March 2020

Our Lenten practice of penance is all about conversion. Personal conversion is never a once and for all experience. The entire Christian life is a process of conversion—turning towards God and meeting Him as he comes to us each day. Lent is an opportunity for us to focus more closely on this work of personal conversion and making ourselves open to change. The three disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving are age-old practices that have consistently helped members of the Church grow closer to the Lord. The fundamental purpose of Lent is to help us love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength (Mark 12:30). Every year people make the conscious decision to break patterns of sin and old ways…

The Seal of the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls In the seal there are three symbols: flowing water, a cross on a staff and a snake wound around the staff of the cross. The flowing water indicates the Sioux River upon which the Diocese is established and the cathedral city is located. The cross stands for the Catholic Church, which is located on the banks of the Sioux. The snake wound around the staff of the cross indicates the efforts of the Church to counteract evil by bringing the “Good News” of the Gospel to the people of the plains. Taken together the symbolism of the Seal of the Diocese of Sioux Falls is this: “This is the Church in the land of the Sioux by the waters of the…

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…

[caption id="attachment_4849" align="alignleft" width="300"] Bishop Emeritus Paul Swain celebrated his final All-School Mass at the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls.[/caption] Catholic schools around the Diocese of Sioux Falls celebrated Catholic Schools Week January 26 through February 1. Schools took the opportunity to celebrate in many different ways ranging from prayer and Mass. View the full Bishop's Bulletin PDF for more photos.         [caption id="attachment_4852" align="alignright" width="300"] Bishop Emeritus Swain treated St. Katharine Drexel School (Sioux Falls) students to pizza for achieving blue ribbon status.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_4851" align="alignleft" width="300"] Members of the Aberdeen Roncalli senior class consider Bishop Emeritus Swain part of their class because he became bishop when they started kindergarten. They all move on to new phases of life at the same time.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4845" align="alignright" width="225"] Diocesan Director of Youth Discipleship and Evangelization Eric Gallagher snapped a photo of the crowd marching behind him.[/caption] The 2020 March for Life in Washington D.C. attracted tens of thousands of marchers, including 69 youth and 31 adults from the Diocese of Sioux Falls, to voice opposition to abortion, euthanasia and other life issues. Porter Walz, member of St. Joseph Parish in Wessington Springs, said the most powerful part of the event was the march down Constitution Avenue. He went to the march to be part of the conversation and bring attention to this critical topic. “This isn’t some five-day retreat and you just go back home,” Walz said. “Everyone came to that march because they wanted the right thing for life, and we all came…

Couples from across the diocese enjoyed a day together for Reckless: A Catholic Couple’s Conference. Put on by the diocesan Office of Marriage and Family, 200 couples were treated to speakers to help them strengthen their marriages, entertainment (including Dueling Pianos), lunch and adoration. Speakers included Ennie and Cana Hickman and Deacon James Keating along with Dr. Chris Burgwald, director of Adult Discipleship and Evangelization, and Emily Leedom, director of Marriage, Family, and Respect Life. (Photos by Becca Ekeren)

The annual Gift of Hope event is offering a different type of entertainment this year—Christian stand-up comedian Jennifer Fulwiler. The event is set for Saturday, March 21 at 7 p.m. at the Bishop O’Gorman High School Performing Arts Center in Sioux Falls. Presented by the Catholic Community Foundation of Eastern South Dakota, the event benefits Catholic Family Services’ (CFS) Gift of Hope Fund, which helps advance the mission of CFS to provide various counseling and adoption services. This isn’t Fulwiler’s first time in Sioux Falls. She’s made several trips here for speaking engagements and even kicked off her new comedy tour here in 2019. She loves the friendly people and beauty of the area. Born and raised an atheist, Fulwiler and her husband converted to the Catholic Church together after…

Catholic Family Services will offer Camp Sydney for the third year at Broom Tree Retreat Center June 12-14. This non-denominational camp focuses on helping children and their families cope with grief after the death of a loved one. Camp Sydney is a free camp for kids ages 7-17 and their families. It features group time to share their grief experiences and understand they are not alone. Parents and guardians will spend time in their own grief program and also interact with their child during breakout times. Fun is a big part of the camp. Games and activities are used to enhance the grieving process and to offer lighthearted times for laughter and to build hope for the future. Activities include a scavenger hunt, games, art and wood working projects, swimming,…