Joint Statements - Office of the Bishop

Statement of the Bishops of South Dakota – Joint Letter of Fiducia Supplicans

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Dec 22, 2023 by wpadmin

December 22, 2023 Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, We have received a number of inquiries from the faithful concerning Fiducia Supplicans, a Vatican document published Monday on the topic of blessings. It specifically discusses the offering of a blessing by a priest to persons living in situations of unrepentant serious sin, such as same-sex sexual relationships, fornication, or adultery. Blessings can have a liturgical or ritual expression (e.g., the blessing of the sick or the blessing of an altar), while others remain less formal (e.g., the prayer before meals or a parent’s blessing of their children at bedtime). Blessings can be used to seek God’s protection against evil, to set things aside for the worship of God (e.g., the blessing of a chalice), or to ask God’s favor or…

Statement of the Bishops of South Dakota on the Anniversary of the Overturning of Roe v. Wade

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Jun 24, 2023 by wpadmin

June 24, 2023 “For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.” (Luke 1:44) Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: On this occasion of the first anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, we write to exhort the Catholic faithful and all persons of good will to reflect on our shared responsibility to protect all vulnerable human life, most especially our preborn brothers and sisters. The Dobbs decision, as we stated one year ago, represents a “giant leap forward toward the ultimate goal of protecting each and every life from the beginning of its existence.” The Supreme Court, by overturning the Roe v. Wade decision of 1973, has finally allowed South Dakota…

PES and Propaedeutic Announcement

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Jun 21, 2023 by wpadmin

June 21, 2023 Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious Dear Friends in Christ, I am pleased to announce movements within our diocese that will allow us to continue to grow in missionary discipleship and holiness. First, in 2021 God blessed us by sending members of the religious community of Pro Ecclesia Sancta (PES), whose name means “for the holiness of the Church.” With two PES priests serving in Mitchell, and PES sisters and a men’s formation house with a PES priest and PES brothers in the Sioux Falls area great things have been happening. While the PES sisters will remain in Sioux Falls, the PES leaders have discerned that the PES priest and brothers in the formation house should move to Mitchell to be closer to the PES priests and…

Statement of the Bishops of South Dakota on the U.S. Supreme Court’s Abortion Ruling

Joint Statements

Jun 27, 2022 by wpadmin

June 24, 2022 Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court released its decision in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The court’s majority overturned its prior rulings in the cases of Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), which asserted that a right to abortion exists in the U.S. constitution. The Dobbs ruling is a momentous decision that will once again allow the sanctity of life to be protected by law. We are grateful for this decision. It honors this country’s highest aspirations to be a society that secures “liberty and justice for all.” From the moment of conception, there exists a whole, separate, unique human life with an immortal soul given by God. This life is…

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…

COVID Vaccinations: Must I, May I?

Joint Statements, Statements and Documents, Videos

Jan 05, 2021 by wpadmin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHsCSJh2FNU Bishop Donald DeGrood along with Bishop Peter Muhich of the diocese of Rapid City, have put together documentation on whether or not the current COVID vaccinations meet a standard of obligation or morality as a faithful catholic. [icon name="file-pdf-o" class="" unprefixed_class=""] Joint Statement on COVID Vaccinations from the South Dakota Catholic Conference [icon name="file-pdf-o" class="" unprefixed_class=""] FAQ Documentation on the COVID Vaccines

Statement of the Bishops of South Dakota Regarding recently reported remarks of the Holy Father

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Nov 03, 2020 by wpadmin

On October 21, 2020, media reported on a 20-second video clip from a Spanish-language documentary film about Pope Francis. In the film, the Holy Father was shown stating, as translated into English, “Homosexual people have a right to be part of a family. They’re children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable because of it. What we have to create is a [convivencia civil]. That way they are legally covered.” Later reporting indicated this video was compiled from several separate segments in a 2019 interview the Holy Father gave to a Mexican journalist. This footage had never before been played publicly. Yesterday, we became aware of several clarifications offered at the direction of the Holy Father through his representatives…

Plan for resuming public Mass once social distancing and hygiene practices are in place

Joint Statements

May 01, 2020 by wpadmin

JOINT STATEMENT: THE SPIRITUAL LEADERS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESES OF SIOUX FALLS AND RAPID CITY [caption id="attachment_48" align="alignleft" width="400"] Very Reverend Michel Mulloy & Bishop Donald E. DeGrood[/caption] May 1, 2020 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Our decision on March 17, 2020 to suspend public Masses was made after much prayer, consultation, and after having reviewed the recommendations of public health authorities. This decision was focused on preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus especially for the most vulnerable. We know this extraordinary measure has been difficult for all the faithful. We are grateful for the acts of charity and expressed understanding that we have witnessed in our midst during this time. This makes us all the more pleased to bring you good spiritual news in this Easter…

Suspension of all public Masses due to the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic

Joint Statements, Statements and Documents

Mar 17, 2020 by wpadmin

JOINT STATEMENT: THE SPIRITUAL LEADERS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESES OF SIOUX FALLS AND RAPID CITY [caption id="attachment_48" align="alignleft" width="400"] Very Reverend Michel Mulloy & Bishop Donald E. DeGrood[/caption] Suspension of all public Masses due to the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic March 17, 2020 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Our national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, relying on data that shows the real progression of the COVID-19 virus, has now updated its recommendation to limit gatherings to ten people. The recommendation limits the potential for transmission of the virus. Ultimately, the recommendation is rooted in serving the common good, including those most vulnerable to the virus and its devastating effects on the body. Mindful of our own call as Catholics to seek the common good, we have directed that all…

Dispensation from the Obligation to attend Sunday Masses due to the COVID-19/Coronavirus until further notice

Joint Statements, Statements and Documents

Mar 13, 2020 by wpadmin

JOINT STATEMENT: THE SPIRITUAL LEADERS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESES OF SIOUX FALLS AND RAPID CITY [caption id="attachment_48" align="alignleft" width="400"] Very Reverend Michel Mulloy & Bishop Donald E. DeGrood[/caption] Dispensation from the Obligation to attend Sunday Masses due to the COVID-19/Coronavirus until further notice Earlier this week and in our respective capacities as spiritual leaders of the two dioceses in South Dakota, we announced measures for limiting the spread of illness during Masses. These statements were circulated within parishes and can be accessed on the two diocesan websites. With public health officials providing additional guidance this week that has led to the cancellation of sporting and cultural events, we write to offer further clarification and guidance. While the Church has not been asked by government officials at this time to…