The Catholic Community Foundation for Eastern South Dakota is pleased to continue to provide grants to serve the spiritual, educational, health and social needs of the people served by the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls. We encourage you to consider submitting an application for your various needs. Please go to the Catholic Foundation webpage here to obtain more information or to obtain a grant request form. Even though the application indicates a due date of March 1, we will still be accepting applications but encouraging submission by March 15, given the timing of this communication. If you should have any questions, please contact Mike Bannwarth at mbannwarth@ccfesd.org or 988-3759.
Month: March 2022
Parish Mass Attendance
Dear Pastors and Parish Administrators,
One initiative of the parish services role in the Chancery (formerly the planning office) has been to facilitate the gathering of statistical information that can be used to identify trends in parishes. The annual Mass attendance survey, begun in 2008, is one such example of data gathering. With the passing of time and the diocese’s gathering of year-over-year numbers, this data holds increasing value.
As a continuation of this survey and for the benefit of all parishes, I am writing to request the favor that Mass attendance counts would again be taken at all Sunday Masses (including Saturday vigils) during upcoming weekends in March.
When?
-
- March 12-13, 2022
- March 19-20, 2022
- March 26-27, 2022
Can we take the survey on different weekends?
We urge that parishes use the three weekends in March. A significant aspect of this longitudinal study is that the data has been collected during the same month of the year. By limiting the variables introduced into the study, we are able to make a more accurate assessment of trends.
If a singular event on a weekend has a major impact on attendance during a particular weekend (e.g. snowstorm, attendance at a tournament, inability to arrange counters, etc.), data from that particular weekend should be noted. It will be treated differently and, therefore, not included in the parish’s average. This, of course, is the logic for holding the counts over three consecutive weekends.
What decisions are made from the data?
None. The purpose of this survey was never to drive or justify decisions.
That being said, the data collected in this annual survey has been shown on many occasions to be helpful in explaining decisions or lending essential context to decisions that are made both at the parish and diocesan levels. For example, the impact Mass times holds on attendance has, in many instances, been useful in helping to explain adjustments to the Sunday Mass schedule in a parish/pastoral linkage.
Pastoral linkage?
Pastors with multiple parishes entrusted to their pastoral care are asked to submit data for each parish. Please do not combine the data from within the pastoral linkage.
How do we submit the survey data?
Please report Mass attendance numbers online by clicking on this Parish Attendance Report (to copy/paste the link, please use: https://form.jotform.com/220545011525039).
For your reference, a sample form has been linked below so that pastors/parish staff to make you aware of the questions asked in the online form.
2022 Parish Attendance Worksheet
Completed forms submitted by?
Please submit your attendance counts no later than March 30, 2022. I would encourage you to use actual counts versus an estimated count.
If you or the parish staff have any questions or need assistance in completing the online report, please don’t hesitate to contact Matt Althoff or Briana Miller (605-988-3711).
Thank you for your assistance and the contribution it is to our ongoing study in the diocese.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
Providing a healthy and safe environment in our parishes and schools is a ministry to which we are all called. To foster our common diocesan vision of Lifelong Catholic Missionary Discipleship Through God’s Love, the diocese will be marking Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. The weekend of April 30, Bishop DeGrood will celebrate the 4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph for the healing of victims/survivors and all affected by abuse.
Attached is a Rosary for Healing handout and a Novena for Healing from Abuse that can be provided to groups (especially prayer groups) in your parish. Media to post on your website or share on social media will be posted on the diocesan website and social medial pages throughout the month. Please share these posts on your own platforms.
All parishes are encouraged to include in the bulletin a special “thank you” message to the local coordinator for Safe Environment at your location.
Please plan to participate with us in prayer for the safety and wellbeing of all children, that they may flourish as healthy, happy and holy Catholics within our communities.
Please contact the Safe Environment Coordinator, Alison Conemac (aconemac@sfcatholic.org) with your 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.
Operation Andrew Dinner
As part of our work to help young men discern the Lord’s call for their lives, the Vocations Office is organizing an Operation Andrew Dinner at St. Thomas More Newman Center in Vermillion on April 21 from 6-8 p.m. Bishop DeGrood will be attending.
The night is very simple, we enjoy dinner together and invite the priests present to give a brief witness about their own experience of discernment and their life as a priest.
Broom Tree Retreat and Conference Center Events
Silent Retreats:
Women’s: March 3-6, March 31- April 3, June 16-19, October 6-9, November 3-6
Men’s: March 17-20, September 15-18, November 17-20
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.
2022 Days of Recollection
March 22 – “Saying Yes to God with Mary,” directed by Fr. Jeff Norfolk
April 19- “Divine Merciful Love,” directed by Dr. Teri Kemmer and Fr. Scott Traynor
May 10- “The Gift of Gratitude,” directed by Fr. Joe Vogel
June 21- Day of Recollection, directed by Fr. Kristopher Cowels
Couples Retreats
November 11-13
Directed by Ed and Jen Hogan
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.
Healing Retreats
February 25-27
Directed by Fr. Scott Traynor
October 14-16
Directed by Fr. Scott Traynor