Communications
The diocesan Communications Office is responsible for a variety of key initiatives. These include The Catholic Mirror, a monthly newspaper mailed to every registered Catholic home, with digital issues available online, In the Diocesan Loop, a monthly digital newsletter sent to parish and school leadership, and Making It Personal With Bishop Joensen, a weekly 30-minute radio show broadcast on the Iowa Catholic Radio Network and the Spirit Catholic Radio Network. The office also manages the diocesan website and social media channels, including Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, while handling crisis communication, media relations, and offering assistance to parishes and schools as needed.
The office is staffed by Anne Marie Cox, acox@dmdiocese.org, and Sandy Riesberg, sriesberg@dmdiocese.org. They can be reached at 515-237-5046.
Promoting Parish Events
Parishes that would like us to promote upcoming events with speakers from outside the diocese (clergy or lay people) must follow the diocesan protocol for approval. The diocesan Communications Office needs to ensure that appropriate approvals are in place before promoting events or speakers from outside the diocese who come here to teach about the faith, talk about catechesis or lead retreats.
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When we are asked to promote an upcoming event with a speaker from outside the diocese, we will ask if the following approvals have been received. It is the responsibility of the event organizers to request and secure the proceeding documentation as far in advance of the event as possible.
For visiting clergy:
- Permission from the Bishop to invite the priest into the diocese. This must first be obtained before proceeding any further in planning.
- Suitability Letter (sometimes called a Letter of Good Standing) from their home diocese or religious community.
- Letter of Recommendation from their bishop or religious community. It is acceptable to combine the Suitability Letter and Letter of Recommendation.
For visiting lay people:
- Permission from the Bishop to invite the speaker/catechist.
- Letter of Recommendation from their bishop.
All letters should be addressed to the Office of the Bishop. You should request a carbon copy so you know when they have been submitted.
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