Survey for The Bishop’s Bulletin

The team that produces The Bishop’s Bulletin every month works hard to create interesting, faithful and inspiring stories to help everyone grow in their Catholic faith. 

We want to hear your thoughts about the content we provide here and in other formats. We’ve developed a survey to help us get to know you better and to understand what you like and need. We will use the information to focus our efforts and continue to improve this magazine and other content such as videos, podcasts and social media content.

To complete the survey and have your voice heard, scan the QR code below. It won’t take long, but it will really help us out! Please share this in your parish bulletins if you can so we can get as many Catholics to complete the survey as possible. Thank you for your help!

Chancery Updates

  • If you are part of a parish/pastorate staff and find the Ministry Forum helpful, please check with others on staff to make sure they are getting it. It’s always helpful when everyone has all the same information! If there is someone who wants to be added, please have them reach out to me at rkranz@sfcatholic.org.
  • Continue to keep your new pastors and all priests in your prayers as they settle into their new assignments. And pray that the Holy Spirit will fill us all with a spirit of openness and courage.

Evangelization materials from EWTN

Are you looking for evangelization materials to use in your parish? EWTN has FREE materials for parishes that can be shipped to you in large quantities. Here are just some of the things available:

      • How Do I Go To Confession pamphlet (English and Spanish)
      • How to Pray the Rosary (English and Spanish)
      • Popular prayers and selected teachings of the Church pamphlet (English and Spanish)
      • Mother Angelica’s Prayer Before the Blessed Sacrament
      • Ability to embed EWTN live stream of their television lineup on your website
      • EWTN Kids programming with safe, dependable and appropriate shows for your kids
      • Programming for men and women

If you have questions about what is available and how to get materials sent to your parish, contact Elena Rodriguez (our regional EWTN representative) at 205-915-6445 or erodriguez@ewtn.com

40 Days for Life rally

Join us for the 40 Days for Life fall kickoff rally
Sunday, October 8 at 7:00 p.m.
Sioux Falls First Church
6300 W 41st Street
Guest speaker is Rebecca Kiessling, an international pro-life speaker and attorney conceived in rape. She is also the founder of Save the 1.

Discipleship and Evangelization

Upcoming Events

National Eucharistic Congress

July 17-21, 2024 – Indianapolis

More Info

Discount Tickets Available for National Eucharistic Congress
We still have tickets available at a greatly reduced rate. These tickets are for anyone in the Sioux Falls Diocese and are first come – first served. To claim your ticket, go to sfcatholic.org/eucharist.

In addition, the USCCB is encouraging every parish to send a team of representatives to the National Eucharistic Congress next summer. They will be commissioned as Eucharistic Missionaries to bring the joy and love of the Eucharist back to your parish and community. 

Eucharistic Revival – Small Group Resources
During the year of the parish, the USCCB is encouraging each parish to host small groups using their new seven week study, Jesus and the Eucharist. They have made it so easy! There is an online training for planning the small group, parish implementation and table facilitators. They give you the curriculum, videos, slide show presentations, handouts and more. 

If you are interested, please connect with your Eucharistic Revival Parish Point Person or check out the resource webpage for more information.

Eucharistic Revival – Adoration Night Planning Guide
The USCCB has just released their Encounter Nights Guide. The guide includes a suggested template for a special holy hour for Revival, a list of liturgical items needed, and prayers. This guide is your detailed roadmap to plan and lead transformative evenings of eucharistic adoration that resonate deeply with your congregation.

Confirmation Retreats – Spring 2023 – Save the Date
On behalf of their pastorate, Holy Name in Watertown has partnered with us to offer a Confirmation retreat Saturday, January 27, 2024. We will send out more information on how to register in the PCL email list.

If your parish is interested in partnering with the diocese to host a Confirmation retreat open to attendees from the rest of the diocese, please contact our office at discipleship@sfcatholic.org or 605-988-3714.

Lumen Christi Recruiting
The recruiting season for Lumen Christi- summer 2024 is now open! We are looking for passionate and dedicated college-aged young adults who have a burning desire to share their faith with youth throughout our diocese. If you know someone from your pastorate who has a deep desire to evangelize and catechize, we invite you to encourage him/her to apply to be a missionary. For more information, please visit the Lumen Christi webpage.

School of Missionary Discipleship – New Cohort Begins in January
The next cohort of the School of Missionary Discipleship will be launching on January 30, 2024. Participants are deeply formed in their ability to engage in the work of the New Evangelization: to live and share their faith in Jesus Christ with those they encounter in their daily lives, according to the gifts God has given them.

The formation program is attentive to all four areas of discipleship formation: a thorough knowledge of Church teaching (intellectual formation), a deep personal prayer life (spiritual formation), an ability to interact with and accompany others (human formation), and a recognition of the personal call and empowerment to build up God’s kingdom (apostolic formation).

All areas of formation will be engaged throughout the multi-year program. Each year will have a specific focus of formation.

  1. Learning How to Pray and How to Teach Others to Pray – An exploration of how to grow deeply in prayer.
  2. Sacred Scripture and Church History – An overview of the story of salvation from creation to today.
  3. The Catechism of the Catholic Church – An exploration of Church teaching.
  4. Sharing your Faith – A practical introduction to talking with others about our faith.

Year one consists of formation in Christian prayer and virtue. This year of formation will provide a great foundation to help those new to personal prayer, as well as those well experienced in personal prayer, to enter more deeply into their daily relationship with God. We will cover essential principles of relational prayer, specific methods of Christian prayer, the interplay of prayer and virtue, and an introduction to discernment of spirits. Together, these elements will help participants of any background to “fall in love, stay in love and let love make all the difference.” 

Teaching is done through a series of weekly videos in conjunction with large and small group meetings via Zoom on Tuesday evenings. For more information, please visit the School of Missionary Discipleship webpage.

Respect Life Month – USCCB Respect Life Month Resources
October is Respect Life month! The USCCB has created some wonderful resources for your parish. They have also created an amazing program called Walking With Moms In Need, which has resources specifically for your parish. 

 

Weekly “Power Hour” for Formation Leaders – Tuesdays at 1 p.m.
Each week during the academic year we hold a zoom call for Parish Catechetical Leaders (PCL) from around our diocese. The goal is to offer an opportunity for growth in both spiritual and professional development and to have a space to bounce ideas off one another and inspire and encourage one another in our shared mission. Power Hours are held from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays. Zoom invitations are sent to the PCL email list weekly.

PCL Email List
If you are new 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.

Broom Tree Retreat and Conference Center Events

Silent Retreats:
Women’s: October 5-8, November 2-5
Men’s: November 16-19

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.

2023 Days of Recollection
October 10 – “Renovating the Heart,” directed by The Lourdes Center
November 7 – “A Glorified Wound,” directed by The Lourdes Center
December 5 – “Advent Prayer with Handel’s Messiah,” directed by Fr. Steven Jones

Couples Retreats
November 10-12
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
October 13-15
Directed by Fr. Scott Traynor