicado de prensa acerca de la aceptación de las vacunas de COVID-19 para los fieles:
Desde el momento que se inició el desarrollo de las vacunas de COVID-19 para combatir la pandemia en contra del coronavirus, más del 56% de los residentes de Iowa han recibido la vacuna. Los fieles de la Iglesia Católica están recibiendo la vacuna en mayor número que cualquier otro grupo o denominación religiosa.
A pesar de la eficiencia de la vacuna, muchas personas dudan en vacunarse. Nosotros reiteramos que se ha demostrado que la vacunación es la forma más eficaz de combatir el virus que continúa afectando y matando a tantas personas. En comunión con el Papa Francisco, le recordamos a los fieles que el bien común de la salud pública debe prevalecer sobre cualquier reserva moral para recibir las vacunas; estas no serán eficaces si las personas no se las aplican.
Reverendísimo Michael Jackels
Arzobispo de Dubuque
Reverendísimo R. Walker Nickless
Obispo de Sioux City
Reverendísimo Thomas Zinkula
Obispo de Davenport
Reverendísimo William Joensen
Obispo de Des Moines
The Iowa Catholic Conference and the four Catholic Dioceses of Iowa recently launched a video campaign across Iowa to help encourage the use of the COVID-19 vaccine. Made possible in part by The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and the Catholic Cares Coalition and by the Iowa Department of Public Health, the campaign features Iowans from across the state sharing their reasoning for supporting the vaccine.
Daniel and Ellen Rosmann, farmers from near Harlan Iowa, along with their parents, Ron and Maria Rosmann and brother, David Rosmann and his wife Becky, recently went on camera to tell their vaccination story. The family farms together on nearly 700 acres, raising organic crops, livestock, hogs and egg-layers. Daniel and Ellen share the story of losing their uncle, Father John Vakulskas to COVID in late 2020 and why they believe in the vaccine.
Ryan Burchett, small business owner from Davenport shares his story of why he feels strongly about the vaccine as just one way to protect the employees, family, customers and friends of The Mississippi River Distilling Company. The company was started by Ryan and his brother, Garret, in Le Claire, Iowa and has faced the many challenges during the pandemic that all restaurants and bars and small businesses have faced. Like many locally owned distilleries in Iowa, Mississippi River Distilling Company turned to producing hand sanitizer during the pandemic as a way to help the small communities of Iowa and to keep the company actively in production.
These are just two of the video stories in the campaign. Other Iowans featured include Alondra Melendez, a college student from Storm Lake, Iowa, and Dawn Suksai, a Laotian factory worker also of Storm Lake who shared her story with her 10-year-old Grandson, Ethan by her side. The videos will roll out during November and December across Iowa.
Iowa currently ranks 25th in residents fully vaccinated as compared to the rest of the United States, with the percentage of rural Iowa residents lagging behind those in Iowa’s urban areas. Iowa Catholics are slightly above the average when compared to other segments, yet some Catholics still struggle with the decision. The bishops of Iowa stand behind this communications effort as another way to guide and counsel Iowa Catholics, issuing the following statement:
Since the development of COVID-19 vaccines to combat the coronavirus pandemic, nearly 60% of Iowans have received the vaccine. The faithful of the Catholic Church are receiving the vaccine in larger numbers than any other denomination. Despite its effectiveness, many in the general population are hesitant to receive the vaccine.
We restate that vaccination has been proven to be the most effective way to fight the virus, that continues to affect and kill so many. In communion with Pope Francis, we remind the faithful that the common good of public health should take precedence over any moral reservation about receiving the vaccines; they will not be effective if people do not use them.
Kent E. Ferris, O.F.S., Social Action & Catholic Charities director in the Diocese of Davenport, spearheaded the campaign. Ferris said, “For those who still have questions about whether or not getting the vaccine will make a difference, we want people to know that their friends and neighbors across Iowa believe in the vaccine. There are many people ready and willing to talk with those who are struggling to make a decision about whether to be vaccinated. It’s worth our efforts to join the conversation across our state.”
For more information: https://iowacatholicconference.org/getvaccinated
Also visit:
https://dbqarch.org/covid-19-vaccination-info
https://www.davenportdiocese.org/covid-vaccine
https://www.dmdiocese.org/resources/worship/coronavirus
https://www.scdiocese.org/covid-updates