VOLUME 43 NUMBER 8 DIOCESE OF RAPID CITY, Diocesan Website: www.rapidcitydiocese.org SOUTH DAKOTA Serving Catholics in Western South Dakota since May 1973 Holy Families, 2 Congratulations to Bridget Schneller, a 7th grade home school student from Keystone, Drawing for Pie & Coffee her watercolor of the with Bishop Gruss, 6 Holy Family won 1st prize in the Design Bishop Gruss’ Christmas Card Contest. Her teacher (and mother) is Brenda Schneller. They attend Blessed Sacrament Parish in Rapid City. More information on the contest and the 2nd and 3rd place winning entries are featured on page 3. Year of Mercy Saints, 14 We live in a world full of miracles, but so often are too busy to notice them or experience them. This season of Christmas invites us to truly take the time to reflect upon the miracle of the first Christmas when our God gave us what was most important to him, his Son. It is a season to be thankful, a season for giving, and a season for loving. I am very thankful for the many gifts God has given me through all of you. I have been indeed richly blessed. In the beauty of this season, Mailing label my prayer for all of you is that you may have the spirit of Christmas which is Peace, the gladness of Christmas which is Hope, and the heart of Christmas which is Love. Wishing every blessing upon you! +Bishop Robert Gruss 2 WRC Columns December 2015 Having a holy family does not mean a perfect family As we gather this Christmas to cele- manuel,” “God is with us,” is forced 2. A family must be connected to a brate the mystery of the Incarnation, from his own homeland because of the life of prayer. This includes participa- God becoming man in the womb of the threat of violence. tion in the sacramental life of the Virgin Mary, it is a clear reminder of Perhaps this image of the Holy Fam- church. Prayer is what puts us in rela- how God deeply desires to be with us. ily in exile depicts a God who has tionship with God. It is to the spiritual In becoming a child born into a human joined the plight of the world’s refugees life what water is to the physical life. family, the Incarnation speaks to us of who have had to flee their own homes Prayer must encompass family life. If how God chose to experience human and countries because of civil conflict, meals and bedtime are the only times life from the very beginning so that he violence, and terrorism in areas such as parents pray with their children, what could not only be close to us, but so that Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, message is being sent about a true rela- tening is not easy. We often listen with he could save us. Lebanon, Palestine, the Sudan and tionship with God? our own agenda, meaning that when At Christmas, what speaks to my many other places. We must pray for 3. Are children being taught about someone is speaking to us we are think- heart is that he came to us through a these many refugees and be the body of the Bible? It is the parents’ personal re- ing more about what our reply will be. human family wanting his holiness, his Christ with arms outstretched to wel- sponsibility to attend to the spiritual and 5. At the core of any healthy, holy, love, his life to be a part of every come them. moral development of their children. family life is unconditional love — a human person and every human family. In the birth of Jesus, God has chosen Parents are the first (primary) teachers love expressed through heart-felt com- Yes, we call the family of Jesus, Mary to enter into the world to show us how of their children in the faith. Jesus knew passion, kindness, humility, patience and Joseph, the Holy Family, but are we are to live together, so that no one the Hebrew Scriptures very well, not and forgiveness. The words, “I am not all families called to be holy? Is not should ever have to experience being a because he was God, but because it was sorry. Will you please forgive me?” are the Holy Family the model for all fam- refugee, an outcast or a threat to any- a part of his family life. Imagine what perhaps the most important words in all ilies in good times and in bad, when one. This little child we celebrate at the world might be like if children grew family relationships. there are both harmony and problems? Christmas will grow up to love in ways up learning a variety of verses from the 6. The word family comes from a Many have an image of the Holy which many think are humanly impos- Bible along with the nursery rhymes. Latin root famulus, which means ser- Family as being this perfect little fam- sible — a love so profound and deep 4. There must be honor, reverence vant. Family is that place where each ily. But Jesus’ family is not called per- that he is willing to be hung on a cross and respect for all members of the fam- serves the other, placing the needs, in- fect. It is called the Holy Family. Holy and killed. He gives us the model that ily. Do we really see each other as very terests, desires and delights of the other doesn’t mean perfect. That should give will bring holiness to every family and sacred? Do children see their parents as before their own. all families some hope. It gives me con- community. sacred and vice versa? Do we see our Families are never perfect and don’t solation, knowing that I didn’t have the What are the features that can make brothers or sisters as sacred, as gifts to have to be. There will be joys and hap- perfect family, but that certain aspects a family holy in a world constantly one another? To show reverence and piness, sorrow and suffering. What of it were holy. changing and becoming more secular? honor means to see each other as gifts makes a family holy is each of us an- There is probably not a single fam- Here are some suggestions. even when we don’t agree with them. swering our own call to holiness and ily without its problems, though some 1. It begins with a grounding in a Many families fall apart today and mar- then striving within our own family to families may deal with greater prob- covenant relationship with God : “I will riages end because the sacredness of the share love, honor and respect for one lems than others. When we look at fam- be your God, and you will be my peo- other is not honored. another, always seeking the good of an- ily life today, society presents many ple” (Lv 26:12). If the Lord is not at the One sign of respect and honor is how other. challenges for raising a healthy, holy, center of our lives as individuals, God we listen to one another. Do we really As we celebrate the Incarnation and well-integrated family. will not be at the center of our family listen to one another; children to their move into the New Year, take time to The Holy Family was not exempt life. parents; parents to their children? Lis- reflect upon your own family, the many from their own challenges. Imagine good aspects as well as the imperfec- being exiled, fleeing to Egypt because a tions. Take time for family prayer, ask- little baby had become so great a threat Stamp Art ing the Holy Spirit to bless what is good to a powerful king that Herod wanted The Vatican's 2015 Christmas and to heal and restore what human na- stamps feature a manuscript him dead. When seen beyond the pretty ture cannot do on its own. Trust that illumination of the Holy Family by Christ, who was born into this world to stable event depicted so serenely on an unknown artist from the 15th save us, will do his healing work. May Christmas cards, we are confronted century. The image is from the with a vulnerable “holy family” fleeing Codices Urbinates Latini 239 God richly bless you and your family. for its life and safety. Imagine the anx- (1477-1478) at the Vatican Library. iety and fear that this young couple and (CNS photo/courtesy Vatican their infant are facing as they begin Philatelic and Numismatic Office) Bishop’s Calendar their new life together. This “Em- is on page 4 December 2015 News WRC 3 Contest winners selected CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 This is the second year Bishop Robert Gruss held an art contest to determine the cover of his Christmas card. It was open to students in grades K-12 through- out the Diocese of Rapid City. Ninety-six young artists submitted 8.5 x 11” draw- ings and paintings. As part of the incentive to enter, Bishop Gruss offered to have a pizza party with the winners and their parents. It has been scheduled for January 16. Also, the first place entry received a $25 gift card, second place received a $15 gift card and the third place winner garnered a $10 gift card. As entries were submitted, they were given a number to ensure anonymity and scanned onto a disc for the five judges. Judges for the 2015 contest included Bishop Gruss; Becky Berreth, assistant editor of the West River Catholic and so- cial media specialist; John Fenske of Fenske Media; Deacon Jim Scherr of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help; and Sr.