Pastoral Ministry Days ‘Strengthening our parishes from the inside out’

By Sr. Sara Kowal, SCJTM

Each year the leaders and faithful of our diocese gather at Terra Sancta Retreat Center to celebrate Pastoral Ministry Day as a diocesan family. We are already beginning to look forward with excitement to this year’s gathering on March 3-5, 2024.

The general theme for this year’s PMD is: “As for Me and My House, We Will Serve the Lord: Strengthening Parishes from the Inside Out.” The featured speaker for this year’s gathering will be Joel Stepanek, currently the Chief Operating Officer of the Eucharistic Congress.

The reason for this year’s theme has multiple converging reasons. First, it is centered around strengthening parish life, as this is ultimately the fundamental place in which the life of any Catholic is grown and nourished. We have some amazing parishes and people in the diocese of Rapid City, and it is our hope that this year’s presentations will help each one of them — big or small — to live their own mission more faithfully, effectively, and zealously.

Second, in this past year, the whole diocese has been involved in the Flourishing Families strategic planning initiative. In many ways, the first step of this initiative was to assess the structures of our parishes to see where they can exist and minister together more effectively and vibrantly. However, this is certainly not the only aspect of the Flourishing Families initiative. It also seeks to examine how we, as parish communities and parish families, can better flourish in all ways – our identity, our mission, our lives of prayer and holiness, our ministries, and our fruitfulness. Are our parishes homes in which the members thrive and flourish, in which they truly and personally encounter the love of Jesus Christ, and from which they are impelled to mission because of the love they encounter? This year’s Pastoral Ministry Days will help all parish families to know their identity and live their mission more effectively.

Last, we are preparing to begin (in July 2024) the last year of the Eucharistic Revival. The first year was focused on diocesan Eucharistic Revival. The second year (the year in which we are currently) has been centered on parish Eucharistic revival. The final year, which begins with the conclusion of the Eucharistic Congress, will be a year of mission, in which the Holy Spirit is sending us out. Like Our Lady, who went “in haste” to visit her cousin Elizabeth after having received Jesus at the Annunciation, we too are called to receive Jesus (physically and spiritually present in the Eucharist) and carry Him “in haste” to the many needy hearts that await his loving, gentle and merciful presence. As Pope Paul VI reminded us, “The Church exists in order to evangelize.” PMD will provide us also with the tools to strengthen the life of Christ in our parish community so that we can effectively bring Him to the world.

We have a special treat this year in hosting Joel Stepanek. Joel is currently serving as Chief Operating Officer for the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis this summer. Before joining this team in 2022, he served for 10 years in various leadership capacities with Life Teen, including Vice President of Parish Services and Director of Resource Development. Joel is a sought-after speaker who has traveled across the world speaking to groups of all sizes, ages, and vocations. Joel is the author of several books, including “Beginning Well: Seven Spiritual Practices for the First Year of Almost Anything,” “Chasing Humility: 8 Ways to Shape a Christian Heart,” “XY: An Authentic Masculine Identity,” and “Getting More Out of Confession.” He is a co-author of “The 99,” an evangelization program from Ascension and is a contributing author for Youth Cartel and Youth Specialties. He also continues to serve as an adjunct professor for Franciscan University of Steubenville.

We are very much looking forward to welcoming Joel and his dynamic and engaging message.

This year’s Pastoral Ministry Days should not be missed! We look forward to welcoming all parish staff, ministers, leaders, and volunteers. This is a day in which to learn, grow, receive grace, and be renewed and inspired with our mission in the Church. Click here to register! We look forward to seeing everyone in March. The registration fee is $105. The early bird discount is $90 if registered by Feb. 5.