Date: September 29, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM St. Francis Center

The 2026 Sr. Ruth Agnes Ahlers Lecture will feature Bishop John Keehner on the topic of "joyful service."

Most Rev. John E. Keehner is the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City. He is originally from the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, and holds degrees in English, Latin American Studies, and Biblical Studies, as well as a Master's of Divinity and a licentiate in Canon Law. The lecture honors Sr. Ruth Agnes Ahlers, OSF (1917-2006), Professor and Professor Emerita of Theology at Briar Cliff from 1967-2000. Sr. Ahlers was instrumental in helping the University and the Sioux City Diocese engage with the theological developments of Vatican II and is remembered for her devotion to the Eucharist and her belief in the formative power of worship. The Ruth Agnes Ahlers Lecture continues each academic year as part of Briar Cliff’s mission to reflect on its Catholic and Franciscan intellectual heritage and strengthen the University's commitment to faith, learning, and service.