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Bishop Emeritus R. Walker Nickless was named the seventh Bishop in the 108-year history of the Diocese of Sioux City on November 10, 2005. His selection as Bishop was one of the first appointments made by Pope Benedict XVI, following the death of Pope John Paul II.
He served from Jan. 20, 2006, until May 1, 2025 when Bishop John E. Keehner was ordained the eighth bishop of the diocese on May 1, 2025.
Bishop Nickless was born in Denver, Colorado, one of ten children born to R. Walker Nickless and E. Margaret McGovern Nickless. He has four brothers and five sisters. His mother died in early 2006, shortly after her son’s ordination as Bishop.
Bishop Nickless was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Denver on August 4, 1973. Before his appointment as Bishop, then Monsignor Nickless served as pastor of Our Lady of Fatima parish in Lakewood, Colorado and as Vicar General of the Archdiocese. He was nominated as Prelate of Honor (Monsignor) by Pope John Paul II in 1996. Bishop Nickless graduated from Bishop Machebeuf High School in 1965. He attended St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, the University of Denver and the Gregorian University in Rome.
When he received notice of the appointment in a phone call from Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, the Papal Nuncio in Washington, that Pope Benedict XVI had appointed him to be the Bishop for the Diocese of Sioux City, then Monsignor Nickless said he was surprised but very excited. “In addition to the immediate sensation of unworthiness, I consider it a great honor to come to serve the people of the Diocese of Sioux City,” said Bishop Nickless. “I want to be a good pastor, a good father, and a good Shepherd and intend to work very closely with the priests of the Diocese to do the work of the Lord.”
Nickless was formally installed and ordained as Bishop on January 20, 2006 in a ceremony at the Church of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ in Sioux City. Archbishop Jerome Hanus of the Archdiocese of Dubuque was the principal consecrator as the Dubuque Archdiocese is the metropolitan diocese for the state.
The co-consecrators were Archbishop Charles Joseph Chaput of Denver and Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island.
Under the guidance of Bishop Nickless, a Strategic Planning Task Force was established in 2007. The bishop endorsed a five-year long range plan for the reorganization of parishes in October 2009. Later that month, Bishop Nickless distributed his first pastoral letter, Ecclesia Semper Reformanda (The Church is Always in Need of Renewal), throughout the diocese.
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Bishop Emeritus Nickless' Personal Coat of ARmsFor his personal arms, His Excellency, Bishop Nickless employs a design that represents his heritage and ministry in Christ’s holy Priesthood.
On a silver (white) field, the outline of a cross in red has the outline of four circles conjoined, also outlined in red. In the center of the four circles is a heart, pierced by a golden sword and emblazoned with the letter “M,” symbolizing his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This entire representation is taken from the embroidery and appliqué of a priestly vestment, a chasuble, worn by St. John Vianney, also known as “The Curé of Ars.” St. John Vianney, on whose feast Bishop Nickless was ordained a priest, is the Patron Saint of Parish Priests and the Patron of Bishop Nickless’ childhood parish and school. Bishop Nickless has always looked to this Saint as a model and inspiration in his priesthood, desiring to be a holy priest for God’s holy people through the maternal mediation of Mary, the Mother of God and of Priests.
In the quarters that are formed by the outlined cross are four Colorado columbine blossoms as they would appear in nature. These images of the State Flower of Colorado represent Bishop Nickless’ life and priestly ministry in Colorado.
For his episcopal motto, Bishop Nickless has chosen the phrase: SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE. By the use of these words from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians (Eph. 4:15), he wants to express how his teaching as bishop will be nothing other than the truth of Christ and His Church. This Truth is sometimes hard to hear and put into practice and so must always be spoken in love. In the end, Truth and Love are one and the same, namely Jesus Christ our Lord.
The heraldic achievement is completed with external ornaments. First, a gold processional cross, placed in back of and extending above and below the shield. Second, the pontifical hat called a “gallero,” is featured in green with its six tassels in three rows on either side of the shield. These are the heraldic insignia of a prelate of the rank of bishop by instruction of The Holy See of March 31, 1969.
Originally designed by Deacon Sullivan in 2006, redrawn by heraldic artist David Burkart 2025.
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FOR assistance
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Cecilia LopezCecilialscdiocese.orgAssistant to Bishop Emeritus Nickless & Archivist
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