Plans for the Diocese of Sioux Falls’ second Ministry Day are well underway and the event this year promises to be different, according to vice chancellor Nancy Werner.
“Because last year was our first year, we learned how to do some things differently this year, to do some things better,” she said.
Ministry Day will be Monday, August 16.
Registration materials are already available through each parish or on-line at www.sfcatholic.org.
That is one of the differences, Werner pointed out. “It is a one day event instead of a two day event,” she said. “We also learned that we needed a bigger facility.”
So this year, Ministry Day will be held at the Ramkota Inn in Sioux Falls.
Another major difference will be fewer workshops being offered but those workshops will be offered in four different rounds so participants can be sure to get to the workshops they really want to attend.
The diocese is also holding the line on costs for the event. “We are trying to get people across the diocese used to the event and to know that it will be an annual event,” said Werner.
Ministry Day is an opportunity for people to come together to experience a day of prayer, education and community building.
Another focus of this year’s Ministry Day will be on the Diocese of Sioux Falls “as a rural church and what that means” for people of the diocese.
“We also want to give our teachers and ministers opportunities for some continuing education that will help them in their work and spiritual journey,” Werner said.
The formation of this year’s Ministry Day was heavily linked to the feedback received after last year’s inaugural event. “It was really from the evaluations that we saw how we had to proceed,” said Werner. “We went to our school teachers, principals and our diocesan education office to help us better address the needs of diocesan educators.”
This year’s keynote speakers will be Dr. James Beddow and Randy Parry who will discuss “community barn raising on the prairies of east river South Dakota.”
“The premise for community building is all about how people who minister in eastern South Dakota like to get together and share experiences in their parish or school,” Werner added.
Ministry Day registration begins at 8:45 a.m. and the day concludes with the celebration of the Mass by Bishop Robert J. Carlson at 4 p.m.
Additional information about this year’s Ministry Day and registration for it is already available in parishes and on line at www.sfcatholic.org