December 2019 South Dakota
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
WEST RIVER Catholic Informing Catholics in Western South Dakota since May 1973 Diocese of Rapid City Volume 48 Number 8 www.rapidcitydiocese.org December 2019 South Dakota The Adoration of the Magi is depicted in this 17th- century painting by French artist Claude Vignon. The feast of the Nativity of Christ, a holy day of obligation, is celebrated Dec. 25. (CNS/Bridgeman Images) Brothers & Sisters in Christ, Christmas is a wonderful time of year. The celebration experience this Advent and Christmas season, in a new of the birth of our Savior brings hope and peace to our and profound way, the depth of God’s love for us in broken world. This is because, we touch the love of God Jesus. May you stand in wonder before the infant Christ made manifest. The deepest longing of the human heart and believe all over again. is to encounter this eternal love. At Christmas we all pause with the magi in wonder and awe at the Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! marvelous gift of God’s love poured into our hearts. We Wanikiya Tonpi Wowiyuskin nahan Omaka Teca Oiyokipi! Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo! believe an eternal love is possible and we experience it. Fr. Michel Mulloy, Diocesan Administrator This makes all the difference in the world. May you 2 WRC Sede Vacante December 2019 It’s important our bishops connect to the greater Catholic Church In mid-November I represented the us. Whatever our po- Diocese of Rapid City at the United States litical leanings, we Conference of Catholic Bishops fall meet- cannot look at the face ing in Baltimore, Md. It was another inter- of Jesus Christ and not esting experience in this journey as the be moved to action on diocesan administrator. behalf of those who I visited with each of our former bishops are suffering in this and Bishop Steven Biegler and witnessed situation. I was im- again the clarity of their teachings and pressed with the Fr. Michel guidance. We have been so blessed by the amount of lobbying Mulloy bishops who have called western South that the USCCB does Dakota home. As the administrator, I was in Washington, D.C., Diocesan accorded the full rights and privileges of all on this and many Administrator, the bishops. That was humbling. other issues of concern Liturgy Director I want to thank you for making this trip to us all. possible. Each year during the Annual Ap- Another topic that mmulloy@ peal we talk about the expenses for the was very prominent in diorc.org Bishop’s Office. This is such an expense. It the agenda was the is important that our bishop connects to the Auxiliary Bishop Robert J. Coyle of Rockville Centre checks his computer at the beginning of sexual abuse crisis. greater work of the Catholic Church in the general session meeting Nov. 14 in Baltimore. (CNS photo/Rick Musacchio, Tennessee There was a call to continue to be present America and the world. The meetings and Register) to and listen to the victims of abuse, to see the meals, the prayer and the casual conver- in them the suffering Christ. Building on sations allow the bishops to connect with the efforts to protect children and vulnera- one another, to understand the experience concelebrated each day and Morning and tense listening through the general sessions, ble adults that have been implemented in of the Catholic Church in the United Midday Prayer from the Liturgy of the still the whole experience was uplifting and the past, the bishops continued in this ses- States. You make this encounter possible Hours started the general sessions. On exciting. sion to develop a system for holding them- with your support of the annual appeal. I Thursday there was a two-hour period of The bishops of our country are, in my es- selves accountable. In the new calendar year, am deeply grateful. adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the timation a dedicated and faithful group of a third-party system for reporting alleged The meetings began on Sunday with opportunity for confessions. men. They love the church and they want to sexual misconduct of bishops as well as their various committees of the USCCB conven- During lunch times and in the evenings, lead their people into an authentic en- deliberate mismanagement of abuse cases ing to do the individual work each focuses groups, agencies and organizations that counter with Jesus Christ that calls them to will be available. As damaging as this whole on. The general sessions began on Monday support the Catholic faithful hosted recep- continue his mission in our country. They experience has been and continues to be for and concluded on Thursday morning. The tions to share about the ministry they offer are ordinary men who are, nonetheless, so many, the bishops are striving to bring days were full, with two general sessions to continue the mission of the church. The called to extraordinary service. They serve justice and healing to victims of abuse and each day and a meeting of the bishops from days started early and ended late and, al- willingly, if not always perfectly. Praying our whole Catholic Church. each region (our region is Minnesota and though there were the inevitable moments with them, listening to them, sharing sto- The conference also voted on some doc- the Dakotas) during the week. Mass was of boredom that come from hours of in- ries, laughing and reflecting, gave me a uments that they have been working on. deeper respect for them and the burden These included a discussion of the pope’s they carry. They deserve our prayers and our apostolic exhortation following the Synod A Safe Environment for Children and Young People support. on Youth and Young Adults, an additional The Catholic Diocese of Rapid City is firmly committed to creating and main- The topics at this conference would not letter calling all Catholics to exercise their taining the safest possible environment for our children and young people. To be unfamiliar to any of us. Life issues were right to participate in the political process report allegations of sexual abuse by church personnel, contact the Victim Assis- very present in the committee reports and of our country, the acceptance of a new tance coordinator, Barbara Scherr. To ensure confidentiality in her outreach to action items that were discussed. They were translation of the Latin text that outlines victims, she can be contacted privately at 1-605-209-3418 (cell). Her phone has attentive to the scourge of abortion and it the RCIA process, and a new priestly for- caller ID and messaging features. All information will be treated confidentially. is clear that they see it as the first issue mation program document to guide the for- Alleged victims are advised of their right to report alleged abuse to civil authori- among many that threaten the dignity of mation of seminarians in our country. Some ties. the human person. The immigration crisis of these documents were not finalized and In accordance with diocesan policy, all allegations of sexual misconduct involving was also notable on the agenda. Bishops will continue to be developed. children or young people and priests, deacons, lay employees, or volunteers serving the who live along the southern border see first- This is just a smattering of my experi- Diocese of Rapid City will be investigated. hand the devastation that impacts the dig- ences at the bishops’ conference in Balti- The diocesan sexual misconduct policy and the code of conduct are posted on nity of the real human persons caught in more. It was eye opening, inspiring and the diocesan website at www.rapidcitydiocese.org. this legal battle. The magnitude of this crisis challenging and reminded me again that we and the excellent work being done through are so blessed to be a part of this great the Catholic Church was documented for Catholic Church. December 2019 Diocese/Parishes WRC 3 Priest Assignments_________________________________ Diocesan Administrator’s Calendar Subject to Change Without Notice Fr. Ed Kilianski, SCJ, provincial superior of the Priests of the December 2019 January 2, Thursday Sacred Heart, Hales Corner, Wis., has presented Fr. Hendrik December 18, Wednesday 8:30 a.m. Retreat Center Blessing, Ardianto SCJ, to provide ministry with the team of Sacred Heart 8:30 a.m. Tea with Preschoolers, Terra Sancta priests serving the parishes on the Lower Brule Reservation in Seton Preschool at Terra Sancta 6-8 p.m. Chancery Staff Christmas the Diocese of Rapid City and the Crow Creek Reservation in 6:30 p.m. Year of the Eucharist Gathering, Rapid City the Diocese of Sioux Falls. Father Ardianto is from Indonesia Presentation, Our Lady of the Black and was ordained Feb. 7, 2018. He began his service in the Hills Parish, Piedmont January 3, Friday Diocese of Rapid City effective Nov. 18. 9 a.m. Diocesan Liturgy Commission, FR. HENDRICK December 19, Thursday Chancery ARDIANTO, SCJ 3:50 p.m. St. Thomas More 8th Grade Etiquette Tea, January 4, Saturday Hotel Alex Johnson 9 a.m. Central Plains Commission Father Hofer to serve as Chaplain to the Meeting, St. Joseph Church, Faith December 20, Friday 5:30 p.m. Mass, Cathedral South Dakota National Guard 8 a.m. Real Presence Radio Host, live online at 89.9 and 94.7 FM January 5, Sunday Father Adam Hofer, Blessed Sacrament Church, Rapid City was sworn in as a First 8 and 10:30 a.m. Masses, Cathedral Lieutenant in the South Dakota Army National Guard in November. An informal December 23, Monday celebration was held at the parish December 8 to celebrate the occasion.