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Pope Leo XIV!May 18, 2025
We are blessed now again with a new Holy Father. It has been about ten days since he was elected. And so, if you have been listening to the news, you should already know a bit about him, especially because he was born in Chicago, the first American Pope!
The Name of Leo:
When I first heard that the Holy Father picked the name of “Leo,” I presumed that he did so because of his familiarity with at least one of the first 13 Pope Leo’s. Now among these five have been named saints: Leo I, Leo II, Leo III, Leo IV, and Leo IX. Of all the Pope Leo’s, I was only somewhat familiar with two, Pope Leo I (the great), and Pope Leo XIII.
Concerning Pope Leo the Great:
(from Wikipedia),
Leo I was a Roman aristocrat. He is perhaps best known for having met Attila the Hun in 452 and persuading him to turn back from his invasion of Italy. He is also a Doctor of the Church, most remembered theologically for issuing the Tome of Leo, a document which was a major foundation to the debates of the Council of Chalcedon, the fourth ecumenical council. That meeting dealt primarily with Christology and elucidated the definition of Christ's being as the hypostatic union of two natures, divine and human, united in one person, "with neither confusion nor division".
Concerning Pope Leo XIII:
(from Wikipedia), Leo XIII was well known for his intellectualism and his attempts to define the position of the Catholic Church with regard to modern thinking. In his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo outlined the rights of workers to a fair wage, safe working conditions, and the formation of trade unions, while affirming the rights to property and free enterprise, opposing both socialism and laissez-faire capitalism. With that encyclical, he became popularly called the "Social Pope" and the "Pope of the Workers", also having created the foundations for modern thinking in the social doctrines of the Catholic Church, influencing his successors. He influenced the Mariology of the Catholic Church and promoted both the rosary and the scapular. Pope Leo XIII also gave us the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel.
Now, according to various new sources, the main reason Pope Leo picked his name himself after Pope Leo XIII, who led the Catholic Church from his election in 1878 to his death in 1903. During his papacy, Leo XIII maintained a dedication to social issues and workers rights after much of the world had just been reshaped by the Industrial Revolution. Leo XIII had a historic encyclical Rerum Novarum, also known as “Rights and Duties of Capital and Labor,” which laid a foundation for modern Catholic social teachings. His name was also partially inspired by the looming challenges of a world increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence. Leo XIV addressed the potential of Artificial Intelligence to push out “partially or completely false narratives,” further cement “echo chambers” and create “new castes based on access to information and thus giving rise to new forms of exploitation and inequality.”
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Happy Mother’s Day!May 11, 2025May all of our Mothers, both living and deceased, always know and experience the love that both the God in Heaven and all of us have for them! “Loving God, as a mother gives life and nourishment to her children, so you watch over your Church. Bless these women, that they may be strengthened as Christian mothers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor them always with a spirit of profound respect. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
May is the Month of our Spiritual Mother, Mary!
Although we are to honor Mary every day this month with flowers and prayers and devotions, there are two special days this week to keep our Spiritual Mother in mind;
and of course, today, Mother’s Day is one of them. Please say a prayer of thanksgiving to her today. And maybe offer her a spiritual bouquet called; “The Rosary.”
The second special day is Tuesday, May 13, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. This is a particularly beautiful opportunity to honor Mary, who was given to us as a mother by Our Lord from the Cross. 106 years ago, Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children as they grazed their families’ flocks in the Portuguese countryside. Her main message was to ask for pious recitation of the Rosary, devotion to her Immaculate Heart, and to pray for the conversion of sinners and for the reparation of offenses
committed against the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts through prayer and sacrifices. Our Lady spoke tenderly yet urgently to the children about the necessity of prayer for the conversion of sinners. She conveyed a motherly concern for the children of this world and desired to make known what must be done to save people from the fires of hell. Above all, her motherly desire was for the salvation of souls. Maybe come and honor Mary on her feast day this coming Tuesday at Mass.
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The Holy SacramentsMay 4, 2025Easter is a time to receive the Sacraments. I have said before that Easter and Baptism go together. And it is always nice to celebrate a Baptism in the Church when it is decorated beautifully with Easter Flowers and when the Easter water can be used. But Baptism is the first three Sacraments of Initiation; and so, it is good to celebrate other Sacraments as well during the Easter Season. And (I think), there are few ceremonies within the life of the parish that are greater than First Communion Sunday. Most people can remember their First Holy Communion. Hopefully this day will be so inspirational that these children will never forget it!
Speaking of the Holy Sacraments, are you missing some of them? If a child needs Baptism, there is a Baptism Class that must first take place. I recommend that parents take this class before the Baby arrives so that the Baptism can be scheduled immediately. If you have an older child or an adult is missing any of the Sacraments
of Initiation, that is, Baptism, Eucharist, or Confirmation, contact any one of us Priests any time.
Is your Marriage blessed (valid) in the Catholic Church? If not, again, contact any one of us Priests to get the process started. That could mean that an annulment of a previous marriage must first be obtained. We can help with that as well.
Finally, don’t forget about the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. This can be given to anyone who is elderly or seriously sick. And this sacrament can be given most any time. Just ask a Priest. By the way, if you ever know of anyone who is in the hospital, please tell us. It is the only way us Priests can know if someone needs the Sacraments while in the hospital.
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St. Joseph the Worker
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Divine Mercy SundayApril 27, 2025Jesus’ message to St. Faustina:
"On (Divine Mercy Sunday) the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates are open through which graces flow." (Diary, 699)
This is a great blessing for those who participate in the Divine Mercy celebrations. To receive these graces, the only condition is to receive Holy Communion in the state of grace on Divine Mercy Sunday (or the Vigil celebration on Saturday evening). If one is not in the state of grace they must go to Confession before receiving Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday. (
Many Churches now have The Image of the Divine Mercy. Here is an explanation of the image:
"The two rays denote Blood and Water. The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross. Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand
of God shall not lay hold of him (299). By means of this image I shall grant many graces to souls. It is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy, because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works" (742).
Diocesan Patronal Feast Day of Saint Joseph the Worker is Thursday, May 1st. Please pray for our diocese and for our bishop, Bishop DeGrood; and for blessings upon all of the parishes and diocesan activities.
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Easter SundayApril 20, 2025
Happy Easter to all!
May the Risen Lord Jesus fill your hearts with hope as we journey to the eternal Promised Land! It had seemed that all hope was lost when Jesus died on the Cross. But with hope against hope, Jesus rose from the dead and conquered sin and death. And our response is praise and thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ!
A Special Thanks to all who made the Easter Liturgies very inspiring: the musicians, the Church decorators, those who participated in the ministries at Mass, and those who helped in any way. It is greatly appreciated. May you all now continue to celebrate the joy of the Resurrection of Jesus for the next 50 days.
Divine Mercy Devotions
Jesus’ message to St. Faustina
On Divine Mercy Sunday the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates are open through which graces flow. (Diary, 699)
This is a great blessing for those who participate in the Divine Mercy celebrations. To receive these graces, the only condition is to receive Holy Communion in the state of grace on Divine Mercy Sunday (or the Vigil celebration on Saturday evening). If one is not in the state of grace they must go to Confession before receiving Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday.
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Palm Sunday ReflectionApril 13, 2025
This Sunday we re-enact the Palm Sunday Procession of Jesus into the Holy City of Jerusalem. With the children and the people, we sing his praises as the Priest processes by entering the sanctuary of the Church. A word that was used then and is always used at every Mass is the word: hosanna!
Hosanna is a word of Hebrew origin and was part of the shout of the multitudes as Jesus entered Jerusalem: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:9).
Hosanna is often thought of as a declaration of praise, similar to hallelujah, but it is actually a plea for salvation. The Hebrew root words are found in Psalm 118:25, which says, “Save us, we pray, O LORD!” (ESV). The Hebrew words yasha (“deliver, save”) and anna (“beg, beseech”) combine to form the word that, in English, is “hosanna.” Literally, hosanna means “I beg you to save!” or “please deliver us!” So, as Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem, the crowds were perfectly right to shout “Hosanna!” They were acknowledging
Jesus as their Messiah, as shown in their address “Son of David.” Theirs was a cry for salvation and a recognition that Jesus is able to save.
Later that day, Jesus was in the temple, and the children present were again shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matthew 21:15”.) The chief priests and the teachers of the Law were displeased: “‘Do you hear what these children are saying?’ they asked him. ‘Yes,’ replied Jesus, ‘have you never read, “From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise” (Matthew 21:16)?” In saying “Hosanna!” the people were crying out for salvation, and that’s exactly why Jesus had come. Within a week Jesus would be hanging on a cross.-This article is mostly from the “Got Questions” website.
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Sunday ReflectionApril 6, 2025
Here is a summary of an explanation that Pope Francis gave a few years ago:
The Gospel on this Fifth Sunday of Lent is so beautiful, and I love to read and reread it. It presents the story of the adulterous woman, and highlights the theme of the mercy of God, who never desires the death of the sinner, but that he be converted and live.
Some scribes and Pharisees drag before Jesus a woman caught in adultery. The woman finds herself in the middle, between Jesus and the crowd, between the mercy of the Son of God and the violence and the rage of her accusers. In reality, they did not come to the Teacher to ask his opinion — there were bad people — they came to ensnare him in a trap.
Their evil intention lay hidden under the question they put to Jesus, “What do you say about her?” Jesus does not answer. He is silent and does something mysterious: “He invites everyone to be calm, not to act in haste, and to seek God’s justice. But those bad men insisted and expected an answer from him. They seemed blood thirsty. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”
This response takes the wind out of the accusers, disarming them all, in the true sense of the word: All of them laid down their “weapons,” that is, the stones they were ready to throw, both the visible ones against the woman and the hidden ones against Jesus.
How much good it does us to know that we too are sinners! When we speak ill of others what good it would do to have the courage to drop the stones we have to throw at others and think a little about our own sins.
Only the woman and Jesus remained there: misery and mercy, face to face. And how often this happens to us when we stop before the confessional, with shame, to show our misery and ask forgiveness.
Dear brothers and sisters, that woman represents all of us who are sinners, that is, adulterers before God, betrayers of his fidelity. And her experience represents God’s will for each one of us: Not our condemnation, but our salvation through Jesus. He is the grace that saves us from sin and death. His writing on the ground, in the dust of which every human being is made, is God’s sentence: “I do not desire that you die, but that you live.” God does not nail us to our sins, he does not identify us with the evil we have done. We have a name, and God does not identify this name with the sin we have committed. He desires to liberate us, and he wants us to want this together with Him. He wants our freedom to be converted from evil to good, and this is possible — it is possible! — with his grace.
May the Virgin Mary help us to entrust ourselves completely to the mercy of God, in order to become a new creation.
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Keep Running the Race...March 30, 2025
We have just made it to the half-way point of Lent. If you haven’t been perfect with your Lenten Penances, do not fret, but keep trying. Don’t let the Devil conquer
you. Because we are at the Lenten mid-season, the special Holy Week services are already in sight. As a matter of fact, the Chrism Mass (which is normally held on the morning of Holy Thursday) is this Wednesday in Sioux Falls. Here, all of the Priests will gather with Bishop DeGrood to recommit ourselves to him and our Priestly service. At this Mass, Bishop DeGrood will also bless the Holy Oils for the upcoming year. One of the oils is the Sacred Chrism. This Holy Oil will be used to confirm our students preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation this coming Fall.The Scrutinies:
For those who are planning to enter into the Catholic Church this Easter, the Scrutinies are prayed over them to offer them strength. The Scrutinies have the double purpose to reveal what is weak, sick and sinful in their hearts so that it can be healed; and what is honorable, strong and holy, so that it can be strengthened. These prayers are meant to purify their minds and hearts, to fortify against temptation, to convert intentions, and to awaken the will so that they may cling more closely to Christ. A prayer of exorcism is also prayed over them to protect them from the Devil.
These Scrutinies are prayed over the new converts for the three Sundays before Palm Sunday. Please also, add your prayer for our new converts as well.
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The Desire to be with the Lord!March 16, 2025
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church: The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for: The dignity of man rests above all on the fact that he is called to communion with God. (CCC 27) This desire will be completely fulfilled in Heaven. Peter, John and James had a taste of this on Mount Tabor when Jesus was transfigured before them. The Apostles also met the risen Lord in his glorified body on Easter Sunday night. But for the rest of us, our desire is being met in small ways as Jesus becomes present to us. Here is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says regarding how Jesus is present to us.
"Christ Jesus . . . is present in many ways to his Church: in his word, in his Church's prayer, 'where two or three are gathered in my name,' in the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned, in the sacraments of which he is the author, in the sacrifice of the Mass, and in the person of the minister. But 'he is present . . . most especially in the Eucharistic species.'"
"The mode of Christ's presence under the Eucharistic species is unique. It raises the Eucharist above all the sacraments as 'the perfection of the spiritual life and the end to which all the sacraments tend.' In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist 'the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained.' 'This substantial presence is presence in the fullest sense: by which Christ, God and man, makes himself wholly and entirely present.'" (CCC 1373-1374)
Today we hear of Jesus transfigured to the Apostles. But we receive him transfigured in the Holy Eucharist.
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Jesus Gives Important Instructions for OthersFebruary 23, 2025
For my article this Sunday I am going to write about what other people need to do to us after they have been offended or hurt by us. (I will say only one thing
about what we need to do for others.) But, for the most part, because we have all hurt others or caused them harm, Jesus’ words to us today in our Gospel are especially good news for us, because Jesus is telling others the things they need to do to us, after we had offended them. Here are some of the things he said concerning what others need to do for us. He said:
Pray for those who mistreat you.
Do good to those who hate you.
Bless those who curse you.
Be merciful to others, that is, forgive others.
Every one of us has hurt someone, has said bad things about someone, has made someone angry, has cheated someone, has mistreated someone. Every one of us has made others really upset with us because of some sinful action we did to them. And so, what is the Good News for us? Jesus is telling those others to pray for us! We have hurt them, and Jesus is telling them to forgive us. Isn’t that Good News for us? But now, I said there is one thing we need to do for others. Did you hear Jesus say it? It is found in today’s gospel, Luke 6:31. It is the Golden Rule: (Now you) do to others as you would have them do to you!
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National Marriage WeekFebruary 16, 2025
The Catholic Church celebrates National Marriage Week around the time of St. Valentine’s Day. As the Church ponders this great sacrament, especially during this Jubilee of Hope, the importance of humility in the covenant of marriage is worth a bit of timely reflection. Of all the virtues that complement marital love, humility strengthens the marriage bond at its core.
Humility encourages selfless generosity between spouses and makes a couple's marital love more resilient. When spouses humbly offer love to each other, the daily familial bumps and bruises that happen heal more quickly. With each gesture of humility, whether in word or action, the pursuit of lasting love becomes more than just a fanciful idea; it finds a home where it is lived and felt. When spouses are humble before each other, love grows.
The Eucharist is an immense source of strength for all Christians seeking to live humbly. At each celebration of Christ’s sacrificial love, we begin by acknowledging our sins and brokenness in the penitential rite and then are fed at the table of the Word of God and in the sacrament of his body and blood. Strengthened and nourished, we are blessed and sent forth as renewed disciples as his humble servants. When we gather, stand, and kneel to celebrate the Lord's love for us, we are saying by our presence, "Save me, Lord, because I cannot save myself." The willingness to be humble before God and
neighbor is never easy.Humility is a demanding virtue. Often, every fiber of our being resists being humble. How does a person grow in humility? Blessed Solanus Casey wrote by being humiliated. Blessed Casey’s straightforward answer is insightful and almost funny because it is so true. He wrote, “God knows we need humiliations whereby we can foster humility. Hence in His love, He never fails to provide occasions for each one to practice penance which means in other words to check self-conceit and, with God's help, to get somewhere in humility.”
To live a virtuous life is the call of every Christian. Humility is the keystone of all the virtues. May we all strive to live in the truth of who we are before God and each other as his humble people, imitating Jesus' selfless love, thinking of others before ourselves, and showing the world how to discover lasting love.
And so, pray for your family and all the families within our Church. Strong faithful families will make a strong faithful Church. They will also be a good witness to the whole world that holy families, imitating Jesus, Mary and Joseph, are capable and essential in our society.
-Taken in most part from USCCB.org
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Superbowl SundayFebruary 9, 2025
This, the most secular feast day of the year, when millions of people (many not normal fans of the game) gather together to celebrate one of the most notable events throughout the whole world, that is, Superbowl 59. But although it is totally a secular event, one can find some holy and religious aspects about it.
The Lombardi trophy that the winning team receives is named after the famous Green Bay Packer football coach Vince Lombardi. After winning a Super Bowl he had the phrase "Run to Win" put on his hat and often used this phrase to emphasize the idea of playing with maximum effort and determination to achieve victory. It is considered to be a reference to the Bible verse 1 Corinthians 9:24, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win."
A similar phrase comes from the Book of Hebrews: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us, and persevere in running the race that lies before us.” (Heb 12:1).
Both teams in the Superbowl this year have chaplains. Kansas City has a Priest who will offer Mass this Sunday morning for the team. Always, one of the main prayers is for the protection and safety of all the players. And as at any sporting event, often players will make religious signs throughout the game when they score or perform some other achievement.
The Superbowl, like religion, also has its own rituals and traditions, and it provides a time for families and friends to gather and celebrate together.
There is some sadness on the day as the Vikings are not in the Superbowl, but as with all tragedies, God can bring goodness out of evil. And so, enjoy the day, and offer your own prayers. And add some religious practices to again, this most secular feast day of all days. And remember to pray for the Vikings in Superbowl LX.
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School Choice BillFebruary 2, 2025
Fr. Terry Anderson
The ability of a parent to educate and form her own children in the way that she sees fit is very important and a right defended by the Church. Unfortunately, because our tax money has often been excluded from Catholic schools or homeschool education, educating their children in the faith have sometimes been reserved to those who have greater means.
In our good state of South Dakota, the people have in the past, and continue in the present to find ways to open up possibilities for the less wealthy. One way this has already occurred is through South Dakota Partners in Education (SDPE). SDPE is a current program for helping those in financial need to be able to afford Catholic education.
Now, a Bill in the legislature in Pierre (HB 1020) might make even more help available to those of low financial means. In other states this was a voucher program. We believe this is a little different. But whatever it may be called, the goal is to help make it possible for the poor to choose the school that is best for their children.
Some people are concerned because they think it helps people who are rich. This appears not to be so. From what we know now, an application would make certain that only those who really need the help would receive assistance. Others are worried that it will negatively affect public schools. Strong evidence in other states suggests that these type of programs actually affect public schools positively. In addition, this will not affect public school funds in the state of South Dakota–as the public school funds are budgeted separately.
At this point, it’s hard to tell if the bill will pass. In South Dakota, all have the option of attending some very quality public schools. But we continue to be grateful that South Dakotans want to make other school choices available to the rich and poor alike.And so, please contact your congress representatives and ask them to support this bill.
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The Presentation of Jesus in the TempleFebruary 2, 2025
Fr. Terry Anderson
Today’s feast day recalls an event 40 days after the birth of Jesus. The first male child of a family needed to be presented to be redeemed according to the Law of Moses; and the same law asked women to be purified after giving birth.
And so, Jesus was presented in the Temple according to the Law by Mary and Joseph. Here, the Prophet Simeon picked him up and said: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32)
The Presentation of Jesus in the temple shows him to be the firstborn Son who belongs to the Lord. With Simeon and Anna, all Israel awaits its encounter with the Savior. Jesus is recognized as the long-expected Messiah, the "light to the nations" and the "glory of Israel", but also "a sign that is spoken against". The sword of sorrow predicted for Mary announces Christ's perfect and unique oblation on the cross that will impart the salvation God had "prepared in the presence of all peoples". (CCC 529)
The prophetic words spoken by the aged Simeon also shed light on the mission of the Child brought to the temple by his parents: “Behold this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against … that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35).
Because Jesus was called the "light to the nations," this Feast Day is the time that candles are blessed in the Church. The candles are a sign of the “Light of Christ.” With the “light of Christ” within us, received at our Baptism, we participate in the mission of Jesus carrying the good news to others.
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Window depicting the Presentation at St. Joseph Church, Elk Point
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