Author: rkranz

[caption id="attachment_5873" align="alignright" width="300"] The cross leads the Rogation Days Procession in Ipswich followed by parish members and Fr. Tim Smith. (Photo and story courtesy of Fr. Tim Smith)[/caption] Members of Holy Cross Parish in Ipswich recently celebrated the annual Rogation Days Procession on May 10. The Minor Rogation Days are on the last three days before Ascension Thursday and were instituted to appease divine justice, ask for protection, and invoke God’s blessing on the harvest. The Litany of the Saints is chanted in procession with the cross and people praying and asking for God’s blessing. The Minor Rogation Days are a time focused on asking God’s blessing in the planting season for an abundant harvest and for protection against calamities such as disease, bad weather and natural disasters. Fifteen-year-old…

[caption id="attachment_5869" align="alignright" width="300"] Those who attended the presentation of the relics at Risen Savior Parish in Brandon were able to see them up close. (Photo by Brianna Wingen)[/caption] Several parishes around the diocese hosted Treasures of the Church exposition of sacred relics for veneration during the month of May. The exposition of 165 sacred relics included the True Cross, Mary’s veil, St. Joseph, each of the Twelve Apostles and many saints. All but six of the relics were first class relics. Nicholas Lanners, parishioner at Risen Savior Parish in Brandon, said of the exposition, “Almost 2,000 years later, I’m able to be in the physical presence and touch our beginning apostles. It brings a deeper meaning to Bishop DeGrood’s Holy Spirit vision on missionary discipleship for my diocese.” “The…

The Bishop Hoch Scholarships have been awarded and announced for the 2021-2022 school year. This program was established to give the Diocese of Sioux Falls the ability to award a scholarship to attend either Mount Marty University in Yankton or Presentation College in Aberdeen to a student from each of its deaneries each year. The scholarships are open to anyone intending to attend either Mount Marty University or Presentation Colleges in the next academic year. This includes new students, students already attending one of the universities/colleges, non-traditional students and transfer students. This year’s scholarship winners are: In the Yankton deanery, Michaela Kokes, Mount Marty University. In the Watertown deanery, Payton Gassman, Mount Marty University. In the Sioux Falls deanery, Alexandra Healy, Mount Marty University. In the Brookings/Huron deanery, Lauren Stiefvater,…