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Leaving a legacy for
future generations
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Bishop Blase Cupich presented several incentive awards to those reporting for their parishes. The award for the parish meeting the greatest percentage of its goal went to St. Mary Parish, Lower Brule. Pledges in that parish were 620 percent of the anticipated amount.
Fr. Joseph Dean, SCJ, accepted the candy prize. (Photo by Deacon George Gladfelter) |
Parish representatives met at Terra Sancta to report the pledges as of June 28. After the reports were given and the parish numbers were
tallied, awards in addition to the one above were given in the following categories:
Most Gifts — Fr. Dan Juelfs and Barb Lee, Blessed Sacrament Parish,
Rapid City
Most Money Raised — Fr. Dan Juelfs and Barb Lee, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Rapid City
Over Goal — (two-way tie) Dick Grady, St. Joseph Parish, Spearfish, and Deacon Ray Klein, St. Paul Parish, Belle Fourche
Greatest Promise — Fr. Phil Cooke, parishes on the Pine Ridge
Reservation
Groupie Award (most people attending the report meeting)— Fr. Michel Mulloy, Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rapid City
Greatest Enthusiasm — Mary Eide, St. John Parish, Custer
Furthest Traveled — (three-way tie) Fr. John Heying, Buffalo;
Fr. Jim Hoerter, McLaughlin; and Mary Ann Koenig, Fairfax
Best Cheer — Fr. Mark McCormick, Joni Osnes, Deacon John
Osnes and Seminarian Adam Hofer, Our Lady of the Black Hills,
Piedmont.
Following the awards, Fr. Tim Hoag, Spearfish, addressed the group. He underscored the importance of visiting personally with prospective parish donors. |
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As the We Walk By Faith Special Appeal continues to raise funds for renovations at Terra Sancta, Rapid City, and improving Newman Center outreach at Black Hillls State University, Spearfish, and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, laity and clergy have had the opportunity to reflect on what the developments will mean to area Catholics.
Father Andrzej Wyrostek, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Rapid City, recently said in a homily, “You have heard over these past few weeks a good deal about the diocesan plans for Terra Sancta, the former St. Martin Monastery. The sisters did not want to sell the place just for profit, as they wanted to keep the spirit alive, the spirit for which the place was built.
“I and the other priests in the diocese decided to be the first donors simply because we knew that this holy place would help us help our people grow in the ways of their faith.
“Even though I knew it would be a stretch for me, I pledged $10,000 over five years. I would not dare to ask you for a penny for this project if I myself would not be serious about it. My pledge is a challenge, but with God’s blessing we can achieve the fullness of the Terra Sancta project and soon be able to see how beautiful and powerful it is.”
At Mass, Rick Soulek, a Blessed Sacrament parishioner, was struck by Father Wyrostek’s message. Soulek has worked on the school board fund-raising, the major gift phase and the parish phase, as well. He said, “Father Wyrostek painted a very good vision. He talked about sacrifice, and how the bishop asked him to give $10,000. He got to thinking about it and said, ‘Yeah, I could do that over five years.’ It was awesome, incredible, a huge leap of faith. It inspired me to go and try to get more pledges.”
Mary Erz of St. Patrick Parish, Wall, said, “This is not a burden.” She continued, “This is truly an opportunity to experience faith — faith that one can give with the left hand and not see an immediate return to the right hand. The question, ‘What's in it for me?’ should be revised to read, ‘How will this help others?’ That even sounds better, doesn't it? Some of those unknown and unidentified 'others' might include — a student on a college campus in need of spiritual sustenance, friendship or guidance may find welcome at an active Newman Center — a stressed or troubled family needing the renewal and strength found on a weekend retreat — younger students benefiting from the structure and attitudes of a Catholic Christian education.
“Some practicing Catholics may hesitate to be a significant part of this campaign because family members or grandchildren may not presently be active in the Catholic faith. However, the facilities of Terra Sancta will be available to people of other denominations, as well. Again, what an opportunity to be part of a positive future for faith and families.”
Joni Osnes from Our Lady of the Black Hills Parish said, “When I recently remarked to one of the Benedictine nuns how much I loved all of the windows in the new St. Martin monastery building, Sr. Lorane Coffin remarked, ‘We hope to look out of our windows and see children, families, and people filling those grounds.’ By contributing to the We Walk By Faith Special Appeal, the prayers of the nuns will be answered. We need to ask God to remove the obstacles that keep our hearts from returning to him a small portion of all he has given us.”
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