February 2021 Archives - The Bishop's Bulletin

Retreats bear fruit as young people go deeper into their faith

February 2021, Next Generation Catholic

23Feb 2021 by rkranz

By Matthew Chicoine Total abandonment to God seems like an odd phrase, a difficult concept to grasp. Whether we’re cradle Catholics or brand new Catholics, attending Sunday Mass, praying the rosary, and being able to name the seven sacraments may not be enough to help us form a deep relationship with Jesus. A loose routine of prayer isn’t always enough to sustain us through the storms of life. God is calling us to a deeper relationship with Him. Going deeper in the faith [caption id="attachment_5524" align="alignright" width="300"] Elaina Lubeck[/caption] Two seniors at O’Gorman High School, Allison Kassing and Elaina Lubeck, lived at a surface level of their faith. They were both born and raised Catholic, and both teens said their parents never forced the Catholic faith on them. The faith…

Vocations Q&A with Father Brian Eckrich

February 2021, Vocations

01Feb 2021 by rkranz

[caption id="attachment_5549" align="alignright" width="240"] Fr. Brian Eckrich[/caption] Father Brian Eckrich is the parochial vicar at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Sioux Falls. He was ordained to the priesthood June 2, 2017, and spent the first two years of his priesthood as parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception Parish in Watertown. This month, we learn a bit more about this witty, thoughtful priest. Q. Tell us a bit about your family and where you grew up. A. I grew up in Aberdeen and graduated from Aberdeen Roncalli. I have a younger brother who’s married and lives in Sioux Falls. Q. How did you get your call to the priesthood? A. God called me to the priesthood through my involvement in the Pius XII Newman Center at SDSU and within that, FOCUS…

Young people can make Lent full of joyful hope

February 2021, Guest column

01Feb 2021 by rkranz

By Eric Gallagher [caption id="attachment_5543" align="alignright" width="300"] Eric Gallagher[/caption] I’m sitting down to write this column shortly after attending the funeral of Bailey Lauret, a 24-year-old son of our diocese who was serving as a FOCUS missionary in Memphis, Tennessee. He died suddenly as a result of a pulmonary embolism. The funeral was a profound moment for me as I prayed with hundreds of others, many of whom traveled from around the country to be there, in order to enter into, or rather celebrate, the death of Bailey. Many reading this may have encountered Bailey through his service at D-Camps in the summer, as he served around the diocese as a Totus Tuus missionary, or maybe as he discerned the priesthood as a seminarian. Anyone who met Bailey would be…

Does “apologetics” mean we are apologizing?

Does the Church have an answer?, February 2021

01Feb 2021 by rkranz

Question: I’ve been reading your column, but what, exactly, does “apologetics” mean? Answer: Thanks for this question! Frankly, it’s probably a topic I should’ve addressed in the very first column before taking any questions. In order to answer it, I’d like to begin by referring to Bishop DeGrood’s vision for the diocese: Lifelong Catholic Missionary Discipleship Through God’s Love. At the heart of this vision is missionary discipleship: the reality that we are all called not only to follow Jesus as His disciples ourselves, but to invite others to follow Him as well. In both following Jesus more closely and helping others do the same, questions often arise, whether they be our own questions or the questions of those we are talking with. Boiling it down, we can put it…

Spiritual disciplines for the Lenten season

February 2021, Headlines

01Feb 2021 by rkranz

The Christian faithful are obliged to do penance through prayer, fasting, abstinence and by performing works of piety and charity. All Fridays through the year, especially during Lent, are penitential days. Abstinence: Everyone age 14 and older is to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday, all Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday. Why meat? Over the centuries meat has been considered to be a luxury for many people and has also been used for celebrations and feasts. At a penitential time of year, it makes sense to give up something used to mark joyful celebrations, especially on Friday, the day of our Lord’s death. Fasting: Everyone age 18 and up to their 59th birthday is to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This practice mirrors the 40 days…

Advent Baby Shower offers help and prayers

February 2021, Headlines

01Feb 2021 by rkranz

Donations for Advent Baby Shower have been pouring in from parishes and Catholic schools across the diocese. All kinds of baby items were collected during Advent and will be distributed throughout the year to families who need them through parishes, Birthright, Avera, the Teddy Bear Den, the 211 Hotline, and to walk-ins at the Chancery. Emily Leedom, executive director of Catholic Family Services, says there is a wide variety of individuals who benefit from the items collected. “Often, we see single mothers who could use the additional support. We may also see families who have recently moved to the area and don’t have jobs lined up yet but need items for their children,” she said. “We also get calls from women who delivered earlier than expected and need the items…

Connecting us as One Faith, One Family

Featured, February 2021

01Feb 2021 by rkranz

By Renae Kranz Each year when the Catholic Family Sharing Appeal begins, many of us can probably think of one or two ways we’ve come into contact with some of the things offered by the Diocese of Sioux Falls. Maybe one of our children went to a youth conference or a college-aged child is involved in the Newman Center on their university campus, or maybe we attended a talk by Dr. Chris Burgwald to deepen our knowledge of our own faith. This past year has been one where nearly every Catholic has regularly felt and seen some of the things the diocese provides for parishes and for all Catholics: Sunday TV Mass, The Bishop’s Bulletin, parish websites, and online parish giving just to name a few. These things have come…

Helping others grow in relationship with God, one small group at a time

February 2021, Missionary Discipleship

01Feb 2021 by rkranz

By Wendy Royston At the Lord’s nudging, Bishop Donald DeGrood has laid out a vision for a diocesan-wide call to, essentially, embody the true meaning of Catholicism. “Missionary discipleship is following Jesus and sharing Him with those around you,” explained Dr. Chris Burgwald, director of Adult Discipleship and Evangelization. “To be Catholic has always meant to have a relationship with God, and then do what I can to help others to have a relationship with God. … This is kind of putting a specific name to what our Catholic faith has always been about.” In his first year as the shepherd of the Sioux Falls diocese, Bishop DeGrood has sensed a need for renewed emphasis on what he has themed Lifelong Catholic Missionary Discipleship Through God’s Love. As it is…

Getting a glimpse of a generous diocese

Bishop DeGrood's Column, February 2021

01Feb 2021 by rkranz

In my home diocese I often wondered “what does the diocesan annual appeal really support?” This was the question I needed answered for myself as your bishop. Frankly, as I dug into the details more, I have been struck by how many of the Catholic Family Sharing Appeal (CFSA) resources are used to help pastors, parishes and staff in parishes and Catholic schools. I have been able to get this glimpse through my questioning and observations this past year which has helped me understand more fully how many of our Chancery staff help support so many parishes, schools and other outreach ministries. This year in our annual diocesan Catholic Family Sharing Appeal, I asked that we highlight the ministries supported so you, too, can get a clear glimpse of the…

Program recognizes Catholic teachers for excellence

February 2021, Headlines

01Feb 2021 by rkranz

Last year Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools (BOGCS) partnered with the Catholic Community Foundation for Eastern South Dakota (CCFESD) to recognize teachers of excellence in Catholic education. The Teacher of Excellence program celebrates excellent teachers at all levels. This program, which kicked off its second year on January 15, was created through the generous donation of an anonymous donor family to support the hard work and dedication of outstanding teachers. “Last year a grateful family came to the CCFESD with an idea to support the quality Catholic education that BOGCS provides by thanking the teachers who are critical to the students’ experience,” said Mark Conzemius, president of the CCFESD. “In particular, they wanted to recognize quality, high performing teachers, who go above and beyond, affirming the faith-filled, dedicated, committed, and extraordinary…