December 2020

Question: [caption id="attachment_5428" align="alignright" width="214"] Pope Pius IX dogmatically defined the doctrine of papal infallibility during the First Vatican Council.[/caption] Is everything a pope says infallible? Answer: This is a great and timely question, in light of the documentary that was released about Pope Francis in October. That documentary included clips from a news interview that the Holy Father had given in 2019 on the topic of civil unions for same-sex couples. Much of the coverage of the Holy Father’s remarks, particularly in secular media, indicated that Pope Francis had changed the Church’s teaching. This column won’t be getting into the details of questions about what he meant or why the Church teaches what she does about marriage (make sure and check out the online resources in the link below…

By Renae Kranz If you’ve already read Father Mike Griffin’s column for this month, you know the news. If you haven’t, well, go back to page 4 and see what he has to say. After about 26 years as executive editor of the Bishop’s Bulletin, Father Mike is putting down his pen. As part of that decision, he will also end the column he has written for 30 years. It’s a sad day for those who have faithfully read his lovely words all these years. Changes like these can be difficult, especially when they are unexpected. But changes in life help us grow and stretch ourselves in ways we don’t expect. They also help us put our trust in God, following him where he leads us. As long as we…

This year has presented us with many challenges, but none has had a greater impact on our lives than COVID-19. It has led to job losses, depression, addiction, loneliness, sickness and for some, death. It’s been a struggle for almost everyone. As Catholics, these are the times we are moved to action to help our neighbors. Through the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund that has been facilitated by the Catholic Community Foundation for Eastern South Dakota (CCFESD), we have impacted the lives of 644 families with grants ranging from $250 to $500 to help with immediate needs. Of those who have received funds, nearly 1,200 children have been helped. Parishes in 22 communities across the diocese have received a total of $267,100 in assistance over 28 weeks. Many have stepped up…

The diocesan Office of Discipleship and Evangelization is offering a new series called Catholic Conversations. Bishop DeGrood has called all of us to grow as lifelong Catholic missionary disciples through God’s love. An essential aspect of being a disciple is to deepen our understanding of what God has revealed to us about Himself, about us, and indeed about all things. To grow as a disciple throughout our lives, then, is to grow in understanding of what God teaches us through His Church. To help the faithful of the diocese grow as missionary disciples, Dr. Chris Burgwald, the diocesan director of Adult Discipleship and Evangelization, is broadcasting live as he travels around the Diocese of Sioux Falls. Each month he is making a stop at a different parish to have a…

We celebrate the Immaculate Conception each year on December 8 as a holy day of obligation. It’s a day to contemplate the great gift of God’s grace given to Mary our mother. The Church teaches that Mary, from the moment of her conception, was preserved from the stain of original sin. She was to be a pure vessel for Jesus as he was conceived and grew in her womb. How did that happen and how is it different from how we are saved from original sin in baptism? Here’s an analogy that has been used by the Church for a thousand years to illustrate this gift of grace. Say you are walking along and fall into a deep, muddy pit. Someone reaches down and pulls you out of the pit.…

Bishop Donald DeGrood and Father Scott Traynor met with FOCUS team directors from campuses in the South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska region recently. The gathering was hosted by Tony Menke, regional director of the West for FOCUS, who serves and oversees eight universities in the West Region. The group discussed how FOCUS can implement and further the bishop’s vision of Lifelong Catholic Missionary Discipleship Through God’s Love in their work with university students around the diocese. They also shared their experiences of working with students as they bring Christ to their lives and their challenges in their work. Pictured with the bishop and Father Traynor are (back row) Seyha Saumweber (UND), Dylan Reinhardt (SDSU), Tony Menke, Father Scott Traynor, Bishop DeGrood, Jacob Tschann (Northern St.), Rob Cargill (USD), (front…