Diocesan Clergy Convocation

Each May, the clergy of the Diocese of Rapid City gather with their bishop for prayer and to fulfill their canonical requirements for annual ongoing priestly formation. At these gatherings, they learn about different topics and have important conversations about the ministries they are involved in. This year’s Clergy Convocation included presentations by noted speaker Dr. Denis McNamara. Dr. McNamara is an Associate Professor and Executive Director of the Center for Beauty and Culture at Benedictine College. He holds a BA in the History of Art from Yale University and a Ph.D. in Architectural History from the University of Virginia. From 2000 to 2019 he was a faculty member at the Liturgical Institute of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake. He served as Associate Professor of Sacramental Aesthetics, Academic Director, Liturgy Director, and Music Director. Dr. McNamara spoke to the priests about the essence of beauty and what is meant when we use this word, especially in regard to church architecture. In his talk, he addressed the question: “Is there a coherent vision of beauty within the tradition of the Catholic Church that clergy, and those they serve, can orient themselves to?” Monday evening he offered a condensed presentation to the public as well. As part of the Clergy Convocation, the chancery staff and other Catholic organizations in the diocese get the opportunity to share with the priests, deacons, and seminarians important details of their programs and be available for questions. Apart from the yearly Pastoral Ministry Days, this is a unique opportunity each year for the priests of the diocese to get together for ongoing formation and conversation with their bishop.