- National Eucharistic Congress, Indianapolis – July 16-21
- Clergy Picnic – July 24
- Priest Council – July 25
- Clergy Days – Sept. 30 – Oct. 3
Open positions in the diocese
Several positions are still open around the diocese, including in pastorates, and we’d love to fill them with good Catholics from your parishes! Please consider including a short blurb with our QR code in your next bulletin. Thank you in advance!
Possible bulletin blurb: Have you ever considered joining your work with your faith? Many open positions exist in our diocese that allow you to do just that! Positions include teachers, human resources, business managers, directors in music liturgy, clinical directors and so much more. Browse all positions by scanning the QR code or visiting sfcatholic.org and clicking the employment opportunities link in the top right corner.
A message from the National Eucharistic Congress
For information purposes:
We look forward to welcoming you to the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in a few short months! As we prepare for the Congress, we want to be sure you are aware of the Safe Environment policies that are in place for the safety and security of minors at the event.
All participants must click here to indicate whether or not they will be accompanying minors to the event.
Please read below for important information about our Safe Environment policies and ensure that you and all members of your group are compliant with them.
Safety & Security of Minors
- Minors (anyone under the age of 18) must be accompanied at all times by either a parent/legal guardian or a Safe Environment cleared chaperone.
- Minors should not wander the Indiana Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium, or any other event spaces unaccompanied by an adult.
- Minors must be accompanied by an adult at all sessions (including family and/or youth sessions). The minors and the accompanying adult(s) must be registered to attend sessions together.
- Minors may attend any session with an adult, not just sessions specifically noted for families or youth.
Safe Environment Requirements
- Parents and legal guardians attending with just their own child(ren) do not need to have safe environment clearance.
- Any adult accompanying minors who are not their own children are considered chaperones and must meet the following requirements:
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- All chaperones must be age 21 or older.
- All chaperones must be safe environment compliant within their (arch)diocese. This compliance must include current safe environment training and a fully cleared background check. Proof of this must be readily available to be shown on site upon request.
- Older siblings may serve as a chaperone for younger siblings only if they are age 21 or older and are safe environment compliant.
- Parents may serve as a chaperone for children/youth unrelated to them only if they are age 21 or older and are safe environment compliant.
- The required chaperone to youth ratio is 1 chaperone for up to every 8 youth.
- Outside of families, adults with minors must always maintain groups of 3 or more (i.e. a minimum of 1 adult chaperone with 2 youth or 2 adult chaperones with 1 youth). An adult should never be alone with a minor that is not their own child.
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The Lourdes Center
Held Grief Series presented by The Lourdes Center.
This eight-week grief series will begin Tuesday, September 10 from 6-8 p.m. The series will blend education and faith surrounding the loss of a loved one through death. Each session will allow for small group discussion according to your particular loss (loss of a child, spouse, parent/sibling). Registration is required. Free-will donations accepted.
Call The Lourdes Center at 605-988-3775 to register.
Discipleship and Evangelization
Upcoming Events
D-Camp 2024 – Broom Tree
June 16-19 (High School) – SOLD OUT
July 7-10 (High School) – SOLD OUT
July 11-14 (Junior High) – SOLD OUT
Confirmation Retreats
June 22 – Vermillion
July 27 – Elkton
National Eucharistic Pilgrimage
May 17 – July 16
National Eucharistic Congress
July 17-21 – Indianapolis, IN
Search – Sioux Falls
August 2-4
More Info
School of Missionary Discipleship – Prayer Class starting in August
People have been raving about Father Scott’s prayer class Fall in Love, Stay in Love, Let Love Make All the Difference. Over 100 people have written in to say it has changed their life.
If you have a desire to learn how to pray, to grow deeper in your prayer life, or even just need a refresh, you won’t regret taking this class. This is for YOU! Learn to pray like never before by having a personal relationship of growing intimacy with God.
Anyone is welcome to take this 12-week online class. Each week you will watch a one hour video lecture and then have a one hour class via Zoom. Father Scott will answer questions and then send you into small groups for discussion.
Save the date! Classes run August – December. Registration will be sent out next month. If you have questions, please visit our webpage. You can also contact our office at 605-988-3714 or disciplehip@sfcatholic.org.
Confirmation Retreats
Lumen Christi is offering one more Confirmation retreat this summer: July 27 in Elkton. This retreat is focused on deepening the understanding and preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. For more information and to register, visit our webpage at: https://www.sfcatholic.org/youth/confirmation-retreats/
Bulletin Blurb: Lumen Christi is offering a Confirmation retreat on July 27 in Elkton. Register today by visiting: https://www.sfcatholic.org/youth/confirmation-retreats/
SEARCH Retreat
SEARCH is a Christ-centered community of high school youth and college-aged young adults grounded in the teachings of the Catholic Church. A SEARCH retreat is an opportunity to share Christ, make new friendships, pray, ask questions, and have fun. The next retreat is August 2-4 at Holy Spirit Church in Sioux Falls. Register here. If you have any questions, please contact the SEARCH board at siouxfallssearch@gmail.com.
National Eucharistic Procession
As part of the National Eucharistic Revival, there will be eucharistic processions happening from the four areas of the country, joining together at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. You are invited to join part in the routes and make your own eucharistic pilgrimage. Come as a family, youth group, men’s/women’s group or individually. You can find all the details here.
Gallup CliftonStrengths Inventories – Attention Pastors
As you begin to put together your pastorate leadership teams, we wanted to remind you that we have an amazing opportunity for you to help your team members understand their own gifts and the gifts of the team.
The diocese maintains a Gallup access platform that makes it easy to invite your team to take the CliftonStrengths inventory and generates reports for each individual as well as the team as a whole. We also have two trained Strengths coaches on staff to help you interpret what the results mean for each person as an individual and as a team.
Inventories are $60 per person. Coaching is free.
If you would like to use this tool to help empower your team, please go through the diocese instead of contacting Gallup on your own. For more information or to set up the inventories for your team, please reach out to the Office of Discipleship & Evangelization, 605-988-3714 or disciplehip@sfcatholic.org.
PCL Email List
If you are a new Parish Catechetical Leader (PCL) or newly diving into our offerings, we invite you to join the PCL email list. You can sign up on the diocesan For Parish Leaders webpage.
PCL Portal
We have a PCL portal that serves as a one stop shop for all the active Parish Catechetical Leaders in the diocese. PCL’s are DRE’s, youth ministers, OCIA coordinators, and those who lead discipleship and evangelization initiatives in a parish or pastorate.
This portal houses many useful resources, the Power Hour recordings, RE curriculum guidelines and suggestions, and much more.
If you are an active PCL in the diocese and have not been added to this portal, please reach out to our office to request access. We can be reached either by phone at 605-988-3714 or by email at discipleship@sfcatholic.org
Upcoming Bishop’s Charity Events
Mark your calendar for these upcoming Bishop’s Charity Events!
10th Annual Taste the Goodness
Get ready for an extraordinary evening! Enjoy unlimited tastings of a delicious variety of food, wine, craft beer and bourbon, with plenty of non-alcoholic options, too. The evening will include music, games and a great silent auction—all outdoors under tents in downtown Sioux Falls. Join us for a night of flavor, fun and fellowship supporting those in our community in most need of our help. Proceeds will benefit the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House.
Saturday, August 3
5:00-9:00 p.m.
Downtown Sioux Falls
Avera Tech Building | 212 E 11th St.
Register today at ccfesd.org/events or by calling 605-988-3765.
Must be 21+ to attend. IDs will be checked at the gate. No children in strollers or carriers.
31st Annual Bishop’s Cup Golf Tournament
The Bishop’s Cup is the longest-running Bishop’s Charity event for our diocese. Established in 1994, this event is held in August of each year on the two most pristine courses in our diocese: The Country Club of Sioux Falls and Minnehaha Country Club. Proceeds from this event benefit Broom Tree Retreat and Conference Center, located near Irene, SD. This event typically sells out each year, so if you are interested in participating, register early!
Monday, August 19
Morning & Afternoon Rounds
Minnehaha Country Club & The Country Club of Sioux Falls
Register today at ccfesd.org/events or by calling 605-988-3765.
Other 2024 events
Bishop’s Charity Hunt
Benefitting Newman Catholic Campus Ministries
September 16-17 | Horseshoe “K” Ranch, Kimball
Christmas at the Cathedral
Benefitting Bishop Dudley Hospitality House & Cathedral of St. Joseph Endowments
December 12-15 | Sioux Falls
For more information on each event, visit our website at ccfesd.org/events or call 605.988.3765
We’re Hiring!
Explore a career with the Catholic Community Foundation for Eastern South Dakota!
Are you a Catholic leader who is ready to put your deeply rooted Catholic values to work with a team that is focused on furthering the mission of the Church? Join the Catholic Community Foundation on our quest to ensure the vitality and continuity of the Catholic community by applying your expertise and passion to make a lasting impact in the lives of countless individuals! We are currently looking to fill the following positions on our team:
To learn more about the Catholic Community Foundation and these positions, visit ccfesd.org/careers.
Broom Tree Retreat and Conference Center Events
Silent Retreats:
Women’s: July 25-28, October 3-6, November 7-10
Men’s: September 19-22, November 21-24
Day of Recollection: Broom Tree Days of Recollection begin at 10 a.m. and include conferences, time for adoration, Mass, and an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The day ends in mid-afternoon. Because lunch is served, we ask that you please register. A prayerful donation is requested.
2024 Days of Recollection
July 23 – Eucharist in Daily Life, directed by Joshua Burks with Fr. Andrew Dickinson *Cancelled due to construction!
August 13 – August Saints: the Big Deal in Holiness, directed by Fr. Bob Lacey
September 10 – “Our Guardian Angels: God’s Gift,” directed by Dr. Teri Kemmer
Healing Retreats
October 11-13
Undone: A Healing Retreat- directed by Fr. Scott Traynor
This retreat will assist participants in becoming aware of Jesus’ desire to bring restoration in their lives.
Couples Retreats
November 15-17, directed by Jim and Meg Beckman with Fr. Scott Traynor
During this retreat, couples will have the blessed opportunity to spend time together receiving from the very heart of God. The environment at Broom Tree makes for a perfect couples get-away: no TV, no radio, no phones or computers, just beautiful, peaceful surroundings, good food, and all the time and good direction you need to experience renewal in your marriage. Register early.
July – Safe Environment Renewal!
July – Safe Environment Renewal!
On July 1, 2024, all members of the diocese who are required to be compliant with the Safe Environment Policy (all clergy, religious, employees, as well as those whose ministry serves minors or vulnerable adults) are required to renew their compliance.
Click the link below to login to CMG Connect and renew your compliance.
https://siouxfalls.cmgconnect.org/
If you are currently employed or in ministry, your due date for completion is July 31, 2024.
For all those who periodically minister (like religious education catechists or catholic school staff), they must be compliant BEFORE they are in ministry or are active in their employment capacity.
Special note for pastors: I need a local coordinator designation form from you for ALL locations you are responsible for as pastor. You will receive an email July 9 (Tuesday) with a form to fill out the names of those who have been in the role and notes regarding those who have been fulfilling the role at all locations in your pastorate.
Linked below is a general local coordinator designation form that is always acceptable to be used for this purpose. However, the email July 9 will have a form created especially for pastorate-wide designation.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_X0gZCiwbs0MfLI7AcdoHtSx3Xd8epMU/view?usp=sharing
All those who have been local coordinators will continue to be able to help employees and volunteers to complete this requirement by having “admin role” capacity to reset passwords, and access custom-made PDF tutorials and videos. If you need help completing your Safe Environment compliance, contact them first to help you.
I am also available 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday, safeenvironment@sfcatholic.org 605-988-3722
Please reach out to me for clarification or questions!
Vocations
Do you know a young man who has expressed interest in discerning a vocation to the priesthood? Do you know a young man who you think would make a great priest and might be open to investigating the possibility of this call in his life? As part of our work to help young men discern the Lord’s call for their lives, the Vocations Office is compiling a list of such men with the intent of keeping them informed about various vocations promotion opportunities such as retreats, mission trips, Operation Andrew Dinners, seminary visits, and so on. If you know of someone who we should add to our list, please contact Emma Murtha at emurtha@sfcatholic.org or 988-3772 or Father Tony Klein at frtonyklein@sfcatholic.org.
Looking for a vocation’s resource? Vianney Vocations offers a workbook promoting vocations that is designed for grades 8-12. It could serve as a great resource for a post-Confirmation class. Check it out: Learn to Discern- HS Vocations Workbook
Called by Name
JPII Paintball Expedition (ages 17-24) July 14 – 17
Mark Your Calendars
2024 Fall Vianney Seminary Visit: November 14-16
2025 Spring Vianney Seminary Visit: February 13-15
2025 Maria Goretti Camp: June 4-6
Prayer for Vocations
Looking for a good prayer to use for an increase in vocations? Here’s one many of our parishes have been using for years.
Lord Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father and Mary Immaculate, grant to our young people the generosity necessary to follow Your call and the courage to overcome all obstacles to their vocation in life. Give their parents that faith, love and spirit of sacrifice which will inspire them to offer their children to God’s service and to rejoice whenever one of their children is called to the priesthood or religious life. Let Your example and that of Your Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph encourage both young people and parents and let Your grace sustain them. Amen.