Programs/events include marriage preparation and enrichment, spiritual growth and retreats, social justice issues, natural family planning, and support for hurting and grieving families.
Contact Family Life Ministries for information on the following:
Surviving Divorce
Helping You Find Peace, Power, and Passion After Your Divorce
Separated or Divorced? Join us in a ministry that will bring hope and healing to those who have experienced the pain and loneliness of a broken marriage. Surviving Divorce covers topics including shock and grief, anger and forgiveness, money issues, dealing with children and a former spouse, and annulment and remarriage. This program is for the newly separated and divorced as well as those still struggling with issues many years later. It will help them find answers to their questions, restore their hope, and begin authentic healing. This twelve-week support group is open to Christian men and women of all denominations.
Offering two 12 week Sessions per year
Spring & Fall
Mondays, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
The Spring Session will begin March 7
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
4500 Jackson Blvd, Rapid City
Participants can register online. A $30 registration fee covers all materials. Scholarship help is available for those in financial need. Participants who have previously participated, and still have their materials may register for $10. For more information, contact Amy or Linda at 605-343-3541 or FamilyLife@diorc.org.
Rachel’s Vineyard Training Series
Join Dr. Theresa Burke, a pioneer and expert in the Post Abortion Counseling movement for a dynamic and life-changing series of training that will build and strengthen a solid foundation for Healing After Abortion.
The Rachel’s Vineyard Professional Training Series will provide unique, practical, and dynamic workshops to equip you for post abortion counseling.
Marriage Preparation
Learn more about the Diocesan Marriage Preparation programs available.
Natural Family Planning Ministry
For information on Natural Family Planning Methods, teachers a schedule and registration form click here. Attendance is required for all engaged couples and encouraged for married couples.
Courage and EnCourage
Courage is an apostolate which ministers to those who experience same sex attraction. Founded in 1980, Courage proclaims that holiness and happiness are possible for its members who strive to know Christ more profoundly and seek to follow him in the Gospel way of life. At the root of the ministry is the belief that “people should not be defined by their sexual tendencies, . . . and we are destined to receive his infinite love.” (Pope Francis, The Name of God is Mercy.)
Email: courage@diorc.org or call 605-787-3837
EnCourage ministers to the friends and family of those who experience same sex attraction, seeking to provide support for the spiritual needs of parents, siblings, children, and other relatives and friends of persons who have same sex attractions.
Email: encourage@diorc.org or call 605-787-3837
For more information on the national Courage Ministry,
visit https://couragerc.org/
Retreat Ministry
FLM sponsors annual diocesan weekend retreats for adult men and women of the Diocese of Rapid City. Each of these retreats is designed to minister to men and women in their particular state of life, living out the vocation to which God has called them.
Diocesan Men’s and Women’s Retreats will return in 2022, keep an ear out!
Silent Retreats
In conjunction with the Faith Formation Office and Terra Sancta, FLM is also offering periodic silent preached retreats. These midweek retreats take advantage of the lull in visitors at the retreat center to allow the retreatants to experience silence more deeply. Within silence is the opportunity for deep and meaningful spiritual reflection and discovery. In silence you can hear yourself think; but more importantly, you also give yourself the opportunity to actively listen for the voice of God and His desire for your life.
Cursillo
Cursillo is about supporting Catholics in their walk with Jesus Christ. It is about building a solid, loving, informed understanding of God’s call and putting our lives into action.
The weekend focuses on how piety, study, and action are all essential parts of a solid foundation and how small groups can support us in our walk.
Call Richard Rangle 605-391-4187, richard.rangel@rushmore.com or Dave Elkjer 605-209-6782, delkjer@vastbb.net for information or to register.
Rachel’s Vineyard
A weekend retreat for any woman or man who has struggled with the emotional or spiritual pain of an abortion. All inquiries/registrations are confidential. The next Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat will be held in Western South Dakota on October 1-3, 2021.
For information about local retreats and other post abortion healing opportunities, contact Carol Kling at (605) 374-5639 or email ckling@sdplains.com.
For more information contact the national office at 1-877-Hope-4-Me.
Website: www.rachelsvineyard.org
Social Justice Commission
The commissions agenda includes promoting respect for all human life from conception to natural death, advocating on behalf of the poor for economic justice, working of the common good in society and the world, and encouraging good stewardship of God’s creation. Chairperson: Deacon Greg Palmer. Click here for more information
Returning Catholic Ministries
There are many reasons why people may drift away from the Catholic Church. But there is ultimately only one reason to return . . . because your heavenly Father is reaching out to you! Check your local parish to see if they are hosting any of these ministries this fall.
Alpha is a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith, typically run over eleven weeks. No two Alphas look the same, but they generally have 3 things in common: food, a talk and good conversation. Food encourages community and the talks engage and inspire conversation within the community. All are welcome!
Catholics Come Home is a three-week series for people who were raised Catholic, but seldom or never come to Mass, feel separated from the Church, but would like to feel at home in the Catholic Church again. This series is an opportunity to consider renewing their relationship with their Catholic family. For more information call or email Michele Curtain at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 605-642-2306 or michele@stjosephspearfish.com.
Catholics Returning Home, is a six-week series for non-practicing Catholics who are considering returning to the church. The informal sessions are held twice a year, usually beginning in January and September. There is no charge and pre-registration is not required. For more information, email info@returningcatholics.net , call (605) 939-0579, or visit http://ReturningCatholics.net.
For general information on returning to the Catholic Church, visit CatholicsComeHome.org.
Bereavement Support Groups
Heal Your Grief
When a loved one dies, we are wounded. Just as a wound does, we need to heal from within, to express our thoughts and feelings. a support group is a safe place where you can talk, cry, and share your anger, guilt an fears with those who care and understand. Heal Your Grief is an eight-week non-denominational support group open to all Christian adults who have lost a loved one due to death. For more information contact George Wallace at 605-721-3811 or Dee Pickarts at 605-343-2038, email FamilyLife@diorc.org or Register Online here.
Fall Sessions begin the Last Monday of September at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 4500 Jackson Blvd, Rapid City 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Winter Sessions begin the last Monday of January at Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 520 Cathedral Drive, Rapid City 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm.
Special FLM Events:
Celebration of Marriage
Are you celebrating your 25, 40, 50 years or more anniversary in 2021 or 2020?
If so, you are invited to join us, October 3, 2021 at Terra Sancta Retreat Center. Contact Family Life Ministries for more information at FamilyLife@diorc.org or 605-343-3541.
If you received an invitation, and would like to RSVP, you may do so here.
11:00 Mass & Renewal of Vows, Celebrated by Bishop Peter Muhich
12:00 Luncheon
The 2022 Married Sweethearts Holy Hour, Mass, Dinner and Dance was wonderful! We are looking forward to seeing you next year!
Would you love to recapture a moment of your wedding day and reception?
If you’re looking for a way to celebrate life and love, we’d like to invite you to grab your Sweetheart and join us at our Married Sweethearts Holy Hour, Mass, Dinner and Dance!
- February 19, 2022
- Terra Sancta Retreat Center
- Registration $70/Couple
Schedule
4:00 Holy Hour, celebrated by Dcn Rich Olsen, assisted by Mary Helen Olsen
5:30 Mass, with Renewal of Vows, Celebrated by Bishop Peter Muhich
6:30 Dinner & Dance, with Dinner to go option (just indicate your preference on the registration)
Dinner Menu
- Beef Medallion
- Redskin Mashed Potatoes with Bacon and Chives
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Warm Honey Glaze
- French Dinner Roll with Butter
- Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes
Worldwide Marriage Encounter
Looking for a way to increase the love and romance in your marriage? Do you need time just for the two of you? Instead of simply listening to lectures about how to improve your marriage, you will actually learn a practical communication technique and have an opportunity to rediscover your hopes and dreams for your marriage. Your marriage is your most important relationship! NOW is a good time to invest time in your health, happy relationship, and reconnect with your spouse. Renew the commitment, intimacy and passion in your marriage. Priests and other religious are also welcome and encouraged to attend.
Weekend topics include: exploring personality styles, communicating our feelings, dealing with the busy world around us, learning how to improve our listening skills, understanding God’s plan for our marriage, keeping our relationship a priority and more.
For more information visit our website at: sdwwme.org or contact John & Dawn at applications@sdwwme.org or 605-359-1533.
2021 Date: TBA
Restore communication * Renew Commitment * Rekindle Romance