wpadmin, Author at Office of the Bishop

Remembering 9/11 on the 20th Anniversary

Videos

Sep 10, 2021 by wpadmin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcT3lNJdHJg Remembering 9/11: Recommit to peace and justice As a fellow US citizen as a Catholic bishop on the Eastern side of South Dakota as we remember September 11th of 2001, many of us remember it was a great tragedy indeed. Nearly 3,000 people died that day from terrorist attacks. We think of all those families and all those souls that were lost and all those who since that time have made so many sacrifices in America and Beyond to try to protect the innocent, to try to protect life. We think of the nearly 2,300 people who died in Afghanistan, those military personnel who made sacrifices let alone all those who were affected in other ways. As we remember this sobering reality may be also be filled with a…

Statement of the Bishops of South Dakota Regarding Covid-19 Vaccination Requirements

Joint Statements

Aug 10, 2021 by wpadmin

We have recently received a significant number of inquiries from the faithful concerning general requirements for some persons to receive a Covid-19 vaccination.We addressed many moral aspects of choosing a vaccine in a statement on December 30, 2020. As we said then, one may accept Covid-19 vaccines in good conscience if certain conditions are met, but doing so is not a universal moral duty. We echoed the Vatican, which explained in a doctrinal note that “practical reason makes evident that vaccination is not, as a rule, a moral obligation.” Rather, with attention to the common good, the decision to receive a Covid-19 vaccination should be discerned in light of many factors, several of which we described in that statement.Now, recent inquiries from the faithful raise the corollary question of whether…

Preparing our Hearts to Receive God’s Love in the Blessed Sacrament

Statements and Documents

Jul 29, 2021 by wpadmin

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, During the June General Assembly meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), I sensed in prayer I should offer some comments on whether the U.S. bishops should draft a teaching on the Eucharist. Various bishops offered their thoughts, and voting results were 168-55 to authorize the drafting of a teaching document on the Eucharist, which could then be discussed at a future USCCB meeting. As your bishop, I thought it fitting to offer you some rationale regarding the comments I made at the USCCB General Assembly. As you may be aware, a 2019 Pew Research Center survey indicated only one-third of Catholics believe the Church’s teaching on the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, that is, that the Eucharist is…

Loving Ourselves as God Made Us – Truth, Goodness & Beauty

Teachings, Truth, Goodness & Beauty

May 11, 2021 by wpadmin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5nnPVtQMu8 Download the Teaching Document Below with Additional Resources My dearly beloved brothers and sisters,As I continue my teachings regarding the importance of loving God, others and ourselves through truth, goodness and beauty, I hope to draw our attention to loving ourselves as God made us. This journey of experiencing God’s love can be filled with hope and joy. Unfortunately, there is sometimes also a depravity of a true understanding of who we are as male and female. But we can take heart even in these confusing times we live in because we know we are not alone. God is ever-present with us, encouraging and loving us as the beautiful persons He has created us to be in His image. When we discover and love who we are as male…

Priest Assignment Change – Effective May 7, 2021

Officials

May 07, 2021 by wpadmin

The Most Reverend Donald E. DeGrood has decreed that Reverend Robert Wullweber has been granted personal leave from assigned ministry, effective May 7, 2021.

Love of Others as God Made Them-Truth, Goodness & Beauty

Teachings, Truth, Goodness & Beauty

Mar 30, 2021 by wpadmin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI963Lr4uBM Download the Teaching Document Below with Additional Resources Charity: Divine Love in UsIn order for anyone to love rightly, we need to first know and love the truth, goodness and beauty of the human person as created by God. In the book of Genesis we read about how God, out of His infinite and creative love, created everything that exists. At the end of each day, He said, “It is good.” After He created man and woman, however, He said, “It is very good.” (cf. Gen. 1:31)Why “very good”? Because unlike every other creature on earth, you and I have all been created by God in His image and likeness because of his love for us. The goal of our lives should be to receive God’s love, relish that…

Priest Assignment Changes -July 2021

Officials

Mar 22, 2021 by wpadmin

Effective July 1, 2021, the Most Reverend Donald E. DeGrood has decreed the following appointments which relieve the following priests from assigned ministry and thus permit them to retire: Reverend Jerome Kopel, from Pastor of Sacred Heart, Gettysburg and St. Pius X, Onida, to Senior Priest. Reverend Kenneth Koster, from Pastor of Holy Rosary, Kranzburg, and St John, Castlewood, to Senior Priest. Reverend Michael Schneider, from Pastor of Holy Trinity, Huron, to Retirement. Reverend Andrew Swietochowski, from Pastor of St. James, Chamberlain, and St. Margaret, Kimball, to Senior Priest. Reverend James Zimmer, from Chaplain Sanford Hospital and Health System to Senior Priest. Effective July 1, 2021, at the recommendation of the Pro Ecclesia Sancta community and the endorsement of their religious superior, the Most Reverend Donald E. DeGrood has decreed…

The Mass-Truth, Goodness & Beauty

Teachings, Truth, Goodness & Beauty

Mar 12, 2021 by wpadmin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkFvIWV3DPw Download the Teaching Document Below with Additional Resources My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,Lenten greetings to you and your loved ones! We are fast approaching Holy Week and the great feast days of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, and this seems like a perfect time to continue my teaching series on Truth, Goodness and Beauty of our Catholic faith by focusing on the Holy Mass.Many of us have spent years or even decades attending Mass. It has simply been an automatic part of our weekly or even daily lives. For others—the young among us, or new Catholics—the Mass is still a new reality. Either way, our participation in the Mass and the difference it makes in our lives can be enriched by a deeper…

Dispensation Modification-March 27, 2021

Statements and Documents

Mar 11, 2021 by wpadmin

March 11, 2021 My beloved brothers and sisters, As your spiritual father and bishop, through consultation and ongoing research on the status of COVID, it has become clear to me that it is the appropriate time to remove the revised dispensation that I previously granted to Catholics over the age of 65 and/or with underlying health conditions related to COVID from fulfilling their obligation to attend Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation. This revision to the general dispensation to all Catholics was previously announced on August 10, 2020. Therefore, effective March 27, 2021, the Church’s obligation of Catholics to attend Sunday Mass weekly and Holy Days of Obligation is being reinstated for all Catholics in the Diocese of Sioux Falls. For Catholics who have serious reasons for not physically…

Priest Assignment Changes -May 2021

Officials

Mar 08, 2021 by wpadmin

Effective May 1, 2020, the Most Reverend Donald E. DeGrood has decreed the following priest assignment change: Reverend Brian J. Eckrich, from Parochial Vicar of Cathedral of St. Joseph Parish, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Mary Parish, Dell Rapids, Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Garretson, and Saint Joseph the Workman Parish, Huntimer. Reverend Jeffrey T. Norfolk, while remaining Chaplain to the South Dakota State Penitentiary, from Pastor, Risen Savior Parish, Brandon to Parochial Vicar, Cathedral of St. Joseph Parish. Reverend Shane D. Stevens, to be relieved as the Temporary Administrator, and appointed as the Pastor, Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Garretson and Saint Joseph the Workman Parish, Huntimer while remaining Pastor at Saint Mary Parish, Dell Rapids. Reverend Andrew W. Young, after completing his service to the United States Air Force,…

Author: wpadmin