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WEST RIVER Catholic Informing Catholics in Western South Dakota since May 1973 Diocese of Rapid City Volume 48 Number 7 www.rapidcitydiocese.org November 2019 South Dakota U.S. bishops examine societal challenges Brothers and Sisters in Christ, BY CAROL ZIMMERMANN meeting coincided with oral argu- chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Eucharist is a Greek word which ments at the Supreme Court over Committee on Laity, Marriage, BALTIMORE (CNS) — the fate of the Deferred Action for Family Life and Youth. means thanksgiving. The early During their Nov. 11-13 meeting Childhood Arrivals program, In a new approach for the bish- Christian church chose this word to in Baltimore, the U.S. bishops known as DACA and bishops at ops’ pro-life efforts, Archbishop express their understanding of the elected new officers and discussed the Baltimore meeting spoke up Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas Mass. We are giving thanks to God challenges in the church and the in defense of DACA recipients. City, Kansas, invited his fellow for the great gift of salvation won nation. They spoke of their re- Bishops also heard a wide- bishops to devote a year of service for us by his Son’s life, death and newed efforts to help immigrants, ranging report on immigration to pregnant women starting next resurrection. In this Year of the youth and young adults, pregnant Nov. 12, which included updates March. He said Catholic parishes Eucharist, we are invited to women and the poor as well their of policy, how programs to resettle can be one of the first places a experience this wonderful gift anew steps to combat gun violence and refugees, including those run by woman facing an unexpected or in an encounter with the one who racism. the Catholic Church, have closed challenging pregnancy can turn to They approved adding new or reduced activity because the ad- for assistance. is that gift of God made present, materials to complement “Form- ministration has moved to close The bishops voted for a new Jesus Christ. ing Consciences for Faithful Cit- the country’s doors to those seek- sixth edition of the U.S. Confer- My prayer for you on Thanks- izenship,” their long-standing ing refuge. ence of Catholic Bishops’ existing giving Day, and throughout this guide to help Catholics form their The bishops’ second day of Program of Priestly Formation for year, is that you will be led through consciences in public life, includ- meetings also included a presen- U.S. dioceses. The bishops also a new encounter with Jesus Christ ing voting. tation of the pope’s document heard presentations about to a deep and profound thanks- Christus Vivit, The bishops elected Arch- which was issued Catholic Charities USA, Catholic giving. May that thanksgiving be bishop Jose H. Gomez of Los An- following the 2018 Synod on Relief Services and the Catholic manifested in your generosity geles to a three-year term as Young People, the Faith and Vo- Legal Immigration Network, or toward one another. president of the U.S. Conference cational Discernment. CLINIC. of Catholic Bishops and Arch- The bishops also heard that a The U.S. bishops, aware of the Blessings, bishop Allen H. Vigneron of De- new “pastoral framework for mar- growing numbers of Catholics in Fr. Michel Mulloy troit as conference vice president riage and family life” should be the country who are of Hispanic Diocesan Administrator on Nov. 12. Archbishop Gomez, ready for a vote by the U.S. bish- origin, voted to write a new pas- the first Latino to be elected to ops by next November at the lat- toral plan for Latino Catholics this role. est, according to Archbishop that would be produced sometime The second day of bishops’ Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia, between 2021 and 2024. Born to Eternal Life, Year of the pp. 12-13 Parish Eucharist _________ Listings p. 6 Joint p. 21 Statement Against Death Penalty, p. 16 2 WRC Sede Vacante November 2019 Entering silence we open ourselves to the presence of the Lord “Quiet, please! Can we have a moment to pause and re- invites us to pause at specific times during the Mass. These Taking this time to truly be silent will flect?” These phrases come to my mind during many of the moments occur just after the introduction to the Penitential open the doors to a fuller encounter Masses I celebrate throughout the diocese and even in my Act; just after the priest invites the congregation to pray with Jesus. I know this on a personal recent trip to Europe. I am referring to the pace of praying before the Opening Prayer (the Collect); during the level, and at any Mass where this si- at Mass. We move from one prayer and action to another Liturgy of the Word (after the first reading, the second lence is missing, I experience a sense of with little or no pause. This is not true in all parishes but is, reading and the homily); and following the reception of loss at the absence of that encounter. nonetheless, a common occurrence. Communion. Many of these moments of prescribed silence In the liturgy, silence means still- The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) are frequently ignored. You might be asking what difference ness, no sound and no movement. As that makes. Let me venture an meaningful as it can be at times, back- Fr. Michel explanation grounded in our un- ground music is not silence and lacks Mulloy derstanding of the Mass and my the solitude that pure silence offers. own experience. Certainly, silence can be uncomfort- Diocesan The general guidelines for the able for those who are not used to it. Administrator, celebration of the Mass are de- To a certain extent that would be all of Liturgy Director liberate and purposeful. There is us in our culture. a reason for each aspect of these We are a people whose lives are mmulloy@ guidelines. According to the filled with noise and movement. diorc.org great spiritual masters of the When we first encounter significant Catholic tradition, silence is the silence in the Mass it might be un- place where God speaks to our comfortable or even jarring. There is a need for formation hearts. That is not the only way — to explain that the moments of silence are carefully cho- God can reach us, but it is indis- sen and deliberate. It is also important for each of us to be pensable. prepared for the encounter that silence is intended to facil- If the purpose of the Mass is itate. Those who are responsible for liturgical ministry must to encounter Jesus risen and be trained in the mechanics of how this silence is structured present to us, then silence is an during the Gathering Rites, the Liturgy of the Word and essential element of that en- the Communion Rite. Above all, it is important to simply counter. By entering silence at do it. Be silent. certain times, we are being in- Some months ago, the Diocesan Liturgy Commission vited to open ourselves to the developed a video that explains the purpose and value of presence of the risen Lord. We silence in the Mass. The video also suggested ways to de- are invited into a relationship velop this practice in the parish setting. It is available on with Jesus that is a true dialogue. the Office of Worship page of the diocesan web site. I We believe that Jesus wants to would encourage pastors, lectors and all the faithful to re- speak to us, and the silent mo- view this presentation. I would encourage parish liturgy ments are among the key ways to committees and liturgical ministers to explore this aspect allow that communication to of the Mass. Work together to figure out how to best happen. achieve these moments of silence and explain them to the During the Penitential Act, people in the pews. we are asked to acknowledge our The Diocesan Liturgy Commission also produced a sin and reminded that Jesus is worship aid for silence in the Mass. These were made avail- waiting to offer his mercy. Before able for pastors to use in their parishes and can be down- the Collect, we are invited to loaded from the Office of Worship web page. pray, and to bring our petitions to I would invite you to make Sacred Silence a priority in the Lord, knowing that he wants this Year of the Eucharist. This is an essential element in to receive them and respond. We the encounter with the risen Lord that is at the heart of allow Jesus to speak to us in the this yearlong effort. Once you become accustomed to these scripture readings and the hom- silent moments in the Mass, you will cherish them. Then, ily, but also in the silent pauses when you are in a setting where the words all run together, which allow that message from you will, like me, hear yourself say, “Quiet please! Can we him to sink into our hearts. After have a moment to pause and reflect?” And you might add, all of us have received Christ in “I think Jesus wanted to share something with me in that Holy Communion, we are asked silent moment, and I lost it.” to be still — to be present with Links to the video and the prayer cards are on the liturgy the Lord so that he can truly page: www.rapidcitydiocese.org/office-worship-liturgy. enter our lives and transform us. November 2019 Diocese/Parishes WRC 3 Pope Francis: A deacon is not ‘second-rate priest’ Diocesan Administrator’s Calendar Subject to Change Without Notice During his general audience on Sept.

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