One Oblate Sister of the Blessed Sacrament (OSBS) still serving the diocese and two Franciscan Priests (T.O.R.) who once served in the diocese are celebrating jubilees.

61st Jubilee

Sister Madeleine LeCompte, OSBS, from St. Sylvester’s Convent, Marty, recently celebrated her 61st jubilee as an Oblate Sister of the Blessed Sacrament.
Madeleine Rita LeCompte was born August 3,1924 to Anna Blackbird and Frank LeCompte at the family home in Mobridge.
She was baptized in the church of St. Bede in Wakpala.
Being of Indian parentage, Madeleine was enrolled in the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, of Fort Yates, ND.
For schooling, she attended St. Joseph Indian School for eight years in Chamberlain.
The high school years found her at Rosebud government school for two years and desiring a more Christian education, Father Louis Gall, S.J. helped her to transfer to St. Francis Mission to be taught by the Jesuits and Franciscan Sisters where she graduated in May, 1941.
Within a month after graduation Madeleine entered the convent at Marty which at the time was a new community known as the Oblate Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.
The community located in the diocese of Sioux Falls, was founded by Reverend Sylvester Eisenman, OSB, after young girls in the Marty school told him they would like to become sisters.
With the advice and help of Mother Katharine Drexel SBS, the new group came together in 1935 under the direction of three sisters who lived with the young postulants, novices, and newly professed until their rule of life was approved by Rome.
In 1976 Sister Madeleine had her first opportunity to be assigned to another Native American reservation.
For eight years she worked in the Cheyenne/Eagle Butte area where she spent her time visiting homes, and providing religious instruction, prayer and counseling to the people.
Later, Sister Madeleine was assigned to Rapid City where the Oblate Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament continue their work in apostolic native concerns.
Sister Madeleine returned to Marty to be Parish Administrator in 1992 and remained in that position for approximately two years.
She returned to Rapid City where she now continues working with her native people.

50th Jubilees

On July 26th, a Jubilee Mass was held at St. Francis University, Loretto, PA, as the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular of Penance gathered together to celebrate.
Eight of the friars including two who served in the Diocese of Sioux Falls marked special anniversaries of their religious professions and ordinations.
More than 100 friars joined with the Minister Provincial of the Sacred Heart Province, Very Rev. Christian Oravec, T.O.R. in honoring these men who together gave more than 325 years of service to the Catholic Church.
Father Colman McGarril, T.O.R. and Father Joseph Glancy, T.O.R., who served in the diocese, were among the Jubilarians.
Father McGarril served the people of Sioux Falls as Chaplain of St. Joseph Hospital (Mitchell) in 1980.
He was later named regional superior of the Franciscan Friars, T .O.R. and also named pastor of Holy Spirit Church (1981-1988).
Father McGarril now ministers at St. Patrick Church in Tampa, FL.
Father Glancy served the people of the diocese as a Franciscan Friar from 1996-2002.
Fr. Glancy ministered at St. John the Baptist, Wagner, St. Martin of Tours, Huron and Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Dimock, and Holy Trinity, Ethan.