atholicC WEST RIVER

February 2018 Diocese of Rapid CitySouth Dakota

Informing Catholics in Western South Dakota since May 1973

Volume 46 Number 10 www.rapidcitydiocese.org

February is National Catholic Press Month

Fasting and Feasting in Lent, page 2Powerful Witness for Life, page 8Lenten Reconciliation, page 11CSS Project UP gets $1.4M Grant, page 17Lenten Regulations, page 19Diocesan Statement of Finance, pages 20-21

Lent 2018“Then Jesus said to his disciples,

‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross

and follow me’” Mt. 16:24.

Who are the addicts, inmates,and suicides of today? They are ourfamily and friends. They are theflesh of Christ as we are the fleshof Christ.

This was the message of theDiocese of Rapid City, Social Jus-tice Commission 2018 WinterWorkshop, “Rock Bottom, Addic-tion — Prison — Suicide,” heldJanuary 20, at Terra Sancta Re-treat Center, Rapid City.

Several experts in these fieldsaddressed aspects of the topicsthroughout the day. Bishop Robert Gruss opened

the conference with prayer, and re-minded people, “Many solutionsare connected to the life and dig-nity of the human person.” Hethen referred to Pope Francis’messages that say the churchneeds to be close to people on adifficult journey, bringing themback to God.Amy Julian, director of Fam-

ily Life Ministries, an Ex Officiomember of the Social JusticeCommittee and one of the organ-izers of the event, introduced thesecond speaker, Jim Kinyon, ex-ecutive director of Catholic So-cial Services, Rapid City. He hasconcluded solutions to these prob-lems are not going to come fromthe nation’s capital in Washington,D.C. or even the state capital inPierre.

“For young people ages 1-24years old, suicide is the leadingcause of death in South Dakotacompared to the third leadingcause of death nationally,” he said.He offered statistics saying inrural areas, with farming, fishingor forestry, rates are higher than inmetropolitan areas.

Two of the hardest hit countiesin the nation for deaths by suicideare in South Dakota — Corson,and Todd, according to statisticshe drew from a state suicide sur-veillance report. He said depres-sion and alcohol abuse are thestrongest predictors of suicide.

“Our ministries need to step

forward and say, ‘I know who youare — a child of God,’” saidKinyon.

Awareness and preventiontraining is available throughCatholic Social Services, 605-348-6086, website www.catholicsocialservices.com.Attorney General for the

State of South Dakota, MartyJackley, spoke next; he advocatesswift and certain consequences tostop drug abuse. He has a proposalfor the state legislature: “It is totake every distribution and man-ufacturing penalty and change itso a judge, instead of sentencingup to 10 years, could sentence up

to 15 years. The other componentis mandatory minimum sentenc-ing. We should have a systemwhere the mandatory minimum isapplied to the drug dealers if theyare not willing to say where theygot the drugs.”

His office has a websitenomethever.com that links thepublic to treatment options, a callto action, awareness in schools,and an anonymous tip line — text82257. He said 80 percent of thecases prosecuted in MinnehahaCounty (Sioux Falls) have a drugconnection.

Jackley said the state lawpassed in 2012 mandating

sudafederin cold medicine pur-chases be tracked through an elec-tronic reporting system hasvirtually eliminated manufactur-ing in the state.

“If you don’t believe there is a(meth) epidemic go talk to anypolice officer. If we can reducemeth we are going to reduce vio-lent crime and the effects on fam-ilies,” he said. “Prevention andtreatment are your best andcheapest options.” He concludedby saying he supports specialtycourts like Drug Courts whichmonitor offenders very closely.

Rock Bottom — the Social JusticeCommission examines addiction,prison and suicideBY LAURIE HALLSTROM

Rock Bottom, continued on page 12

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Trust in God.And finally, fast fromsin; feast on the abun-dance of God’s mercy.

The joy in doing thistype of fasting andfeasting is that thesepractices truly lead torending our hearts andto conversion. And thisconversion is a turningfrom those things thatdo not give life and aturning to God, whogives life to us in abun-dance. As you keepyour gaze on the Fa-ther’s love and mercy,may this season of Lent be filled with everygrace and blessing.

No Greater Love2 WRC February 2018

Bishop Robert Gruss

Diocese ofRapid City

Bishop’s CalendarFebruary 22-March 20, 2018

Subject to Change Without Notice

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2018, 7 P.M.CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP

RECEPTION AFTER MASS SPONSORED BY THE WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA CATHOLIC FOUNDATION(Corner of 5th Street and Cathedral drive)

RAPID CITY, SD

MassChrism WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE THE

A CELEBRATION OF THE BLESSING OF HOLY OILS FORSACRAMENTAL USE IN THE DIOCESE DURING THE COMING YEARAND THE RENEWAL OF PRIESTLY PROMISES.

February 22, Thursday11 a.m. Presbyteral Council,Chancery7 p.m. Serra Club OrganizationalMeeting, Terra SanctaFebruary 26, Monday5 p.m. RCCSS Board Meeting, Cathedral Rectory basementMarch 2, Friday11:15 a.m. First Friday Mass/Luncheon, CathedralMarch 3, SaturdayVeritatis Splendor Institute, TerraSanctaMarch 14, Wednesday9:30 a.m. Cabinet Chief Meeting,ChanceryMarch 15, Thursday8 a.m. Chancery Staff Gathering,Terra SanctaMarch 17, Saturday3 p.m. Meeting with Candidates forCommissioning, Holy Rosary, PineRidge4 p.m. Mass, Commissioning Lay Ministers, Holy Rosary, Pine RidgeMarch 19, MondayPastoral Ministry Days, Terra Sancta7 p.m. Chrism Mass, CathedralMarch 20, TuesdayPastoral Ministry Days, Terra Sancta

We have entered into the season of Lent,a season of grace. The Lord invites us toenter into a very powerful period in theliturgical year in the church. On AshWednesday, the Prophet Joel gave us thesewords of encouragement: “Even now, returnto me (the Lord) with your whole heart, withfasting, and weeping, and mourning: Rendyour hearts, not your garments ... for graciousand merciful is he” ( Jl 2:12-13).

The invitation has been extended — re-turn to me and rend your hearts. In otherwords, tear open our hearts and seek themerciful love of the Father. Our Holy Fa-ther, Pope Francis, encouraged, “In this sea-son of grace, we once again turn our eyes tohis mercy. Lent is a path: it leads to the tri-umph of mercy over all that would crush usor reduce us to something unworthy of ourdignity as God’s children.”

Jesus presented to us the activity of theLenten season, something far beyond theexternals of the scribes and pharisees. OurLenten activity must be rooted in an atti-tude of the heart, the interior place of oursouls, that inner sanctuary of our relation-ship with Christ. “Rend your heart.” This iswhere true conversion takes place, where

Christ’s heart and our hearts come togetherin a quite intentional way for us.

Like those coming into the Church atEaster, all of us are called to be converts, tobe looking at our lives and our sinfulness inthe light of grace, the light of God’s grace.In response to this season, many people willtake on different Lenten practices. What-ever disciplines of Lent we embrace, we doit joyfully in order to thank God for hismercy and to open ourselves more to God’soverflowing life that surrounds us each mo-ment. Our efforts to change and to grow inholiness are not made to earn God’s savinglove for us. Rather, they are a consequenceof it. I can’t imagine what life would be likewithout the love and mercy of the Father,whose mercy never tires of forgiving us andalways gives us the chance to begin anew.

In this season we are called to fast andabstain. In this culture of excess, it seemseasy to give some things up for a few weeks.In doing so, how is this or that practicehelping me to become more prayerful, moregenerous, more holy? Our Lenten practiceswill only lead to conversion and life inabundance if they are connected to our re-lationship with Christ — Jesus leading us

through conversion. If not, then our fastingfrom food and drink will be a mere diet andour almsgiving will be merely giving moneyaway.

But Lent can also be more than a just atime for fasting. It should also be a joyousseason of feasting — a time to fast fromcertain things and to feast on others. Per-haps you will find these suggestions I cameacross many years ago helpful. It was writ-ten by William Arthur Ward.

Lenten Litany of Fasting and FeastingFast from judging others;

feast on the Christ within them.Fast from emphasis on differences;

feast on the unity of life.Fast from thoughts of illness;

feast on the healing power of God.Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.

Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger; feast on patience.Fast from pessimism;

feast on optimism.Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.

Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.

Fast from hostility; feast on non-resistance.

Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.

Fast from self concern; feast on compassion for others.Fast from personal anxiety;

feast on eternal truth.Fast from discouragement;

feast on hope.Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.

Fast from suspicion; feast on truth.Fast from thoughts that weaken;

feast on promises that inspire.Fast from shadows of sorrow;

feast on the sunlight of sincerity.

Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.

Fast from problems that overwhelm; feast on prayer that undergirds.Fast from instant gratifications;

feast on self denial.Fast from worry; feast on divine order.

Lent —a time to fast from certain things and to feast on others

WRC 3February 2018

USPS 983-360Official newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Rapid City, published monthly. The West River Catholic is owned and published by the Diocese of Rapid City

606 Cathedral Drive Rapid City, SD 57701-5499 Phone: 605-343-3541

Publisher: Bishop Robert D. GrussEditor: Laurie Hallstrom, lhallstrom@diorc.org Assistant Editor: Becky Berreth, bberreth@diorc.orgCirculation: Roberta Bruhn, rbruhn@diorc.orgAdvertising: Laurie Hallstrom, 343-3541Subscription: $27, Foreign subscription: $60 per year.Postmaster: Address all correspondence, including change of address, to:

West River Catholic, PO Box 678, Rapid City, SD 57709-0678

Periodical postage paid at Rapid City, SD 57701

Benefactors:United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Office of Home Missions, Catholic Extension

WEST RIVER CATHOLIC

After hearing the advice of the Diocesan Consultors, Bishop RobertGruss has made the following appointments effective February 14:Fr. Timothy Castor is assigned as Pastor of the Parish of St. Mary Star ofthe Sea in Newell, in addition to St. Francis of Assisi in Sturgis.Msgr. Michael Woster is released from assignment as the Pastor of St.Mary Star of the Sea Parish in Newell. He remains Pastor of St. Josephin Spearfish and St. Paul in Belle Fourche, and retains responsibility forNewman Center in Spearfish. Fr. John Paul Trask is released from responsibilities as Parochial Vicarfor St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish in Newell. He remains Parochial Vicarfor St. Joseph in Spearfish and St. Paul in Belle Fourche.

After hearing the advice of the Diocesan Consultors and the Deacon Review Board, Bishop Robert Gruss has formally created an Office ofthe Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Rapid City effective January29. He has appointed Deacon Greg Sass as director of the new office.As director, Deacon Sass will oversee the various activities associatedwith the permanent deacons, their lives and ministry, working closelywith the Vicar for Clergy and the Director of the Diaconate FormationProgram.

St. Mary’s Thank You Celebration and DinnerSt. Mary Star of the Sea Parish, Newell, helda “Thank You” celebration with Mass anddinner on January 18. Gifts were given toMsgr. Michael Woster, Fr. John Paul Traskand members of the St. Joseph Church,Spearfish, staff.Pictured is Msgr. Woster with the sheepskinhe received and Fr. Trask with his gift, a communion pyx and handmade leather pyxcase.On February 14, St. Mary, Star of the Sea became affiliated with St. Francis of Assisi,Sturgis. (Courtesy photo)

Priests assignments

FR. TIMOTHY

CASTOR

DCN. GREG SASS

Office of Permanent Diaconate Created

4 WRC February 2018

Diocesan contact: Teresa Spiess, PO Box 678, Rapid City, SD 57709 Ph: 605-343-3541 l Email: tspiess@diorc.org

Copyright © 2017, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington D.C. All Rights Reserved. Photo Credit: ©David Snyder/CRS.

PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY TO THE CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES

SPECIAL COLLECTIONMARCH 10-11, 2018

www.usccb.org/catholic-relief

As an Arab Christian living in Lebanon, Fr. Makram Kozah hasthroughout his life reached out to Muslims to create interreligious dialogue. Here he holds a copy of the Gospels in Arabic — a

translation he and a team of fellow Maronite priests carried out over a six year period. Fr. Kozah is now teaching seminarians and

encouraging them to live and work in Muslim countries like Egypt and Sudan to experience life through the eyes of Muslims.

Refuel 2018: Sharing the Joy of the GospelAmy Dyke, Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rapid City, visits with speaker Bob Rice

at Refuel in January. During the two day conference, Rice reminded the group of more than100 parish ministers that Christ is at the heart of what they do and one of the ways to showthat to others is through their witness to God in their lives. Using Saint Ambrose and John theBaptist as examples, Rice encouraged those present to be examples of Christ in the world.

“We help facilitate this encounter with Jesus. The experience of faith always needs a media-tor. That’s what you are. The role is essential,” he explained. “If you look at John the Baptist’scareer as a catechist you would call him a failure. Yet we see that he’s the one that points theway to Christ. St. Ambrose spent a lot of time with Saint Augustine. It was the witness of Am-brose opening that book in the garden that brought Augustine to the word. People will re-member who we are a lot longer than what we taught them. It starts with our witness.” (WRC photo by Becky Berreth)

WRC 5February 2018

The Black and Indian Mission Collection (BIMC) exists tohelp diocesan communities build the Church and preach

the Gospel of Jesus among the African American, Native American, and Alaska Native people of God. Join us in ourMission to the Missions.

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---)p$orxo&sv&svo&%v**v'&)')uPhoto courtesy Sioux Spiritual Center, Howes

Pastoral Ministry Days 2018: ‘The harvest is plentiful, the laborers are few’BY BECKY BERRETH

“The family is the first seminary,” said Fr.James Mason. “It’s a seedbed of vocations.Your first call is to be a beloved child ofGod through baptism.”

“Children are born seeking love andgoodness,” agreed Sr. Joseph Andrew Bog-danowicz, OP. “When the people throughwhom God gave them their own distinctivelife, witness to them the virtues of uncon-ditional love and untiring goodness, a childgrows up with a holy confidence in Godand in self.   Through the virtues, he/shelearns self knowledge and is able, throughprayer, to determine one’s vocation.”

Pastoral Ministry Days is March 18-20,at Terra Sancta. This year’sconference, “Harvest,” has a focus on “cre-ating a vibrant culture of vocations in our

parishes.” Keynote speakers are Fr. Mason,president and rector of Kenrick-GlennonSeminary, Shrewsbury, Mo., and Sr. Bog-danowicz, OP, vocation director of the Do-minican Sisters of Mary, Mother of theEucharist, Ann Arbor, Mich.

The conference officially begins onMonday morning, March 19, and ends theafternoon of March 20. There is also a HolyHour and hospitality on Sunday evening,March 18, along with an opportunity forearly check-in.

Fr. Mark McCormick, diocesan directorof vocations, said the theme for this year’sconference came from the Diocesan Prior-ity Plan. “It says that parishes are encour-aged to have a vocations committee to buildup the culture of vocations. It’s about build-ing that culture in our diocese and in ourparishes — beginning with the family.

Moms and dads talking to their childrensaying God has a plan for you.

“We want to answer the question, whatdoes it mean to build a culture of vocationsin our own lives — personal, family,parishes, diocese — so that when a youngperson grows up, praying for their vocationisn’t something foreign to them it’s some-thing done as a family.”

According to Fr. Mason, vocations aremore than being called to the priesthood orreligious life. “When we are talking aboutvocations we are talking about a call to ho-liness,” he explained. This isn’t primarilyabout priests and religious. It’s about holi-ness. We are talking about evangelizationand the vocations will naturally come out ofthat. We live a priestly life and invited theminto it. We didn’t have a program.”

“Our faith is a constant,” added Sr. Bog-danowicz. “Knowing this, parents need tobegin imparting the beauty of the faith tothe children while even in the womb bypraying aloud for these little ones. … All

the prayers and efforts will lead to an in-crease of knowledge, wisdom and spiritualgraces that will strengthen the church in theworld today, beginning with the parents andfamilies at this conference.”

“I invite you to come and lend your heartto what the speakers have to say,” said Fr.McCormick. “We want to create this cul-ture where everyone growing up knows thatGod has a plan, a purpose to their lives.”

Online registration, the flyer, and aschedule can be found at www.PMD2018.com.

Everyone is encouraged to register on-line, if possible, for purposes of accuracy ofmaterials. Cost is $75. If you are unable toregister online, you can also register by call-ing the Terra Sancta Retreat Center at 605-716-0925, and staff can register you overthe phone. Contact Susan Thompsonsthompson@diorc.org or Susan Saffordssafford@diorc.org at 605-716-5214 if youhave questions.

6 WRC February 2018

Job Opening Administrative Assistant Director of Pastoral Ministries and Office of Faith FormationApplications are being accepted for the full time (40 hours per week) position of Administrative Assis-tant for the Director of Pastoral Ministries & the Office of Faith Formation for the Diocese of RapidCity. The qualified candidate will provide support for the Director of Pastoral Ministries and the Officeof Faith Formation. Qualifications include: Practicing Catholic; High School Diploma, some post-secondary education pre-ferred; Highly organized with a heart for ministry and a love for the mission of the church; Generoushospitality; Excellent communication skills; Knowledge of the Catholic Faith and experience in forma-tion ministries; Excellent event organization skills; Above average administrative and computer skills,especially in Microsoft Office, with a high degree of confidentiality; Self-directed with an ability tomulti-task in a dynamic and collaborative work environment. Available for some evening and weekendwork.Application Form: https://www.rapidcitydiocese.org/chancellor/employment/. Interested individualsshould submit via e-mail or regular mail, a letter of application along with their resume listing threeprofessional references and a completed application form to: msimonson@diorc.org or mail to Officeof the Chancellor, Diocese of Rapid City, 606 Cathedral Drive, Rapid City SD 57701.The Diocese of Rapid City offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

National Pastoral Musicians gather at St. Isaac Jogues ChurchOn Saturday, Jan. 27, NPM members held their winter meeting at St. Isaac Jogues

Church in Rapid City. Starting off the day Maria Munoz, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Rapid City, and Toni

Wilkins, St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Rapid City, presented “Successful Approaches to MusicMinistry in a Bilingual and Multicultural Environment.” Munoz focused on the Hispanicculture. Wilkins centered on the Native American culture. Both women brought displaysof their reading materials, art work and artifacts specific to their cultures. JackieSchnittgrund, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Rapid City, used the Internet in her presentation,“Demonstrating the New National NPM Website in Real Time.” Members learned tofind topics of interest on the National Pastoral Musicians website www.npm.org. The “Sageon Stage,” Barry Furze, choir director at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Sturgis, shared whathe has learned in his long service as a music minister. The last segment of the day featuredAmber Larsen, Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rapid City. She provided in-formation on “Compiling, Formatting, and Publishing Worship Aids with Copyright Per-mission.” She gave the attendees handouts that highlight the important components ofworship aids.

The next Rapid City Chapter NPM meeting will be on Saturday, Mar. 3, at the cathe-dral, featuring Fr. Mark McCormick — “Prayer Encounter of Hearing and Seeing theWord of God: Visio Divina;” Jeanine Gerlach —“Reading Session with GIA Music Pack-ets;” Julie Gray as the “Sage on Stage” and Lorraine Ptacek on “Leading from the Key-board.” To register for the free event for the lunch count, contact Pat McDowell at605-787-0638 or patmcdowell@gmail.com by Monday, Feb. 26.

Events Schedule WRC 7February 2018

February 28, WednesdaysDeadline for submissions.

Paper mailed Tuesday, March 20.)605-343-3541

8lhallstrom@diorc.org8bberreth@diorc.org

Diocesan Choir Rehearsalsfor the Chrism Mass, March 19, 2018

If you are interested in participating please contact Amber Larsonin advance at amber@cathedralolph.org or at 605-342-0507. If you live near Rapid City, please plan to attend rehearsals.

Rehearsals will be in the choir loft at the Cathedral.

Monday, February 26 — 6-8 p.m.Sunday, March 4 — 1-3 p.m.

Sunday, March 18 — 6:45-8 p.m.

All are welcome to participate!

February 23, FridaysSturgis Lenten Dinners: Held every

Friday during Lent at St. Francis of AssisiChurch, Sturgis. Begins at 5 p.m. with Sta-tions of the Cross, Mass 5:30 p.m. and din-ner at 6 p.m. Free will donations benefit St.Martin Chapel and St. Aloysius Cemetery.

sFourth Day CursilloRetreat: Discoveryour special God-given talent or charism.Day includes the initial discernment ofthese gifts. Held at Terra Sancta. Begins at5:30 p.m. and continues Saturday at 7:30a.m. Everyone welcome. )Audrey Lang605-431-0872 to register.

February 24, SaturdaysNatural Family Planning: Seminar for

engaged couples or anyone wanting to learnmore about natural family planning. To beheld at the Blessed Sacrament Church,Rapid City, from 9 a.m.-noon. Next semi-nar March 17, St. Joseph, Spearfish. Prereg-istration required. )Amy 605-716-5214 or8ajulian@diorc.org.

February 26, MondaysSilent Retreat: Directed silent retreat

is led by Father Mark McCormick. In-cludes time for adoration, confession,rosary, Mass, and quiet. Sponsored by theOffices of Faith Formation and Family LifeMinistries. )Amy 605-716-5214.

March 2, FridaysFirst Friday Mass and Luncheon:

Mass at 11:15 a.m., Cathedral of Our Lady

of Perpetual Help, Rapid City. Noon lunchin Cathedral Hall, talk by Bishop RobertGruss. Lunch $6. Everyone welcome.

sWorld Apostolate of Fatima: First Fri-day prayers and devotions 6 p.m. in the Sa-cred Heart Chapel, Cathedral of Our Ladyof Perpetual Help. First Saturday, March 3,begins with prayers at 7:45 a.m. followed by8 a.m. Mass and exposition in Our Lady’sChapel, Cathedral. )Dr. Kopriva 605-343-6202.

sLenten Retreat, Come Holy Spirit:Retreat lead by the members of the Com-munity of the Beatitudes, Denver, Colo. Thecommunities charism combines a desire forunity, a belief in grace and working in thecoly spirit, Carmelite spirituality, andbeauty. Sponsored by the Office of Stew-ardship. $50, lodging available separately.Registration deadline February 26. 8terra-sancta.org /lenten-retreat-come-holy-spirit/. )Office of Stewardship605-716-5214.

March 3, SaturdaysNPM Spring Meeting: Presenters in-

clude Fr. Mark McCormick, Viso Divina;Lorraine Ptacek, Leading from the Key-board; Julie Gray, Sage on Stage; and Jea-nine Gerlach, Sight Reading. Held at theCathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help,Rapid City. Lunch will be served. 8PatMcDowell 8tpatmcdowell44@gmail.comby March 1.

March 9, FridaysHeart to Heart Weekend for the En-

gaged: For engaged Couples to deepentheir relationship with each other and Godby exploring the Catholic church’s vision ofmarriage. Required for marriage prep. Ends

March 11. 8terrasancta.org/heart2heart.March 16, Friday

sBenedictine Weekends: An opportu-nity to come and see religious and commu-nity life. Weekend begins at 4 p.m. and ends2 p.m. Sunday. Open to single, divorced orwidowed Catholic women ages 18 andolder. Held at St. Martin Monastery. )Sr.Mary Wegher 605-343-8011 or 8srmarywegher@yahoo.com.

March 18-20, Sunday-Tuesday

sPastoral Ministry Days: This year’stheme is “Harvest: ‘The harvest is plentiful,but the laborers are few’ and will focus oncreating a vibrant culture of vocations in ourparishes. Keynote speakers are Fr. JamesMason and Sr. Joseph Andrew Bogdanow-

icz, OP. Held at Terra Sancta.8www.PMD2018.com. See page 5.

March 19, MondaysChrism Mass: A celebration of the

blessing of the holy oils for sacramental usein the diocese and the renewal of priestlypromises. Begins at 7 p.m., Cathedral ofOur Lady of Perpetual Help, Rapid City.Reception after Mass sponsored by theWSDCF.

April 3, TuesdaysCatholics Returning Home: Six-week

program for those who have been awayfrom the church and are thinking about re-turning. Begins at 7 p.m. at St. Therese theLittle Flower. No charge. 8Dcn. Greg Sassgsass@diorc.org or ReturningCatholics.net

January 17-21, I hadthe chance to make thepilgrimage to Washing-ton, D.C. to March forLife with our diocese.Thirty young peopleand eight adult leadersmade the pilgrimagetogether. We spent fivedays, drove 3,330 milesround-trip, and spentmore than 56 hours rid-ing a bus in order toproclaim — and to beliving witnesses to ournation and to our world— that we stand for life.

We arrived lateThursday afternoon intime for a quick shower,

Mass and dinner. That evening we attendedthe “Life is Very Good Youth Rally,” spon-sored by the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia.It was an amazing evening of praise andworship music, confessions, Eucharisticadoration, and an inspirational keynote ad-dress by Sr. Miriam James Heidland, a Sis-ter of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity.(To hear just how inspirational Sr. Miriamis, go to YouTube, type in her name, and youwill have an opportunity to hear for your-self.) Her talk prepared our hearts to Marchfor Life on Friday morning.

As we piled back onto the bus, our driverasked me, “How many people were at therally?”

I told him, “I wasn’t sure, but it waspretty full.”

He replied, “It is quite a sight to see over200 charter buses in a parking lot from allover the county. I bet there were over 10,000people at that rally tonight given the num-ber of buses we counted.”

There were more than 7,500, but it cer-tainly looked and sounded like more than10,000. It was amazing to see and witnessthis new generation of young people step-ping up to defend a culture of life.

The call to promote a culture of life andnot death is central to who we are as disci-ples of Christ. In Evangelium Vitae (“TheGospel of Life”), St. John Paul II said: “...we are facing an enormous and dramaticclash between good and evil, death and life,the ‘culture of death’ and the ‘culture of life.’

8 WRC February 2018A Catholic Way of Life

Fr. Mark McCormick

Director Office of

Stewardship and Vocations

MMcCormick@diorc.org

We find ourselves not only faced with butnecessarily in the midst of this conflict: weare all involved and we all share in it, withthe inescapable responsibility of choosingto be unconditionally pro-life.”

For me, the March for Life was a sur-prising experience of prayer, joy and hope.Throughout the march there seemed to bemoments of great silence where we pon-dered the reality of over 58 million infantswho have been aborted since the Roe vsWade decision on January 22, 1973 and yet,at the same time, there were groups carryingsigns and banners, praying the rosary,singing and chanting about a culture of life,filling the parade route with sights andsounds of joy and hope — echoes of the“Life is VERY Good” youth rally, the nightbefore. As we marched, I felt there was acloud of witnesses overshadowing us withthe Holy Spirit, who is the Lord and Giverof Life, encouraging us to be bold witnessesto a culture of life.

Here are some of the ways others onthe trip experienced the March for Life:

“This was my second year attending theMarch for Life, and I am so grateful for theopportunity that I had to go! What broughtme back again to this year’s march was thejoy that I had experienced the previous year.The speakers who shared their stories all re-lating to the overall theme for the marchtouched me: Love Saves Lives. It was trulyempowering to be around hundreds ofthousands of people who have the samepro-life beliefs as myself.”

— Mary Kinyon, Cathedral of OurLady Perpetual Help

“My experience on the March for Lifewas incredible. I met some amazing peopleand got to see what can happen when sucha great number of great people come to-gether to fight for the end of abortion. Itwas amazing to be a witness to the love andsupport that these people showed to others.I am proud to have been a part of thisamazing experience and to have the oppor-tunity to march for the lives of those whoaren’t given the opportunity to live.”

—Kiah Trainor, Cathedral of OurLady of Perpetual Help

“A few years ago, my life was trans-formed by the birth of our third daughter,Blakely Anne. Diagnosed in pregnancywith numerous health issues, we continuedto trust in God and his plan for her life. Al-though her life was short, it was not withoutmeaning. It meant so much for me to beable to march in solidarity, with thousandsof others from across the country, sharinglove for the dignity of all human life.

“I was struck especially by the youth inour diocese who said ‘yes’ to participate in apro-life pilgrimage. During our journey, wehad the opportunity to pray, laugh, andshare life together. I am filled with hope be-cause we stand together supporting thebeauty of all life and God’s unique plan foreach one of us.”

— Jenny Scherr, adult leader/youthminister, Cathedral of Our Lady of Per-petual Help “When I got to the march, Irealized that I wasn’t just standing up forthe unborn; I was also standing up for thepregnant women who don’t know how theyare going to have the child. They are scaredand don’t always have the support theyneed. So being there showed that there arepeople out there that care for her well-being, even if we don’t personally know her.”

— Jadyn Zentner, St. Mary, Lemmon“My March for Life experience was defi-

nitely one that I will never forget. I not onlymarched with some of my best friends, butI made new best friends along the way. Myoutlook toward life changed in so manyways for the better. About 500,000 peoplecame to Washington, DC, to march for thesame cause. Thousands of people held upsigns to protest for not only the lives of un-born, but for the lives of every human being.God blessed me that weekend by makingme witness the true beauty of all lives, and

what our lives can do to impact others.”— Jordan Miller, Blessed Sacrament,

Rapid City“One of the many things I took away

from this trip was that, truly, all life is pre-cious. Whenever abortion is brought up inconversation it’s easy to get wrapped up in‘saving the babies’ (which is very important),but we often forget about the parents andhow they are affected by abortion.

“During the march, people spoke abouthow abortion affected them. Their testi-monies were heart breaking and impactfuland really gave you a different view onthings. It’s easy to blame and condemn theparent for the choice they made, but this isentirely the wrong way to go about it. Wemust be kind, compassionate and caring to-ward all who are affected by such a tragedybecause more times than not they are suf-fering from a choice they made and theymust live with that. I wish I could person-ally thank those who had the courage tostand up for the pro-life movement andshare their story because they were so inspi-rational.”

—Thérèse Wilhelmi, Our Lady ofBlack Hills, Piedmont

“My experience in D.C. attending theMarch for Life rallies and the march itselfwas an incredible experience! We went tosave lives but the Lord taught us to openour hearts to him so he can give us thegraces to march strongly to save our broth-ers and sisters!”

— Taylor Murphy, Blessed Sacrament,Rapid City

“Attending the March for Life this yearwas definitely an unforgettable experience.Marching with hundreds of people fromage 70 to even babies, all praying and stand-ing up for something much bigger and soimportant leaves one feeling content withpure joy from God.”

—Hannah Dillion, St. John the Baptist, Custer

The March for Life is not just another“march.” For 45 years, it has been a powerfulwitness to the sanctity of life, to the cultureof life. It will continue to be that witness solong as a culture of death grips our country.May we continue to pray for the strength toloosen that grip so all may enjoy their rightto life.

A busload of people from the Diocese ofRapid City attended the January 19, Marchfor Life in Washington, D.C. (Courtesy photo)

A powerful witness when thousands stand for life

“Roman Pilgrimage:The Station Churches,the Forty Days’”should be an annualre-catechumenate forthe entire church: six-and-a-half weeks inwhich the already-baptized join the cat-echumens who willenter the church atEaster in walking theroad to Calvary withthe Lord, in order tobe empowered formissionary disciple-ship in the Easter waters of baptism withwhich we are all blessed. Little things countalong that pilgrim way, including smallself-denials like eating differently on Fri-days (and almsgiving, and intensifiedprayer, the other two great Lenten disci-plines). Try it.

And, of course, Lent, which coincideswith that other season of new disciplinesknown as “spring training,” is the accept-able time for the Trenton Thunder to getwith the program, do a mea maxima culpa,and agree to become the Trenton Pork Rollon Sundays.

The Catholic Difference WRC 9February 2018

Prayer Intentions of the Holy Father

For more information, go to:APOSTLESHIPOFPRAYER.ORG

Monthly Message From Our LadyOn the 25th of each month, Our Ladyappears to the Medjugorje visionary Marija to give us her message.

“Dear Children! May this time befor you a time of prayer, so thatthe Holy Spirit, through prayer,may descend upon you and giveyou conversion. Open yourhearts and read the Sacred Scrip-ture, that through the testimoniesyou also may be closer to God.Above everything, little children,seek God and the things of Godand leave earthly ones to theearth, because Satan is attractingyou to the dust and sin. You arecalled to holiness and created forHeaven; therefore, seek Heavenand the things of Heaven. Thankyou for having responded to mycall.”1/25/18

George Weigel

Senior fellowEthics and

Public PolicyCenter in

Washington, D.C.

A few weeks before Ash Wednesday, anAssociated Press squib with Lenten impli-cations appeared in the Washington Postsports section:

* YANKEES: New York’s Class AA af-filiate in Trenton, N.J., will change its namefrom the Thunder to the Pork Roll on Fri-days this season. The pork roll is a New Jer-sey staple, served on breakfast sandwichesand as a burger topping.

For those unfortunates who didn’t growup in the I-95 corridor between the Hol-land Tunnel and the southern outskirts ofBaltimore, I venture to explain.

“Taylor Pork Roll,” also known as “Tay-lor Ham” south and west of the DelawareRiver, is a compound of the ground-up andsugar-cured bits of a pig of which the pighas no cause to be proud, tightly encased ina canvas wrapper. Fried or grilled, it’s saltyand greasy and a lot of other wonderfulthings frowned on by the food police. In mywild adolescence, I used to cut a half-inchslab off the loaf, impale it on a fork, androast it over an electric burner in my par-ents’ kitchen: the ideal post-school snackbefore wrestling with Cicero’s Latin syntaxand the mysteries of Algebra II. I still in-dulge in it occasionally, to my wife’s olfac-tory displeasure, and I always order it in adiner when breakfasting in the GardenState.

But only the perfidious Yankees — “theYanqui enemy of mankind,” as the Sandin-ista national anthem in 1980s Nicaraguaneatly put it — would have a farm teamthat changed its name to “Trenton PorkRoll” on Fridays.

Ad primum, pork roll was always con-sumed as a post-Mass treat on Sundays,and rigorously avoided on Fridays. Ad se-cundum, flaunting pork roll in the face ofdevout Catholics by emblazoning it on jer-seys at Arm & Hammer Park on Fridays isan invitation to the divine wrath, to whichthe Thunder/Pork Roll is already vulnerablebecause of its major league affiliation.

So in solidarity with fellow-Catholics inthe Diocese of Trenton, I propose that weall continue the Lenten practice of Fridayabstinence from meat, which commenceson February 16 this year, until such time asthe Thunder/Pork Roll’s management ac-knowledges its miscue and switches thename-switch to Sundays. (If the Thunder

wish to become the Trenton Fish Fry onFridays, fine by me, although as a marketingtool that would likely work better in Wis-consin.)

Friday abstinence was once a definingmark of the practicing Catholic, andLenten pork roll raillery aside, it ought tobe again. The Catholic Bishops’ Conferenceof England and Wales is not renowned forits traditionalism, but some years ago thebishops mandated a year-round return toFriday abstinence south of Hadrian’s Wall,and good for them for doing so. If our bap-tisms really set us apart for Christ, then weshould live a different temporal rhythm

than the rest of the world: not to advertiseour righteousness but to remind ourselves,each other, and those who might be curiousabout these Catholics and their ways thatwe’re, well, different. And at a moment inWestern cultural history in which thetsunami of the Culture of Me threatens tooverwhelm everything, putting down be-havioral markers of difference is no smallthing. From Friday abstinence, who knowswhat might grow?

Lent is the perfect time, or as Isaiah 49.8puts it, the “acceptable time,” to begin a jour-ney of Christian difference. As I explain inmy book on a venerable Lenten tradition,

Baseball, pork roll, Lent, fish, and the Catholic identity

‘I propose that we all continue the Lenten practice of Friday abstinence from meat,which commenced on February 16 this year, until such time as the Thunder/Pork Roll’smanagement acknowledges its miscue and switches the name-switch to Sundays,’ —George Weigel.

MARCH

Evangelization: Formationin Spiritual Discernment —That the Church may appre-ciate the urgency of forma-tion in spiritual discernment,both on the personal andcommunitarian levels.

We live in a worldof deep divisions.Everywhere we see po-larization, people bit-terly divided from eachother by ideology, poli-tics, economic theory,moral beliefs, and the-ology. We tend to useover-simplistic cate-gories within which tounderstand these divi-sions: the left and theright opposing eachother, liberals and con-servatives at odds, pro-life vying withpro-choice.

Virtually every so-cial and moral issue is a war-zone: the sta-tus of women, climate change, gender roles,sexuality, marriage and family as institu-tions, the role of government, how theLGBTQ community is to be understood,among other issues. And our churchesaren’t exempt; too often we cannot agree onanything. Civility has disappeared from

10 WRC February 2018In Exile

Fr. Ron Rolheiser

President Oblate School of

TheologySan Antonio, TX

www.ronrolheiser.com

public discourse even within our churcheswhere there is now as much division andhostility within each denomination as thereis between them. More and more, we can-not discuss openly any sensitive matter, evenwithin our own families. Instead we discusspolitics, religion, and values only within ourown ideological circles; and there, ratherthan challengingeach other, wemostly end upfeeding each otherin our biases andindignations thusbecoming evenmore intolerant,bitter, and judg-mental.

Scripture calls this enmity, hatred,and indeed that’s its proper name. We arebecoming hate-filled people who both fueland justify our hatred on religious andmoral grounds. We need only to watch thenews on any night to see this. How’s this tobe overcome?

At the more macro level in politics andreligion, it’s hard to see how these bitter di-

vides will ever be bridged, especially whenso much of our public discourse is feedingand widening the division. What’s neededis nothing short of religious conversion, areligious change of heart, and that’s contin-gent on the individual. The collective heartwill change only when individual heartsfirst do. We help save the sanity of theworld by first safeguarding our own sanity,but that’s no easy task.

It’s not as simple aseveryone simply agreeingto think nicer thoughts.Nor, it seems, will we find

much common groundin our public dialogues.The dialogue that’sneeded isn’t easilycome by; certainly wehaven’t come by it yet.

Many groups are trying for it, but withoutmuch success. Generally what happens isthat the even most-well intended dialoguequickly degenerates into an attempt by eachside to score its own ideological pointsrather than in genuinely trying to under-stand each other. Where does that leave us?

The real answer, I believe, lies in an un-derstanding of how the cross and death ofJesus brings about reconciliation. The au-thor of the Letter to the Ephesians tells usthat Jesus broke down the barrier of hostil-ity that existed between communities bycreating one person where formerly therehad been two — and he did this “by recon-ciling both (sides) in one body through his cross,which put that enmity to death.” (Eph 2:16).

How does the cross of Christ put enmityto death? Not through some kind of magic.Jesus didn’t break down the divisions be-tween us by mystically paying off some debtfor our sins through his suffering, as if Godneeded to be appeased by blood to forgive

us and open the gates of heaven. That imageis simply the metaphor behind our iconsand language about being washed clean ofsin and saved by the blood of Christ. Whathappened in the cross and death of Jesus issomething that asks for our imitation notsimply our admiration. What happened inthe cross and death of Jesus is an examplefor us to imitate. What are we to imitate?

What Jesus did in his passion and deathwas to transform bitterness and divisionrather than to retransmit them and givethem back in kind. In the love which heshowed in his passion and death Jesus didthis: He took in hatred, held it inside him-self, transformed it, and gave back love. Hetook in bitterness, held it, transformed it,and gave back graciousness. He took incurses, held them, transformed them, andgave back blessing. He took in paranoia,held it, transformed it, and gave back big-heartedness. He took in murder, held it,transformed it, and gave back forgiveness.And he took in enmity, bitter division, heldit, transformed it, and through that revealedto us the deep secret for forming commu-nity, namely, we need to take away the ha-tred that divides us by absorbing andholding it within ourselves and therebytransforming it. Like a water purifier whichholds within itself the toxins and the poi-sons and gives back only pure water, wemust hold within ourselves the toxins thatpoison community and give back only gra-ciousness and openness to everyone. That’sthe only key to overcome division.

We live in bitterly divisive times, para-lyzed in terms of meeting amicably on vir-tually every sensitive issue of politics,economics, morality, and religion. Thatstalemate will remain until one by one, weeach transform rather than enflame and re-transmit the hatred that divides us.

Overcoming the divisions that polarize us

WRC 11February 2018

Belle Fourche, St. Paul, Monday, March 12 — 7 p.m. Bison, Blessed Sacrament, Monday, March 5 — 7 p.m.Bonesteel, Immaculate Conception, Thursday, March 8 — 7 p.m. CTBuffalo, St. Anthony, Monday, March 12 — 7 p.m. Colome, St. Isidore, Tuesday, March 13 — 5 p.m. CTCuster, St. John, Tuesday, March 6 — 6:30 p.m.Faith, St. Joseph, Sunday, March 25 — 7 p.m.Ft Pierre, St. John, Tuesday, February 27 — 6:30 p.m. CTGregory, St. Joseph, Thursday, March 15 — 7 p.m. CTHill City, St. Rose of Lima, Monday, March 5 — 7:30 p.m.Hot Springs, St. Anthony of Padua, Tuesday, February 27 — 6:30 p.m.Isabel, St. Mary, Tuesday, March 13 — 7 p.m.Keystone, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Monday, March 5 – 5 p.m.Lead, St. Patrick, Sunday, March 11 — 2 p.m. Lemmon, St. Mary, Sunday, March 4 — 7 p.m. McIntosh, St. Bonaventure, Thursday, March 22 — 7 p.m. McLaughlin, St. Bernard, Monday, March 26 — 7 p.m. Murdo, St. Martin, Tuesday, March 13 — 6 p.m. CTNewell, St. Mary Star of the Sea, Thursday, March 8 — 6:30 p.m. Piedmont, Our Lady of the Black Hills, Wednesday,March 7 — 6:30 p.m.Presho, Christ the King, Thursday, March 1 — 6 p.m. CTRapid City, Blessed Sacrament, Monday, March 12 – 6:30 p.m.Rapid City, Cathedral of OLPH, Tuesday, February 20 – 6:30 p.m. (Night of Mercy)Rapid City, St. Isaac Jogues, Thursday, March 15 – 6:30 p.m. Rapid City, St. Therese the Little Flower, Tuesday, March 13 — 6:30 p.m.Spearfish, St. Joseph, Monday, March 26 — 7 p.m. Sturgis, St. Francis, Sunday, March 4 — 1:30 p.m.Timber Lake, Holy Cross, Monday, March 12 — 7 p.m.Winner, Immaculate Conception, Thursday, March 22 — 7 p.m. CT

Communal Reconciliation Schedule

12 WRC February 2018Social Justice

Dr. Michael Huot, Rapid City, has aspecialty in pain management. “At the endof the day, addiction is when someonemakes a choice, and they make that choiceover and over again despite terrible thingshappening to them or their family,” he said.

Addiction is divided into two categories,substance addiction — the most commonform is alcoholism and behavioral — themost common type is compulsive shopping,according to information provided by Huot.In 2016, 22 million Americans needed ad-dition treatment and two million of thosereceived it. It is not an uncommon problem,he added; half the population is affected bythe actions of addicts.

“When people have addictions theirbrain slowly changes, neuroplasticity (theability of the brain to adapt) decreases andmakes it harder and harder to kick it. Theyget hardwired,” he said. “The rewards-stim-ulus outweighs the long-term conse-quences.”

He showed a slide of a heroin-addictedbrain beside an average person’s brain, not-ing 10 days after quitting there is very littlebrain activity, and 100 days after quittingthere is more. As time goes on brain func-tion improves and regular aerobic exercisecan help increase brain activity, too.

Discussing risk factors, he said, “Adoles-cents are very vulnerable to addiction be-cause their reward system develops fasterthan their cognitive center.” He posed thepossibility of every high school student tak-ing a drug test before chemicals affect theirbrain’s development and the outcome oftheir lives.

He cited a significant study of 17,000adults on Adverse Childhood Experiences— physical or emotional abuse or neglect,sexual abuse, witnessing violence in thehome, and a parent who is incarcerated orsuffering from a mental illness. It found 40percent of people answered two or more ofthe ACE questions positive; 12.5 percentanswered four or more items positive. Thestudy also showed health problems associ-ated with the positive responses. The toxicstress in the home causes children to act outand is frequently misdiagnosed as Atten-tion-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Doc-tor Huot explained efforts to helpclassroom teachers identify the difference.

Then he addressed opioid overdoses. InSouth Dakota, 57 people died from opioidoverdoses in 2016. He said locally they have

formed a multidisciplinary team to see whois prescribing pain medications. The teamheld a summit detailing how to prescribe,who is at risk, and how to prevent doctorshopping.

Doctor Huot said since the summitthere is a downtrend in opioid prescriptions.“We should be putting as much money aswe can in addiction treatment for long-termsavings,” he said comparing the differencebetween a working person contributing tosociety versus one who is incarcerated or re-ceiving financial aid,” he said

Relapses can happen in recovery, “Weshould not judge these people, but supportthem,” he said.

For the past 15 years, Fr. Gary Terneshas been in prison ministry for the Dio-cese of Sioux Falls. He has also worked inparish ministry and with patients with amental health condition in Yankton.

The people he serves in prison are fromevery corner of S.D., and others who werearrested here. South Dakota has around4,100 prisoners in several locations. FatherTernes contrasted that with North Dakota,which has a similar population, and 1,700people in prison. He pointed out that Na-tive Americans comprise less than 10 per-cent of the S.D., population, yet they are 30percent of the male inmates and 50 percentof the female inmates.

Noting changing policies which have re-duced the number of mental health pa-tients, he drew a correlation between thedecrease in patients and the increase in in-mates. “In the 1960s we had 2,000 patientsat the state mental hospital and 300-500prison inmates. This year we have 4,100prison inmates and 200 state mental pa-tients.”

According to Father Ternes, the best

Rock Bottom, continued from page 1______

(Left) Fr. Gary Ternes isin Prison Ministry forthe Diocese of SiouxFalls. (Right) Dr.Michael Huot points outthe differences in brainactivity using a normaland a heroin addictedbrain. (WRC photos)

guarantee for someone doing well afterprison is having some support to go backinto. “If you are in for more than a year it’sa pretty exceptional family that stays withyou. Most of our folks don’t have many peo-ple left,” he said. “The real punishment ofprison isn’t just the bad food or bad cloth-ing. It isn’t just the rules and regulations. It’sseparation from family and society.”

He said three programs are working wellthat can use volunteers.

Residents Encounter Christ is similar tothe Teens Encounter Christ retreats. An-other program that is very active in prisonsis M2 (man-to-man) — or in Pierre, W2(woman-to-woman) — a person from thecommunity makes regular weekly ormonthly visits. The third is the Alternativesto Violence Program. It’s a Quaker programactive in many prisons. He said, “I can putyou in touch with people who can train youin starting these programs.”

South Dakota Supreme Court Justice,Janine Kern, spoke on problem-solvingcourts in the state. In 2017 they served 467people.

She became the state’s first drug prose-cutor in 1988. In 1996 she was appointed ajudge in the 7th Judicial Circuit in RapidCity. “I saw I was immersed in a sea ofhuman suffering and need,” she said. “I wastrying to deal with addicted people whowere coming in front of me. From thebench, I could see addiction was enor-mously devastating to the community.”

A primary contributor was early onsetalcoholism, including in the womb. “Weneed to do much more prevention for fetalalcohol syndrome and pregnancy absti-nence. The second thing I saw was lack of afather figure and third the lack of a highschool diploma. Anytime investment in ab-

stinence, education and mentoring she saidwould make a difference. She cited statisticssaying crime and imprisonment have grownexponentially in S.D. Between 1977-2013the prison population increased more than500 percent, higher than the national aver-age.

Neither jail nor treatment alone work.Criminal justice reform began in Miami. Itstarted with a judge, one treatment personand an attorney, 25 years ago. Faced withbuilding two new prisons, Senate Bill 70brought about criminal justice reform byfunding specialty courts. The 2007 North-ern Hills Drug Court was the first in thestate. State specialty courts include Drug,DUI, Veterans, and soon will include aMental Health Court.

She read a statement that said “DrugCourts are not soft on crime, they are smarton crime. ... it is far more challenging tocomplete Drug Court than to complete aprison sentence.”

She said there is no better way for anaddict to get clean. They see the judge andother team members every week and areheld profoundly accountable. Specialtycourts combine medical monitoring, sup-port meetings, behavioral interventions,moral reasoning, new skills and strategies,and relapse prevention.

Kaye Haggerty of Allentown, Pa., spokeon her daughter’s drug treatment at Comu-nita Cenacolo. It is a Catholic communityway of life that began in Italy, has expandedto Medjugorie and is getting started in theU.S. It was founded by Mother ElviraPetrozzi as a “School of Life.” It excludesmodern technology and calls for manuallabor and a great deal of prayer. It serveswomen ages 18-30 and men ages 18-40.Participants stay at least three years.

riorly renewed by thegrace of the Spirit, ‘whois the Lord and giver oflife,’ we have become apeople for life and weare called to act accord-ingly.” EV no. 79.

Support HB 1123and SB 110. Your legislators’ contact in-formation can be foundat sdlegislature.gov.

Thank you for your joyful witness to life.

Join the SDCCemail list by visiting sdcatholicconference.org

A Safe Environment for Children and Young PeopleThe Catholic Diocese of Rapid City is firmly committed to creating and

maintaining the safest possible environment for our children and young people. To reportallegations of sexual abuse by church personnel, contact Assistance Coordinator, BarbaraScherr. To ensure confidentiality in her outreach to victims, she can be contacted privatelyat 1-605-209-3418 (cell). Her phone has caller ID and messaging features. All informationwill be treated confidentially. Alleged victims are advised of their right to report allegedabuse to civil authorities.

In accordance with diocesan policy, all allegations of sexual misconduct involving children oryoung people and priests, deacons, lay employees, or volunteers serving the Diocese of Rapid Citywill be investigated.

The diocesan sexual misconduct policy and the code of conduct are posted on the dioce-san website at www.rapidcitydiocese.org.

Contemporary Issues WRC 13February 2018

In its inaugural legislative session, theSouth Dakota Catholic Conference urgesyour support of two important bills, eachsupporting the dignity of all life from con-ception to natural death.

Senate Bill 110 is focused on strength-ening legal protections for the relationshipbetween a mother and her unborn child. Ifpassed, it would increase the pre-abortioncounseling responsibilities of PregnancyHelp Centers, which are focused on helpingpregnant mothers choose life. This bill wasapproved in its first committee hearing 6-2, passed the Senate 27-8, and it moved onto the House for a hearing before theHealth and Human Services committeewhere it passed 9-2. Please call or emailyour representative and urge their support.

House Bill 1123 would ban executionsof the seriously mentally ill made it out ofthe House State Affairs Committee by avote of 9-4, bringing the issue of capitalpunishment to a chamber floor for debate

for the first time in five years. It passed theHouse, 45 Yeas to 20 Nays. The Senate Ju-diciary committee has not yet scheduled itshearing on this bill.

I likewise encourage you to contact yoursenator to express support.

The broader context for these importantissues is highlighted by St. John Paul IIwho, bear in mind, lived under two of the20th century’s bloody totalitarian govern-ments. We live in what he called “the Cul-ture of Death,” whereby our culture seeksto solve our problems through the death orrejection of human beings. It’s sadly easy toenumerate further examples in addition toabortion and capital punishment: assistedsuicide and euthanasia, too-hasty recourseto war, willful self-destruction, artificial cre-ation and destruction of human embryos,contraception. And on and on.

Each of these, it is argued by various so-cietal factors, solves a problem and, in fact,makes life better. Nonsense. Such ideas, es-

pecially when licensed by the state, coarsenour humanity and deaden our collectiveconscience. These so-called “solutions” takethe vibrant color out of life and make it dulland sickly. The “Culture of Life” proposes abetter way.

For those for who would like to deepentheir understanding, I encourage a prayerfulreading of St. John Paul II’s discussion ofthe Culture of Life in his encyclical, Evan-gelium Vitae. We must not be discouragedin the face of the “Culture of Death;” rather,according to St. John Paul II, we have beenentrusted with a great missionary task:

“We are the people of life because God,in his unconditional love, has given us theGospel of life and by this same Gospel wehave been transformed and saved .... Inte-

ChristopherMotz

Executive Director SouthDakota CatholicConference

cmotz@sdcatholicconference.

org

Job Opening Director of Music/Liturgy Ministry — Watertown, SDIndividual is responsible for coordinating music and music selections for the parish including Masses, Holy Days and other liturgical celebrations. The candidate must beproficient in organ/piano. The candidate will coordinate all persons involved in liturgicalministries as well as oversee the aesthetic decor of the worship space. Along with ajoyful and faith filled presence we hope for a person who can interact with a variety ofpeople and lead choirs and instrumentalists. Background check and Safe EnvironmentTraining is required.For a more complete job description please email our parish at office@icparishwatertown.org. Qualified applicants should submit a letter of interest, a resume and threereferences to: Fr. Paul Rutten, Pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish, 309-2nd AveSE, Watertown, SD 57201

Two bills focus on supporting a ‘Culture of Life’

Deacon Jim & BarbaraScherr

Ordained February 1, 2013 by Bishop Robert Gruss.

14 WRC February 2018

Deacon Chuck & TheresaRausch

Ordained May 29, 2014 by Bishop Robert Gruss

Assigned to: St. Therese Little Flower, Rapid City

Duties: RCIA, Spiritual Advisorfor Secular Franciscans,

KC Breakfast, Baptism Prep

Ministry Highlight:Baptizing granddaughter Paisley

Work: LifeSong memorials byRausch

See the WRC on Facebook.com/DioceseofRapidCity

50th Anniversary of U. S. Permanent Diaconate

One of the great legacies of the Second Vatican Council was its renewal and encouragementof the order of deacons throughout the entire Catholic Church.

Following the closing of the Second Vatican Council, PopePaul VI formally implemented the renewal of the diaconate.Since the Second Vatican Council consigned the decision of therestoration of the diaconate to individual episcopal conferences,the bishops of the United States voted in the spring of 1968 topetition the Holy See for authorization. On August 30, 1968, theApostolic Delegate informed the United States bishops that PopePaul VI had agreed to their request. To commemorate this an-niversary the West River Catholic will feature active deaconsmonthly throughout the year.

Sister Donata Daml, 81, a Sister of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, diedJanuary 27, at Avera St. Luke Hospital, Aberdeen.

Funeral Mass was February 1, at Presentation Convent, Aberdeen. Internment is at Sa-cred Heart Catholic Cemetery.

Donna Mae Daml was born April 28, 1936, in St. Cloud, Minn., to Helen (Blommer)and Peter E. Daml. She graduated from Anoka High School in 1954. Donna entered Pres-entation Convent and received her religious name of Sister Donata. She professed vowson August 19, 1957.

Sister Donata earned an Associate Degree from Presentation College, plus a Bachelorof Science in Education (1970) and Masters’ Degree in Guidance and Counseling (1990)

from Northern State College. She taught third through eighth grades fornearly three decades, before working as a recruiter at Presentation College,Aberdeen.

In 1991, she felt called to minister to the Native American students atPresentation College Lakota Campus, Eagle Butte, and offered counselingservices at the Sacred Heart Center. Sister Donata especially treasuredher time on the Cheyenne River Reservation. She ministered there until2012 and returned to prayer and volunteer ministry at the PresentationConvent.

Sister Donata is survived by her community family of Presentation Sis-ters; her brother William (Helen) Yuma AZ, and many nieces andnephews.

ObituarySr. Donata Daml, PBVM, 81, taught at Eagle Butte__________________

SR. DONATA

DAML, PBVM

Assigned to: Cathedral of OurLady of Perpetual Help, Rapid City

Duties: RCIA, Marriage prep, Living a Joy Filled Marriage,FOCCUS, Adult Education Instructor, Baptism Prep

Ministry Highlight:Baptizing grandchildren &

presiding at my niece and son'sweddings.

Work: Retired

Control notes that“men who have sexwith men remain thegroup most heavilyaffected by HIV inthe United States.The CDC estimatesthat they representapproximately 4 per-cent of the male pop-ulation in the UnitedStates but male-to-male sex accountedfor more than three-fourths or 78 percentof new HIV infec-tions among men andnearly two-thirds or63 percent of all newinfections in 2010.”

We should not besupporting or facili-tating behaviors in-volving multiple sexual partners. Thesesexual practices, in the final analysis, are notonly immoral in themselves, but also reck-less and clearly contributory to the spreadof STDs.

Making Sense of Bioethics WRC 15February 2018

Fr. Tadeusz Pacholczyk,

Ph.D.Director ofEducation The NationalCatholicBioethics Center,

Philadelphia. www.ncbcenter.org

Each year human immunodeficiencyvirus (HIV) infects about 50,000 people inthe United States, and more than two mil-lion worldwide. Reducing the number ofinfections with this virus, which causesAIDS, is a high priority for public healthofficials. Some strategies to reach this goal,however, raise significant moral concerns.

These concerns arise when experts seekto reduce infection rates by assuming thatmen and women lack the freedom tochange their sexual behaviors or exercise selfcontrol, when they fail to acknowledge thatself-restraint is possible and morally re-quired, especially in the face of life-threat-ening disease.

One strategy for trying to control thepandemic includes “pre-exposure prophy-laxis,” or PrEP, which involves an unin-fected person taking a daily dose of the drugTruvada, an anti-retroviral medication.When someone takes the Truvada pill eachday, and is later exposed to HIV throughsex or injectable drug use, it can reduce thelikelihood that the virus will establish a per-manent infection by more than 92 percent.While the drug can have side effects, it isgenerally well-tolerated.

Many activists in the gay movementhave argued that PrEP should be widelyavailable and promoted, though other ac-tivists strongly disagree. AIDS HealthcareFoundation (AHF) founder Michael We-instein has stressed, for example, that thereare likely to be compliance issues. Whensomeone is required to take a regimen ofdrugs every day in order to be protected, he

argues, it is reasonable to expect that somewill fail to do so. A 2014 article in The Ad-vocate, a gay news outlet, notes that,

“When asked why so few people havestarted PrEP, experts give plenty of reasons— cost, worries about long-term effects,and lack of awareness about the regimen it-self among both doctors and patients arechief among them. But one top reason isthe stigma of using PrEP. Weinstein’s nameand the name of his organization, AHF,have become synonymous with the stigmasurrounding PrEP use. In an April Associ-ated Press article, Weinstein declared thatPrEP is “a party drug, giving license to gayand bisexual men to have casual, anony-mous sex. He’s called it a ‘public health dis-aster in the making,’ as his oft-repeatedargument is that the most at-risk peoplewill not adhere to taking a pill each day.”

These compliance concerns have ledsome researchers and clinicians to look intothe possibility of one-time “disco dosing,”where an individual would take the medica-tion, in a high dose, prior to each antici-pated “risky weekend.”

There are other problems with PrEP aswell. Some researchers have noted that oncepeople start on the drug, their risk compen-sation changes, meaning they engage inmore sex with non-primary partners. Evenif PrEP reduces rates of HIV infection, asstudies have suggested, the incidence ofother sexually transmitted diseases may risedue to risk-compensation behaviors. PrEPcan provide a false sense of security and en-courage the lowering of inhibitions.

These kinds of approaches directed to-wards certain “at-risk populations” clearlyraise concerns about sanctioning or sup-porting immoral behaviors. Medical profes-sionals have raised objections of consciencewhen it comes to prescribing PrEP to HIV-negative men who indicate they are, or willbe, sexually active with other men. Theymay raise similar objections to providingprescriptions for “disco dosing.” Writingsuch prescriptions means cooperating in, orfacilitating, the actions of others.

Is pre-exposure prophylaxis always il-licit? Not necessarily. For example, if a med-ical professional were to prescribe Truvadato the wife of a man who was infectedthrough pre or extramarital sexual activity,it would be for the purposes of protectingthe wife from infection during marital rela-tions, and would not involve the problem ofpromoting or facilitating unethical sexualbehaviors.

STDs constitute a serious danger in anage where sexual behaviors are becomingever more indiscriminate. STD outbreaksand pandemics often have their origins inunchaste behaviors and morally disorderedforms of sexuality. The Centers for Disease

Sorting through solutions to the HIV/AIDS Pandemic

New Underwood FundraiserSt. John the Evangelist Parish, New Underwood, will host a dinner with silent and liveauctions, Saturday, March 10 from 5-9 p.m. at the New Underwood Community Center.Proceeds from the event will go toward a new parish hall building fund. Tickets $10 foradults and children under age 10 are $5 each. Tickets can be purchased from parish members, at the door, or by mail from St. John the Evangelist Church, PO Box 305, New Underwood, SD 57761. To donate an auction items or money contact Amy Brunsonat 608-575-3872.

Are you in charge of a ministry at yourparish? Has your pastor invited you to morefully participate in the life of your parish?Are others coming to you, looking for guid-ance, because they see you as a leader? Doyou have an interest in growing in prayerand learning more about ministry?

If you answered yes, or even maybe, toany of those questions, you should considerparticipating in the Lay Ministry Forma-tion program.

While the Lay Ministry Formation pro-gram has always operated under the author-ity of the local bishop, in 2017, theleadership responsibility transferred fromthe Jesuits to the Diocese of Rapid City.Specifically, I am now the coordinator forthe Lay Ministry Formation program. Be-cause of the transition, no new classes havebeen started recently. In January, discussionsbegan to start new Lay Ministry Formationclasses in the fall of 2018. If you are inter-ested, begin by speaking to your pastorabout your interest. If they, or you, havequestions, please contact me at the mainChancery, 605-343-2541, ext 2228 orgsass@diorc.org.

The Lay Ministry Formation programprepares people for lay ministry in theirparish. Most men and women who aredrawn to the program are already involvedin some ministry. They apply because theyare increasingly aware God is calling themto leadership in ministry, under their pas-tor’s direction, and also to be available to as-sume a public role in their parish as theirpastor and they decide.

The program draws people who want togrow in prayer and learn about ministry, notfor their own sake but also because theyhave been inspired by the Holy Spirit witha desire to help build up the faith life in theparish. They want their growth to occur

prayerfully in a study and sharing withother learners and in dialog with their pas-tor. The focus is on developing skills to shareone’s faith, and in the process, also learnmore about the Catholic faith. They trustGod will give them the grace they will needto assume leadership in ministry.

During the spring of 2003, after re-peated invitations from my pastor and a fel-low parishioner, I finally respondedreluctantly, “Fine, I’ll go.” What they wereinviting me to do was simply attend an in-formational meeting about the diocese’sLay Ministry Formation Program. Inpreparation for this meeting, I loaded my-self up with a long mental list of reasons Iwas NOT going to actually apply for theprogram.

When I arrived at the meeting, therewere about 30 others in attendance fromvarious parishes in the area. The Director ofthe Ministry Formation Program, at thattime, Fr. George Winzenburg, SJ, startedwith a brief introduction of himself and hisAssociate Director, Fr. Tom Lawler, SJ. Hethen asked each of us to introduce ourselvesand to briefly share what parish we werefrom and a little about ourselves, such as ourfamily, our work and our involvement in theparish. Next, he explained why we werespecifically invited by our pastors — wewere either in leadership positions in ourparishes or our pastors saw us as futureleaders. The presentation then proceededwith an overview of the program, the for-mat of the sessions and the expectations.

Father Lawler brought up possible con-cerns, then he provided a reason each couldbe overcome. As he continued down hisprepared list of concerns, I realized, his listwas exactly the same list I had in my head.By the time he finished my questions wereanswered. I applied for the program.

What I didn’t know at the time was thehistory of the Lay Ministry Formation pro-

gram in the diocese. In May 1971, somemembers of the Society of Jesus ( Jesuits),submitted a proposal to then-BishopHarold Dimmerling. It outlined a programof developing lay leaders among the NativeAmericans on the Rosebud and Pine RidgeReservations. The proposal was based on aprogram recently approved by BishopRobert Whalen of the Diocese of Fairbanksfor the Eskimos. That program’s goal was todevelop native clergy.

Once Bishop Dimmerling approvedthe program, Fathers John Hatcher, SJ, andPatrick McCorkell, SJ, began writing les-sons for the projected three-year program.It wasn’t long before it became apparent,what was needed on the reservation, was aprogram for ordaining permanent deacons.The petition by the United States episcopalconference to the Vatican had been ap-proved just a few years prior by Pope PaulVI, on August 30, 1968. On May 31, 1975,using the formation program developed bythe Jesuits, Bishop Dimmerling ordainedSteven Red Elk, Reno Richards, and Max

Editor’s note: In 2003, Deacon Greg Sass joined the Lay Ministry Formation program. It wasduring this time of formation, he began to discern the call to the Permanent Diaconate.On Feb.1,2013, Bishop Robert Gruss ordained him a permanent deacon. In Jul. 2017, he began working forthe Diocese of Rapid City as Assistant Director of Diaconate Formation and Coordinator of LayMinistry Formation. On Feb.1, 2018, Bishop Gruss appointed him the additional assignment as Director of the Office of the Permanent Diaconate.

Plank to the permanent diaconate. DeaconsRed Elk and Richards were “the first IndianPermanent Deacons to be ordained in theUnited States.”

In 1990, the Permanent Diaconate Pro-gram was expanded to include lay ministry.The program began to offer formation forthose who were called to be Pastoral Assis-tants, CCD coordinators, Directors ofYouth Ministry, Directors of Care for theElderly, Sick and Dying, Prayer leaders forPriestless Sundays and devotions, and otherimportant ministry needs for the diocese.

If you are being called by the Holy Spiritto become a Lay Minister, don’t be like meand resist the invitation of the Holy Spirit.It can change your life, for the better.Historical information for this article was derivedfrom: Ministry Formation Program overview, June3, 2010, Ministry Formation Program Staff Man-ual; Proposal presented for approval to theBishop of the Rapid City Diocese, May 29, 1971;Bishop Dimmerling letter dated, August 17, 1978,to Most Rev. F. P. Leipzig, D.D., Portland Diocese;Permanent Diaconate Program and Ministry For-mation Program, For diocesan history, JohnHatcher, SJ, September 6, 2001.

BY DEACON GREG SASS

New Lay Ministry Formation Classes slated to begin next fall16 WRC February 2018

Brittney Papike believes the UpliftingParents Program helped her escape a life ofpoverty.

During the next five years, the Univer-sity of Notre Dame’s Wilson Sheehan Labfor Economic Opportunities (LEO) wantsto test if Papike, a Rapid Citysingle mom of two kids, is right.

Thanks to $1.4 million in newfunding from the John T. Vucure-vich Foundation that allows Pro-gram UP to quadruple thenumber of families it serves, LEO will con-duct a randomized controlled trial study toprove if, and how, this Catholic Social Serv-ices-led program moves single-parent fam-ilies like Papike’s out of poverty.

“Programs of this nature have the powerto move the needle on poverty,” saidWilliam Evans, co-founder of LEO. Themission is to reduce poverty and improvelives, and Evans is excited to develop a re-search design for Program UP to measureits outcomes and evaluate its ability to re-duce poverty. “LEO aims to identify the in-

novative, effective and scalable programsthat help people move out of poverty,”Evans said. He and several other NotreDame staff were in Rapid City Feb. 8-9 tobegin that process.

CSS created the Uplifting Parents Pro-gram, nicknamed Program UP, in 2014with help from a coalition of about 20 non-profit agencies in Rapid City, said Natalie

Lecy, director of Program UP.Since then, Program UP hasworked with 38 single-parentfamilies to achieve their edu-cational goals and has seen 23single mothers graduate from

the program after receiving degrees inhighly marketable career fields, includingeducation, medicine and business. One ofthem is Papike, who knows from firsthandexperiences that Program UP works.

“It’s been a big journey,” said Papike,who recently graduated from the SouthDakota State University School of Nursing.She is now employed as a registered nursein Rapid City and able to support her fam-ily — a 4-year old son and an 11-year olddaughter, without public assistance. “Doingsomething so big all by yourself is hard,” she

Strengthening Family Ties WRC 17February 2018

CSS BOARD OF DIRECTORSOFFICERS: Susan Raposa, President;

Lisa Wesolick,Vice President; Mary Kjerstad, Secretary; Cassie Ward, Treasurer; Jim Kinyon, Executive Director

DIRECTORS: Brenda Wills, Deacon Marlon Leneaugh, Shelia Lien, Matt Stone, Susan Meyer, Cassie Ward,

Rick Soulek, Mark Kjerstad, Lisa Wesolick, Susan Raposa, Dr. Steve Massopust, Richard Rangel, Bishop Robert Gruss

Serving people of all faiths in western South Dakota

Major Sponsorship Levels$2,000

Saint’s Circle$1,500

Sacred Circle$1,000

Holy Circle$500

Bishop’s CircleYes, I would like to help CSS fulfill its mission by sponsoring the annual Palm Sunday Brunch.

I have enclosed a check in the amount of: $ Please bill me: $

Amount to be charged: $ Signature:

Print name exactly as it appears on this card

Billing address City State Zip Phone (incl. area code)

Card expiration date

As a major sponsor, you will be recognized in the Palm Sunday event program, at the brunch, and in the CSS quarterly newsletter.

I cannot be a major sponsor at this time, but I have enclosed a check for $ to helpCatholic Social Services provide critical services.

Name: Address:

City, State, Zip:

Phone: E-mail:

Gregory KepferleVice Chairman ofCatholic CharitiesUSA and the

CEO of Catholic Charities of SantaClara County (CA)

o o

o

I will pay by credit card:___MC___VISA Acct #: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Number of complimentary tickets to the brunch: Adults: Children under 10:I have paid via Stripe online at www.CatholicSocialServicesRapidCity.com — Palm Sunday Brunch

o

Keynote Speaker

Please join us in our mission of service by sponsoring the Palm Sunday Brunch on

March 25, 2018 Begins at Noon

Ramkota Convention Center in Rapid CityYour sponsorship helps defray brunch expenses, allowing Catholic Social Services to direct all proceeds raised during the event tothose in need of CSS services.

As a Major Sponsor you are cordially invited to attend a reception party Saturday evening March, 24, 2018. You will have the opportunity to meet Bishop Robert Gruss and Gregory Kepferle,keynote speaker for the brunch.

529 Kansas City Street l Rapid City, SD 57701 l (605) 348-6086 l toll free (800) 727-2401fax (605) 348-1050 l css@cssrapidcity.com l www.CatholicSocialServicesRapidCity.com (Stripe)

Brittney Papike and her children at SDSUSchool of Nursing pinning ceremony in December. (Courtesy photo.)

said. With a financial stipend provided byCSS and emotional support from her Pro-gram UP mentor, she didn’t have to.

Program UP helped her pay childcarecosts and also afford a prep course to studyfor her nursing boards. “I didn’t have to takeout so many student loans, and it helped alot with my children,” she said. “But talkingwith Natalie and meeting with her twice amonth was big. Just talking with someoneand having someone to evaluate things andget things off your chest was so importantto my success. She just calmed me down,kept me on an even level. I guess her havingthat faith in me just made me believe inmyself even more.”

Program UP helps single parents get aneducation so they can find a skilled job,earn a livable wage and get their familiesout of poverty, Lecy said.

“The families we work with havedemonstrated tremendous grit and aremore than ready to take advantage of anyopportunity to assist them towards a betterlife,” she said.

The Vucurevich Foundation also believesin Program UP and its collaborative, two-generation approach to reducing poverty

here in Rapid City, said Jessica Gromer,program officer for the foundation.

“Program UP is very much in line withthe John T. Vucurevich Foundation’s cradle-to-career continuum of success funding pri-ority. Building relationships while providinglife skills and education with warm hand-offs to providers of resources are the keys toreducing poverty one family at a time,”Gromer said.

To learn more about Program UP con-tact Natalie Lecy at 605-348-6086.

BY MARY GARRIGAN, CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES

Vurcurevich $1.4M grant allows CSS to quadruple Program UP services

mankind. People of allraces coming togetherto find similarities andset aside differences,all wanting to live inpeace. All peoples liv-ing in harmony in anew world with Godas the head of all.

If you are curiousabout figuring thetime frame for theseventh generation,here is a definition ofa generation. Accord-ing to Webster Colle-giate Dictionary, ageneration is definedas the average span of time between thebirth of parents and that of their offspring.That period of time can vary as to what agethe offspring begin having children of theirown. For argument sake, let’s say betweenthe ages of 16-21 based on culture and tra-ditional customs. We are on the front edgeof the seventh generation.

The role of the seventh generation is ex-tremely important. They will play a signifi-cant role in shaping the future for the nextseven generations. There is much hope andexpectation placed on this generation. Theyneed prayers for strength and wisdom tomake good decisions on behalf of the com-ing generations. Their challenge is huge:they are challenged with creating a betterworld for those whose fates are still in thehands of the Creator.

18 WRC February 2018Lakota View

Deacon Marlon

LeneaughDirector of Native Ministry

mleneaughsr@diorc.org

In years gone by, decisions made by atribe were influenced by how those deci-sions affect future generations down to theseventh generation. This practice actuallybegan with the Constitution of the Iroquois’Nation known as “The Great Binding Law.”This allowed for tribal leaders to reflect ontheir proposed actions and determine howtheir decisions may affect the next sevengenerations. These decisions were not takenlightly. All the advantages and conse-quences were taken into consideration be-fore action was taken.

There is a prophecy that is told of theseventh generation. The prophecy is basedon visions by both Chief Crazy Horse andOglala Holy Man Nicholas Black Elk, ser-vant of God. Their visions tell of how thesacred hoop will be renewed by members ofthe seventh generation. The sacred hoopwas said to have been broken at theWounded Knee Massacre, 128 years ago in1890, when more than 300 Lakota weremassacred and the hopes and dreams of the

A new sacred hoop brings a glimmer of hope for humankindpeople seemingly died.

Black Elk’s vision saw his people losingheart because the sacred hoop of the LakotaNation had been broken. He saw famine,sickness and wars in the vision. The vision

also revealed signs of hope for the people.After seven generations had passed therewould be a reuniting, not only of his peoplebut of all peoples. A new sacred hoop com-prised of all peoples of the earth would becreated. He saw a rising star to the East thatwould bring wisdom. A great prophetwould rise and create this new sacred hoop.

Like Black Elk, Crazy Horse had a vi-sion of the future. He saw people enter aperiod of darkness, a time of great hardship.He was given hope when he witnessed thepeople coming out of the darkness. He sawthem dancing under the Sacred Tree. To hisamazement he noticed that it was not justhis people dancing under the tree but mem-bers of all races of people dancing likebrothers and sisters. He foresaw the worldbeing healed and people made whole again.

In the Bible, The Book of Revelationshares a vision by John. His vision is of anew heaven and a new earth. John tells allChristians they should look forward to thetime of a New Jerusalem with joy becausewhen it comes, God and Christ will live intheir midst. The whole city will be God’stemple. The sun will always shine, a river ofliving water will flow from God’s throneand the trees will produce fruit year-round.The New Jerusalem is a symbol for the newworld that God will establish when evil isdestroyed and suffering is banished.

Hope out of despair seems to abound inthe three visions from the three visionaries.They speak of dark times when there will besuffering, but at the end of the period ofsuffering comes a glimmer of hope for hu-

Lent is a season of grace to helpboth catechumens (those preparing forbaptism) and the faithful to entermore deeply into the paschal mystery.In this season we are called to conver-sion, a renewed sense of our frailty orsinfulness, as well as profound trust inthe new life that flows from the deathand resurrection of Christ. The faith-ful, ever more attentive to the word ofGod and prayer, prepare themselvesby fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.

According to universal church dis-cipline, all members of the Catholicfaithful are bound to acts of penance.In order that the faithful join in amore common observance of penance,penitential days are prescribed forpraying, exercising works of charity,and engaging in acts of self-disciplineand denial.

WRC 19February 2018

In Your PrayersIn Your Prayers is designed to help us remember the birthdays, ordination anddeath anniversaries of the clergy who serve us. Ordinations: March 11, 1995, Dcn. Bill Dustman; March 28, 1977 Fr. Arnold Kari;March 31, 2016, Dcn. Andrew Clark, Dcn. Lloyd Frein, and Dcn. Craig Pearson. Birthdays: March 2, Dcn. Gerald Bush; March 3, Fr. Joseph Dean, SCJ, and Dcn.“Heavy” Garnett; March 7, Fr. Christopher Johnson, SJ; March 13, Dcn. Ben BlackBear, Jr.; March 15, Msgr. Michael Woster; March 17, Fr. Grant Gerlach; March 20,Dcn. Walt Wilson; March 21, Dcn. Patrick Coy; March 22, Fr. Edmund Yainao;March 24, Dcn. Charles Rausch; March 26, Dcn. Luis Usera; March 27, Fr. RichardNovotny. Necrology: March 5, 2013; Reuben Valades; March 6, 1966, John DeRaff; March 7, 1991, James Sheehan; March 8, 1965, George Heup; March 9,1992, Francis Vallo; March 11, 1948, Bishop John Lawler; March 11, 1964, ArthurO’Brien; March 11, 1965, Benedict Detterman, TOR; March 14, 1975, WenzelSobolewski; March 14, 2003, Glendon Welshons, SJ; March 16, 1994, ArthurDoyle; March 16, 2014, Paul Dahms; March 17, 1955, Francis Parisian; March 21,1977, James Tunnissen, SJ; March 22, 1909, Emil Perrig, SJ; March 24, 1987,Thomas Gorman; March 25, 1972, Alban Reid; March 27, 1964, Philip O’Connell;March 27, 1966, Thomas Downey, SP; March 30, 1968, Florian Kruswicki.

The season of Lent affords us witha 40-day retreat to participate in ajourney toward rebirth. The holy sea-son of Lent begins with Ash Wednes-day (Feb. 14) and ends as thecelebration of the Triduum beginsduring Holy Week.

1. The season of Lent is to be observed by Catholics as a time ofprayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

2. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, in particular, are the most important penitential days for theliturgical year. They are days of bothfasting and abstinence. On these twodays only one full meatless meal is al-lowed. Two other meatless meals, suf-ficient to maintain strength, may betaken according to each one’s needs,but together they should not equal onefull meal. Eating between meals is not

permitted on these two days, but liq-uids, including milk and fruit juices,are allowed.

When health or ability to workwould be seriously affected, the lawdoes not oblige.

Those who are over 18 years of ageand under 60 years of age are boundto fast on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 14)and Good Friday (Mar.30.)

3. All Fridays in Lent are days ofabstinence. Everyone 14 years of ageor older is bound to abstain from meaton Ash Wednesday (Feb. 14) and allFridays during Lent.

4. The observance of the laws offast and abstinence are an obligationfor all Catholics. To completely disre-gard them is a serious matter. Thosewhose work or health would be im-paired are excused from fasting andabstaining. The individual’s con-science can decide if there is propercause to excuse from observance. It issinful not to observe this disciplinewithout a serious reason.

5. Self-imposed fasting on theother weekdays of Lent is recom-mended. Other penances, such asworks of piety and charity, and otheracts of self-denial also are appropriateas penitential acts.

6. Parents and teachers shouldsee to it that even children not boundby the laws of fast and abstinence be-cause of age are brought up in an at-mosphere that is conducive to a senseof penance.

7. The faithful should be clearlyand positively encouraged to partici-pate in the sacrament of reconciliationduring Lent. Churches will scheduleadequate time for confessions beforeEaster.

8. The liturgical directions of theSacramentary and Lectionary must befaithfully observed regarding all thespecial Holy Week rites.

9. Funeral Masses are not allowedon Holy Thursday (Mar. 29) GoodFriday (Mar. 30) or Holy Saturday(Mar. 31.) The funeral rite outside ofMass can be held in church on thosedays, with a funeral Mass later.

10. The RCIA is incorporated intothe liturgy of Lent. The Rite of Elec-tion was celebrated on Feb. 18 at 2p.m. in the Cathedral of Our Lady ofPerpetual Help, Rapid City. On thethird, fourth and fifth Sundays ofLent, the Scrutinies take place duringMass.

20 WRC February 2018

Diocesan Finance Council

Jeff Berzina, Rapid CityPat Burchill, Rapid CityBruce Byrum, Spearfish

S. Roy Dishman, Rapid CityTimothy Frost, Rapid City

Ray Hillenbrand, Rapid CityStephanie Hurd, Rapid CityRev. Brian Lane, Rapid City

Les Lindskov, IsabelLeisa Nash, PiedmontDon Stukel, Gregory

Robert Wentz, Piedmont

Ex OfficioMembers

Most Rev. Robert GrussDaniel Duffy

Very Rev. Michel MulloyMargaret Simonson

Rick Soulek

Investment Committee

Jeff BerzinaPat Burchill

Bruce ByrumRay Hillenbrand

Don Stukel

OFFICE OF BISHOP

February 20, 2018

DIOCESE OF RAPID CITY

PO Box 678 l Rapid City, South Dakota l 57709-0678 l (605) 343-3541Parcel: 606 Cathedral Drive l Rapid City, South Dakota l 57701-5498

Sincerely in the peace and joy of Christ,

Most Rev. Robert D. GrussBishop of Rapid City

The annual audit for the Diocese of Rapid City was performed bythe accounting firm Ketel Thorstensen, LLP. A copy of the audit isavailable for review at the Chancery Office. In accordance with theU.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Resolution on Diocesan Financial Reporting, information regarding the review and approvalof the audit report has been provided to the Archbishop of St. Pauland Minneapolis. Your comments and questions are welcome.

Thank you

In presenting the annual diocesan financial reports, I want to thank all of you for your commitment and generosity in supportingthe many ministries and the mission of the Diocese of Rapid City. Overall, 2017 was a very positive year, mostly due to estate giftsand investment returns.

At the outset, 2018 begins on an optimistic note due to greater than expected investment returns and the generosity of the WesternSouth Dakota Catholic Foundation. Our other outside granting sources for operations are continuing to reduce their funding; therefore,we are becoming more reliant on your generosity to the Annual Diocesan Appeal and the Terra Sancta Annual Giving Society. Thecosts associated with providing ministry on the reservations are still a challenge and accomplishing the goals of our Diocesan PriorityPlan will necessitate a number of cost increases.

I am confident that the strong faith, sacrificial generosity and hard work so ingrained in the culture of western South Dakota,combined with the bountiful love of our God, will lead us through these challenges so that we can accomplish all that God has plannedfor us.

Please keep our benefactors in your daily prayers. Their support is invaluable for the work of the diocese. The Western South DakotaCatholic Foundation has made significant contributions. We continue to receive vital support from the Catholic Church ExtensionSociety, Catholic Home Missions, the Black and Indian Mission Office, and the Mission Cooperative program of the Society for thePropagation of the Faith. In addition, a number of private foundations have provided grants for various programs and ministries. Anyquestions regarding this report can be addressed to Rick Soulek in our Finance Office.

Again, with deep gratitude, I thank you for your kindness and generous support which allows us to continue to fund the mission— one of the priorities in the Diocesan Priority Plan. Our mission “will be successful because the disciples of Jesus Christ accept theircall to joyfully and generously share their gifts so that the gospel can be proclaimed and lived in western South Dakota.”

Thanks again for the ways in which you have joyfully and generously shared your gifts. Be assured of my prayers for you and yourfamilies. May God continue to abundantly bless you.

Diocese of Rapid CityFinancial Statement for July 1,2016, through June 30, 2017

to all who support the work of the diocese through your

generous donations and prayers

WRC 21February 2018

Pastoral Programs

15%

Administration8%

Development7%

Evangelization7%

Social and Family

Programs 12%

DiscipleshipFormation

25%

WWBF Allocation

1%

Depreciationand Loan Interest

8%

Terra Sancta Retreat Center17%

Fiscal Year 2017 Expenses

summary of the diocesan finances for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017The Diocese of Rapid City has been blessed with another

successful year and we are very grateful for the support that has allowed us to provide the necessary ministries in our diocese.

Our Annual Diocesan Appeal income (about 37% of budget) iscrucial to providing the resources needed to operate the dioceseand once again we have reached this year’s goal. Thank you foryour support.

The Western South Dakota Catholic Foundation continues tobe the largest contributor to the support of our diocese. We arevery grateful to the foundation and to the board members for theirgenerosity. Please offer your prayers and financial support as theycontinue this great work across the diocese.

Since it’s opening in 2012, the Terra Sancta Retreat Center hasbeen a wonderful asset for our diocese. In the past fiscal year, theretreat center hosted over 15,000 guests and had 21,000 overnightstays. Like most retreat centers across the country, income fromthe Terra Sancta Retreat Center does not fully support the costs tomaintain, manage and depreciate the building. The diocese continues to work to improve efficiency in this operation and isseeking additional revenue sources to help cover some of thesecosts.

The Catholic Church Extension Society, Catholic Home Missions, the black and Indian Mission Office and the MissionCooperative continue to provide valuable support to our diocese.In addition to the amounts listed in our financial reports, some ofthe funding from these entities were also directed to parishesthroughout the diocese. Please continue your prayerful and financial support for these generous donors.

A copy of the full audit is available through the Finance Officeof the diocese. Your comments and questions are welcome. Pleasedirect questions or requests to Rick Soulek, PO box 678, RapidCity, SD 57709 (605-343-3541).

support and RevenueWestern S.D. Catholic Foundation GrantAnnual AppealGifts and bequestsDiocesan Programs and Misc. IncomeOutside Funders (Catholic Missions,

Comm Home Mission, bIMO,Mission Coop)

Terra Sancta Retreat Center Income1

We Walk by Faith DonationsTerra Sancta GuildParish AssessmentsInvestment IncomeNet Assets Released From Restriction

total support and Revenue

expensesDiscipleship Formation (Vocations, Faith

Formation, Lay Ministry)Terra Sancta Retreat CenterPastoral ProgramsSocial Concerns and Family LifeDepreciation and Loan InterestOffice of the bishop and Chancery AdminstrationDevelopment and Fund-raisingEvangelization (WRC, Communications,

TV Mass)We Walk By Faith (Allocation to Rapid City

Catholic School and Newman Center)

total expenses

incRease (DecRease) in net assets

unrestricted

1,380,503615,748492,96855,331

198,558

116,06041,888

265,0241,602,1084,768,188

1,039,796675,640598,692483,268344,906325,259289,341285,217

30,0004,072,119

696,069

Restricted

500,000

89,358195,658214,547

11,64545,609

253,341-1,602,108

(291,950)

(291,950)

Restricted

252,037

50,284

140,023

442,344

442,344

total

500,0001,380,503

957,143688,626269,878

198,55811,645

211,95341,888

658,3880

4,918,582

1,039,796675,640598,692483,268344,906325,259289,341285,217

30,0004,072,119

846,463

2016

750,4731,383,911

405,779696,380255,798

194,678468,246250,65342,653

119,6720

4,568,243

884,241668,151436,348460,099355,400352,071

279,4041280,081

930,4004,646,195

(77,952)

Diocese of RapiD citystatement of activities foR the yeaR enDing June 30, 2017

temporarily permanently total pr. yr.

assetsCash & Cash EquivalentsInvestmentsReceivablesProperty & EquipmentAssets held by othersInvestment – SM Properties, LLCInvestment – Cash Surrender Life InsMiscellaneous Assets

Total Assets

liabilities anD net assetsAccounts Payable and Accrued LiabilitiesAmounts Held for OthersDebt on Terra Sancta Property

Total Liabilities

net assetsPermanently RestrictedTemporarily RestrictedUnrestricted DesignatedUnrestricted Undesignated

Total Net Assets

TOTAL LIAbILITIES AND NET ASSETS

2016

622,2006,380,1221,323,1009,998,645

2,529564,39885,42328,508

19,004,925

254,767255,737

1,782,1642,292,668

1,799,0282,891,6021,292,983

10,728,64416,712,257

19,004,925

2017

1,402,3177,165,7501,320,0119,786,865

2,713563,70786,51820,372

20,348,253

405,025759,947

1,622,8272,787,799

2,241,3722,599,6521,852,232

10,867,19817,560,454

20,348,253

Diocese of RapiD citystatement of financial position foR the yeaR enDing June 30, 2017

1Terra Sancta revenue excludes $174K of diocese based retreat revenue and $294K of Terra Sancta grants and gifts

22 WRC February 2018

Married SweetheartsThe Annual Married Sweethearts Mass and Dinner-Dance were held Saturday, February 10,at Terra Sancta Retreat Center, Rapid City. Alton and Barbara Bertschinger were the longestmarried couple in attendance, wedded 62 years. They are members of Our Lady of Mt.Carmel Parish, Keystone. The newest married couple in attendance was Christopher andMelissa Daniel, wedded 3 years. They are members of the Cathedral of Our Lady of PerpetualHelp, Rapid City. The event was sponsored by Family Life Ministries in honor of WorldwideMarriage Encounter’s World Day of Marriage. (WRC photos)

More than GoldenA dinner in honor of World Day of Marriage was held at All Saints Church, Eagle Butte, Sun-day, Feb. 11. Among the couples attending, these were the ones recognized for more than 50years of marriage: Dean and Mavis Schrempp, 63 years; Bud and Helen Neigel, 58 years;Justin and Jenny Lawrence, 54 years; Steve and Susie Payne, 52 years; and Red and AudreyTraversie, 51 yrs. (Courtesy photo)

Valentine’s Day DinnerAmy and Ryan Fowler, Ollie Redden, and Karen and Wade Pogany were among 65 people attending the Ft. Pierre Knights of Columbus Valentine Dinner, February 3, in Padre Hall. Couples in attendance had the opportunity to renew their vows. (Courtesy photo)

Deacon Ben Black Bear, Jr. and his wife Arlene celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary February 10. The couple wasmarried at St. Charles Borromeo Church,St. Francis. Deacon Black Bear was ordainedJune 19, 1976, and has served the parishesof the Rosebud Reservation for 41 years.He is a fluent Lakota speaker and teacher oflanguage and culture. Cards can be mailedto PO Box 256, St. Francis, SD 57572.(Courtesy photo)

Golden Wedding Anniversary

Deacon Tully retires from the parish ministryBishop Robert Gruss, Maryann and Fred Tully, and Father Janusz Korban pose for a photo atthe reception and dinner in honor of Deacon Fred and Maryann Tully. The parishes of St. Rose of Lima, Hill City, and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Keystone, hosted the evening to celebrate Deacon Tully’s retirement from his parish diaconate role on December 31, 2017,after 19 years of service. A brief ceremony following dinner featured Bishop Gruss as themain speaker. A letter from Archbishop Charles Chaput and an audio message from CardinalBlase Cupich were also shared with the attendees. The Tullys plan to continue to be activeparishioners at St. Rose of Lima as Deacon Fred continues his involvement in diocesan activities and programs. (Courtesy photo)

WRC 23February 2018

(Above) Sapa Un Academy, St. Francis, students experiencedthe August 2017 solar eclipse. (Right) Fourth graders CarolineHaugo and Gabrieylla Harpel listen to Sister Jennifer during thevocations assembly held at St.Elizabeth Seton ElementarySchool, Rapid City. (Below) RedCloud Indian School studentsshow off their new bulletin boardfeaturing hands designed by stu-dents. Find more photos fromNCSW at www.Facebook.com/DioceseofRapidCity. (Red CloudIndian School/Willi White, SapaUn Academy/Fr. Jim Lafontaine,RCCSS/Becky Berreth)

NATIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOLSWEEK

SISTERS VISIT THE DIOCESESister Jennifer, Sister Grace Marie, and Sr. Alexia Maria — Servants of the Pierced Hearts ofJesus and Mary, Tampa, Fla., — speak with confirmation students at Blessed SacramentChurch, Rapid City, as part of a city-wide high school youth night and holy hour. While in thediocese, the sisters led a Y-Disciple evening in Piedmont and a retreat for young women atTerra Sancta, helped with vocations assemblies during National Catholic Schools Week,spoke with students at Red Cloud Indian School, and attended evening prayer with the Bene-dictine Sisters of St. Martin Monastery. (Photo courtesy Denise Maher)

When it came time to interviewprospective sailors for his expeditionacross Antarctica, Ernest Shackletonhad clear-cut criteria. He had to pickthe right men for his journey to thebottom of the world, a news-makingattempt to be the first to cross the con-tinent via the coldest place on Earth:the South Pole.

It was 1914, the Heroic Age ofAntarctic Exploration, and the famedBritish explorer had received hundredsof applications. In interviews, recalledone applicant, Shackleton “asked me ifmy teeth were good, if I suffered from

varicose veins, if I had a good temper and if I could sing.” This final question surprised the young man, and Shack-

leton clarified: “Oh, I don’t mean any (opera singer Enrico)Caruso stuff, but I suppose you can shout a bit with theboys?”

Singing and what it screened for in shorthand — theability to fraternize and maintain high spirits — wouldprove even more vital than the long underwear, Burberrycoats and finnesko boots they would pack. It would be justas imperative as the food they meticulously prepared, in-cluding a “composition cake” the explorer formulated with

a chemist, a precursor to today’s energy bars. Shackleton knew this. He had just turned 40, and the advent of middle age

made him antsy. It was etched on his face: a prominentlower lip and restless blue eyes framed by black hair. Hewas poring over maps, seeking a bold adventure to makehim young again.

Endurance set sail for Antarctica on Dec. 5, 1914, andthe 28 men aboard soon encountered unusually heavy ice,travelling more than 1,000 miles from the remote island ofSouth Georgia, the gateway to the Antarctic Circle. Thenone ominous January day, the wooden ship became trappedin pack ice. It groaned under the pressure of millions oftons of ice.

Eventually the ship sunk, stranding the men on the iceand beginning the long wait, what one sailor described asa “white interminable prison.”

Shackleton was vigilant in his effort to keep up morale,veiling his private worry. He visited every tent after dinnerto recite poetry or play cards. He led sing-alongs andwaltzed on ice. He greenlighted an “Antarctic Derby,” withdog races and cigarette wagers. He ordered everyone to cutone another’s hair, stepping up for the first shearing andcausing fits of laughter as amateur barbers vied to producethe most hideous cut. As the months dragged on, he madea point to celebrate holidays with extra food and hot drinks.

Finally the men boarded their life boats and made theirway to the nearest island, the uninhabited Elephant Island.They arrived on April 15, 1916 – 16 months since they’dlast touched land.

Still, a smaller band had to press on in search of civi-lization, beginning an improbable 800-mile journey backto South Georgia Island in a 22-foot open boat. They en-dured the roughest waters, somehow surviving a hurricanethat sunk a 500-ton steamer in the vicinity.

Shackleton returned every shipmate back to England –frostbitten, weary but alive.

For all our modern-day creature comforts, each of uswill experience our own sense of abandonment, our ownlong Lent — be it a family crisis, a medical crisis, a financialcrisis or a spiritual one.

But like Jesus in the desert, we will not be alone: “Hewas among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him” (Mk 1:13).

We will emerge stronger and wiser, able to appreciatelife’s little pleasures anew.

The opportunity in crisis is to lead like Shackleton, toknit people together on the coldest days, to waltz on ice.That’s how you all make it home together.

Christina Capecchi is a freelance writer from Inver GroveHeights, Minn.

24 WRC February 2018Young Adult

ChristinaCapecchi

Freelance writer

MOVIE CLASSIFICATIONS — 2017 OSCAR NOMINEES, BEST PICTURE

Classifications used by the USCCB are: A-I — General Patronage; A-II —Adults and Adolescents; A-III — Adults; L — Limited Adult Audiences, films whose problematic

content many adults would find troubling; O — Morally Offensive. For more information, visit: http://www.catholicnews.com/movies.htm

Darkest Hour............................A-IIDunkirk ....................................A-IIICall Me By Your Name ............OGet Out ....................................LLady Bird ..................................L

Phantom Thread......................LThe Post ..................................A-IIIThe Shape of Water ................LThree Billboards Outside

Ebbing, Mo ........................0

Waltzing on ice: on crisis and community

MOVIE REVIEW

Sprawling, energetic but ultimately overlongMarvel Comics adaptation from director andco-writer Ryan Coogler. The young sovereign(Chadwick Boseman) of an imaginary -- andsecret -- African kingdom where the use of asuper-powerful mineral has enabled the pop-ulation to achieve both prosperity and a rangeof technological wonders unknown to the out-side world must cope with two principalthreats to his realm. The first involves a SouthAfrican arms dealer (Andy Serkis) who hasmanaged to infiltrate the nation and make offwith a stock of the mineral which he aims tosell to the highest bidder. The second con-cerns the ongoing consequences of a long-agofamily conflict (involving Michael B. Jordan).The king is aided by his tech-savvy sister (Leti-

tia Wright), the woman (Lupita Nyong'o) hewould like to make his queen, the leader(Danai Gurira) of his army's band of fierce fe-male warriors and, eventually, by a CIA agent(Martin Freeman). Real-world political preoc-cupations are incorporated into this sci-fitinged action adventure while plot develop-ments weigh vengeance against justice andviolent revolution against peaceful reform.Possibly acceptable for older teens. Nonstruc-tural religious ideas and practices, much styl-ized violence with minimal gore, several crudeand at least one crass term, an obscene ges-ture. The Catholic News Service classificationis A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Associationof America rating is PG-13 -- parents stronglycautioned.

Black Panther (Disney)Do not say ‘I am only a

youth’

A “YouCat”nugget

courtesy ofthe Office ofYouth andYoung AdultMinistry

youcat.org

What are the Stations of the CrossFollowing Jesus on his Way of the Cross by praying and meditating on

the fourteen stations is a very ancient devotion in the church, which is practiced especially in Lent and Holy Week (1674-165).The fourteen stations are:

1. Jesus is condemned to death. 2. Jesus takes up his cross. 3. Jesus falls the first time. 4. Jesus meets his sorrowful mother. 5. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross. 6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus. 7. Jesus falls the second time. 8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem. 9. Jesus falls the third time. 10. Jesus is stripped of his garments. 11. Jesus is nailed to the cross. 12. Jesus dies on the cross. 13. Jesus is taken down from the cross and presented to his sorrowful Mother. 14. Jesus is laid in the tomb.

What are sacramentals?Sacramentals are sacred signs or sacred actions in which a blessing is conferred

(1667-1672, 1677-1678).Examples of sacramentals are holy water, the consecration of a bill or an organ, the

blessing of a house or an automobile, the blessing of throats on the feast of St. Blaise, receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday, palm branches on Palm Sunday, the Easter candle,and the blessing of produce on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Lords Cross embrace the world; he Via Crucis crosses continents and epochs. In the Way of the Cross, we cannot merely be spectators. We too are involved,

so we must seek our place: Where are we?—Pope Benedict VXI, April 14, 2008