Pastoral Staff and Lay Ministers from RCIS Participate in Pastoral Ministry Days

posted on March 19, 2013

Pastoral Ministry Days for the Diocese of Rapid City are in full swing at the Terra Sancta Retreat Center in Rapid City, SD.

This two day event on March 18th and 19th is a chance for lay, religious, and ordained pastoral ministers from across the Diocese to come together for prayer, support, learning, and to simply be able to share ideas and faith with one another.

This year Curtis Martin, President and founder of FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), had been invited to address the new evangelization initiative within the Church. FOCUS is one of the fastest growing movements in the Catholic Church today. An engaging and insightful presenter, Mr. Martin will speak to the challenge of effectively inviting individuals and families to see the ways in which faith and its practice can be a real answer for them in life.

As customary in the Diocese, the annual Chrism Mass, including the renewal of priestly vows of service by the clergy, was held during the event at the Cathedral. During this Mass and with the Bishop presiding, the holy oils are blessed for use in the ministry of the Church: the Oil of Catechumens (for purification and strengthening in baptism); the Oil of the Sick (used during the anointing of the sick and prayers for their healing); and, finally, Sacred Chrism (the oil used in blessings during Baptism, Confirmation, and Ordination). These oils will now be taken back to the respective churches throughout the Diocese and used in the celebration of sacraments and prayers during the upcoming year.

Many of the pastoral staff and lay ministers from the Pine Ridge/Red Cloud Catholic Churches were able to attend the event this year. They carry the message and spirit of the Lakota People on the Pine Ridge to share with the rest of the diocese.