Roughlock Falls

WRCe-Edition

BI-MONTHLY NEWS UPDATES FOR CATHOLICS IN WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA AUGUST 2020 NO.1

Chancery Chapel DedicatedMary, Mother of the Church Chapel at theChancery was dedicated Aug. 6 by BishopPeter Muhich. The tabernacle was given bythe Diocese of Sioux Falls. See more photoson p. 2. (WRC photo by Laurie Hallstrom)

Events:l Chancery Offices closed for LaborDay, Monday, Sept. 7

l Veritatis Splendor InstituteVeritatis Splendor InstituteVeritatis Splendorfall semester begins, Terra Sancta, Saturday, Sept. 12. Contact Susan Safford, Faith Formation, 343-3541 ext.2243, or email ssafford@diorc.orgssafford@diorc.org, toregister use www.rapidcitydiocese.orgwww.rapidcitydiocese.org.

l Spiritual Mothers Annual Renewaland Prayer, Terra Sancta, Sunday, Sept.13. Contact Tanya Cooper, Vocations,343-3541 ext. 2212, ortcooper@diorc.orgtcooper@diorc.org.

l Bishop’s Annual Golf Tournament,Monday, Sept. 14. Call Tim Hendersonto register 721-6843.

l Canku Wakan Retreat, Sioux Spiritual Center, Thursday-Sunday,Sept. 24-27. Contact Carole Brown atssc@diorc.orgssc@diorc.org or 985-5906.ssc@diorc.org or 985-5906.ssc@diorc.org

l Youth & Young Adults Ministers Retreat for those who serve thesegroups, Friday-Saturday, Sept. 25-26.Contact Jacques Daniel, Youth & YoungAdults, 343-3541 ext. 2242, or jdaniel@diorc.orgjdaniel@diorc.org for tickets jdaniel@diorc.org for tickets jdaniel@diorc.org www.rapidwww.rapidcitydiocese.orgcitydiocese.org.

l Youth & Young Adult Rally, Sunday, Oct. 11. Contact Jacques Daniel, Youth& Young Adult, 343-3541 ext. 2242,jdaniel@diorc.orgjdaniel@diorc.org org jdaniel@diorc.org org jdaniel@diorc.org www.rapidcitywww.rapidcitydiocese.orgdiocese.org.

STM CommencementA public graduation ceremony was held July 25 for St. Thomas More High Schoolclass of 2020, Rapid City. Covid-19 quaran-tine efforts delayed the seniors’ rite of pas-sage. Bishop Peter Muhich is shown withByron Bloomer. Forty-five students participated in the ceremony held on thefootball field. (Courtesy photo)

Mary Garrigan, diocesan grant writer,has been informed that three local sistershave been selected as recipients of fundingfrom Catholic Extension’s Sisters on theFrontlines Program, in partnership with theConrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters, FA-DICA, GHR Foundation, Raskob Founda-tion for Catholic Activities, Sisters ofCharity Foundation of Cleveland, and theSisters of Mercy of the Americas, to re-spond to the immediate needs of com-munities impacted by COVID-19.

On Aug. 7, Catholic Extension issued apayment to the Diocese of Rapid in theamount of $3,000 for the purpose of pro-viding $1,000 grants each to Sr. BarbaraBogenschutz, OP, of Oglala; Sr. JacqueSchroeder, OSF, and Sr. MathildeOsomba-Akatshi, OSF, of McLaughlin.

This funding is issued with a mandate tothe sisters listed above to use the funds tohelp an individual or family suffering theadverse effects of the pandemic.

Local sisters get grants

(Left) Two icons, Christ the High Priest and Virgin Mary Directress were given by Chancery

Staff Members after a collection in June. Below, Bishop-elect Michel Mulloy, Deacon Greg Sass, Bishop Peter Muhich, and Fr. Tim Hoag at the chapel dedication. (WRC photos)

During the month of August, I am enjoying my first visits to the parishes that make up our diocese. Coming from a northern forest and lakes region it has been fascinating for me to take in the beauty of the prairie with its wide open spaces and the rugged heights of the Black Hills. My encounters with our clergy and people have been warm and welcoming and I sense that the faith is strong in our local church. I look forward to visiting all the regions of the diocese and experiencing local community and parish life in the weeks ahead. Please know that I offer prayers daily and Masses weekly for all of you and your intentions. May God continue to open our hearts and minds to his saving will and may Our Blessed Mother continue to wrap us in her mantle of love and protection.

Bishop’s Calendar August 9-Sept. 16, 2020

Subject to change without notice August 19, Wednesday 9:30 a.m Chancery Cabinet Leaders Meeting, Chancery August 21, Friday 5 p.m. Adoration, Pastoral Visit, St. Joseph Church, Faith August 22, Saturday 9 a.m. Mass, Pastoral Visit, All Saints Church, Eagle Butte 5 p.m. Mass, Pastoral Visit, Holy Cross Church, Timber Lake 7 p.m. Mass, Pastoral Visit, Holy Rosary Church, Trail City August 23, Sunday 10:30 a.m Mass, Pastoral Visit, St. Mary Church, Lemmon 3 p.m. Holy Hour, Pastoral Visit, St. Anthony Church, Buffalo August 24, Monday 6:30 p.m. Catholic Social Services Special Board Meeting, Rapid City August 30, Sunday 11 a.m. Mass, Deacon Retreat, Holy Cross Chapel, Terra Sancta September 1, Tuesday 8 a.m. Investment Committee, Chancery 9 a.m. Finance Council, Chancery September 2, Wednesday 9:30 a.m. Chancery Cabinet Leaders Meeting, Chancery 11:30 a.m. Cause for Canonization of Nicholas Black Elk Working Group, Chancery September 3, Thursday 8 a.m. Chancery Staff Mass, Chancery September 4, Friday 10 a.m. Sioux Spiritual Center Board Meeting, Sioux Spiritual Center September 5, Saturday 5 p.m. Mass, Pastoral Visit, St. Francis of Assisi Church, Sturgis September 7, Monday Labor Day, Chancery Closed September 12, Saturday 4 p.m. St. Isaac Jogues Church, Rapid City, Pre-Confirmation Meeting, and 5 p.m. Confirmation Mass, Pastoral Visit September 13, Sunday Noon Mass, Pastoral Visit, St. Joseph Church, Spearfish 5:30 p.m. Rite of Admission of Candidates for Diaconate, Holy Cross Chapel, Terra Sancta September 14, Monday WSDCF Bishop Golf Classic, Arrowhead Country Club, Rapid City September 15, Tuesday 10 a.m. College of Consultors Meeting, Rapid City September 16, Wednesday 9:30 a.m. Chancery Cabinet Leaders Meeting, Chancery

Chapel dedication, continued ___________________________

Bishop Peter M. Muhich Diocese of Rapid City

Exemplum Dedi Vobis

‘I have given you an example’

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Looking forward to upcoming visits

CSS to hold annual banquetThe late John T. Vucurevich and his philanthropic foundation will be honored with the Msgr.

William O’Connell Founder’s Award by the Catholic Social Services Board of Directors at its 2020Annual Banquet set for Sunday, Sept. 27, from 12:30 -2:30 p.m. in LaCroix Ballroom at the Rush-more Plaza Civic Center. “As a public servant, business leader and philanthropist his footprintin our region will be felt for generations to come,” CSS Executive Director Jim Kinyon said of Vucurevich.

A Board Member of the JTV Foundation, Sandy Diegel, will be the keynote speaker, honoringthe legacy of the Rapid City banker who created the foundation in 1985. Following John’s deathin 2005, Diegel led the foundation as President and CEO from 2007 until her retirement in 2019.“Sandy brings a wealth of knowledge about our region and will share insights and her passionas to how to build our community by opening doors of hope and opportunity for all our citizens,”Kinyon said.

CSS will also honor Diegel, Tom and Pam Fritz, and John Schmit with the Order of Saint Benedict Medal for their dedication of time, talent and resources to helping the poor in westernSouth Dakota, as exemplified by the Benedictines of St. Martin’s Monastery.

For the safety of CSS supporters during the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 Annual Banquetwill utilize social distancing guidelines. In addition, the banquet will be available via livestreamingat cssrapidcity.comcssrapidcity.com.

Banquet tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased by calling CSS at 605-348-6086,or $15 if ordered online at cssrapidcity.comcssrapidcity.com by Sept. 15.

Cheyenne River Reservation repairs

New AccountantRobin Bommersbachhas been hired by the Finance Department,July 20, as the Diocesan Accountant.She is a member of the Cathedral of Our Ladyof Perpetual Help,Rapid City. Bommersbach is agraduate of Rapid CityCentral High School andBlack Hills State Univer-Black Hills State Univer-Black Hills State University, Spearfish. She succeeds Mary Ellen Dotson who retired June 30.

ROBIN

BOMMERSBACH

THE JOHN T. VUCUREVICH BOARD OF DIRECTORS

August 2020 WRC e-Edition 3

Correction:Deacon Tom and Pam Adams, Hot Springs,were misidentified in the July 2020 WestRiver Catholic on p. 23.

CongratulationsBecky Berreth, WRC assistant editor andmedia specialist, earned an honorable mention in the 2020 National Federation ofPress Women Communications Contest. Her winning advertisement was usedin print and online to recruit a diocesan choirin May 2019. All contestentries are from the previous calendar year.

It’s been a rough year on the Cheyenne RiverReservation. (Left) Golf ball sized hailsmashed windows at Sacred Heart ChurchHall, Red Scaffold. (Above) This spring a newroof was put on All Saints Church, EagleButte, after a tree punched a hole in the rooflast summer. And, a door was replaced aftersomeone broke into St. Joseph Church,Cherry Creek. (Photos by Fr. John Paul Trask)

Prayers for Beirut“Our church mourns the terrible suffering of those impacted by the tragic explosion(August 4) in Beirut, Lebanon, that killed so many. We continue to join the Holy Father’sprayer that Lebanon may ‘overcome the grave crisis they are experiencing’ and implorethe intercession of Our Lady of Lebanon to bring peace, comfort, and strength to all inneed of those graces.” —Bishop Jose Gomez, President USCCB

If you choose to offIf you choose to offIf you choose to o er assistance to join in response effer assistance to join in response eff ffer assistance to join in response effer assistance to join in response e orts, fforts, ffdonations can be made at crs.orgcrs.org.

ResurfacingBlessed Sacrament Church, Rapid City, and Our Lady of the Black Hills Church, Piedmont, donated materials and recruited volunteers to resurface the new Chancery parking lot at 225 Main St., Rapid City. Rick Hill is manning the hose and James Schaefers is spraying the asphalt. Also, Brendan Murphy, the director of the Newman Center, along with volunteers fromthe Newman Center helped. In the background are the Pennington County jail and courthouse. (WRC photo)

SherriStoeser retires

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Sherri Stoeser, churchsecretary at St. Johnthe Evangelist, Ft.Pierre, is retiring afterserving the parish for more than 28 years.“The parishioners and priests at St. John’sknow how she served this parish in somany capacities and has ‘worn so many

hats,’’’ said parishioner Diane Smith.

Of the five priests she worked for,Fathers Dale Kutil and Brian Fawcett,died during their assignments at Ft. Pierre.“Sherri was the one who helped the parishioners and community deal withtheir grieving and loss of her bosses andfriends, soldiering through her own painof loss, she helped our community saygoodbye to them,” added Smith.

During the months of flooding in 2011when so many of the Fort Pierre residentswere being affected by having their homesand businesses flooded and needing help;it was Stoeser who coordinated so manydetails of the recovery efforts.

“The parishioners of St John’s are indebted to the ministry of Sherri and herhusband, Steve, because we know he is always part of the equation,” said Smith.

Cards may be sent to: Sherri Stoeser,20628 Willow Creek Road, Fort Pierre, SD57532.

BISHOP JOHN J. LAWLER

From Bishop John Lawler’s building a diocese plan to the Diocesan Priority Plan byBishop Robert Gruss, the Diocese of Rapid City has been left with many treasures fromour Catholic bishop hierarchy.

When a bishop either enters or vacates a diocese, archivists aspire to collect artifactsto ensure each bishop their rightful place in their diocesan church history and to tellthese stories to future generations.

Bishop Peter Muhich recently brought the diocesan archives a beautiful painting ofour third ordinary, Bishop John J. Lawler, along with a color painting of Lawler’s dioce-san coat of arms, Devs Provididebit “God will provide” which we previously did not have. Devs Provididebit “God will provide” which we previously did not have. Devs Provididebit

A pen from former Bishop Blase Cupich, used to sign the purchase of Terra Sanctafrom the Benedictine Sisters of St. Martin Monastery, jewelry worn by these former dignitaries, many photos, a one-of-a-kind Native American designed crosier given toformer Bishop Charles Chaput, music and poetry, chapters written in a book and manyother artifacts have found a place in our archives.

To begin and building upon these legacies is an exciting continuation of what historyis, of what our Catholic faith is, and our most important gift to our children.

Let the future begin.

Preserving our own Catholic hierarchyBY KATHY CORDES, ARCHIVIST

Curia Corner