Upcoming Events
Thursday, March 8th
Baptismal Planning Class
6:30 p.m. (Parish Office Conference Room)
Stations of the Cross
5:30-6 p.m. (Nave)
Knights of Columbus Fish Dinner
6-7 p.m. (MPR)
Seven Deadly Sins, Seven Lively Virtues
7-8 p.m. (Room 203)
Sunday, March 11th
2019 Student-Parent Confirmation Meeting
2 p.m. (MPR)
Sunday, March 11th
Living Stations of the Cross practice 4 p.m. (Nave)
Sunday, March 11th
Knights of Columbus meeting
7 p.m.
(Room 203)
Thursday, March 15th
Chrism Mass 11 a.m.
(St. Joseph Cathedral)
Thursday-Friday,
March 15th-16th
SFCS: no school
Friday, March 16th
5-7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 16th Stations of the Cross
5:30-6 p.m. (Nave)
Knights of Columbus Fish Dinner
6-7 p.m. (MPR)
Seven Deadly Sins, Seven Lively Virtues
7-8 p.m. (Room 203)
Saturday, March 17th
Men's Group
7:30-9 a.m.
(Gathering Space)
Sunday, March 18th
Living Stations of the Cross practice 4 p.m. (Nave)
Monday, March 19th
Parish Council Meeting 6:30 p.m. (Room 203)
Wednesday, March 21st
4:30-7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 23rd
Stations of the Cross
5:30-6 p.m. (Nave)
Knights of Columbus Fish Dinner
6-7 p.m. (MPR)
Seven Deadly Sins, Seven Lively Virtues
7-8 p.m. (Room 203)
Sunday, March 25th
Youth Pancake Breakfast
8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. (MPR)
Easter Egg Hunt
9:30-10:30 a.m. and
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (MPR)
Sunday, March 25th
Communal Reconciliation Services
2 p.m. (Christ the King and St. Mary Parishes)
7 p.m. (St. Katharine Drexel and St. Lambert Parishes)
Sunday, March 25th
Living Stations of the Cross practice 4 p.m. (Nave)
Monday, March 26th
Individual confessions 12 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. (Nave)
Monday, March 26th
Communal Reconciliation Service 7 p.m.
(Holy Spirit Parish)
Tuesday, March 27th
Individual confessions
12 p.m. and 5-6:25 p.m. (Nave)
Tuesday, March 27th
Communal Reconciliation Services 7 p.m. (St. Michael and St. Therese Parishes)
Wednesday, March 28th
Living Stations of the Cross 5:30 p.m. (Nave)
Wednesday, March 28th
Individual confessions 6:30-7:30 p.m. (Nave)
Thursday, March 29th
SFCS: early dismissal
SFPS: ES--early dismissal
SFPS: MS--late start
SFPS: HS--early start & early dismissal
Thursday, March 29th
Holy Thursday
Mass of the Lord's Supper
7 p.m. (Nave)
Friday, March 30th
SFCS & SFPS: no school
Friday, March 30th
Good Friday
Liturgy of the Lord's Passion
7 p.m. (Nave)
Saturday, March 31st
Holy Saturday
Easter Vigil Mass
8 p.m. (Nave)
Sunday, April 1st
Easter Sunday
Mass 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. (Nave)
Monday, April 2nd
SFCS & SFPS: no school
Parish Office closed
Tuesday, April 3rd
SFPS: no school
Tuesday, April 3rd
Anointing Mass 6:30 p.m. (Nave)
Friday, April 5th
Saturday, April 7th
First Holy Communion Retreat 9:30 a.m. (Nave and school)
Sunday, April 8th
Knights of Columbus meeting 7 p.m. (Room 203)
Monday, April 9th
5:30-8 a.m.
Thursday, April 12th
Baptismal Planning Class 6:30 p.m. (Parish Office Conference Room)
Sunday, April 15th
Youth Pancake Breakfast
8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. (MPR)
Monday, April 16th
Parish Council Meeting
6:30 p.m. (Room 203)
Friday, April 20th
5-7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 21st
Men's Group
7:30-9 a.m.
(Gathering Space)
Saturday-Sunday,
April 21st & 22nd
First Holy Communion weekend
Tuesday, April 24th
Anointing Mass
6:30 p.m. (Nave)
Friday, April 27th
SFPS: ES--early dismissal
SFPS: MS--late start
Friday, May 4th
Thursday, May 10th
Baptismal Planning Class 6:30 p.m. (Parish Office Conference Room)
Sunday, May 13th
Knights of Columbus meeting 7 p.m. (Room 203)
Wednesday, May 16th
5:30-8 a.m.
Friday, May 18th
SFCS: last day of school (early dismissal)
Friday, May 18th
5-7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 19th
Men's Group 7:30-9 a.m.
(Gathering Space)
Sunday, May 20th
O'GHS Graduation Augustana University Elmen Center
6 p.m.
Monday, May 21st
Parish Council Meeting
6:30 p.m. (Room 203)
Thursday, May 24th
Diaconate Ordination
11 a.m. (St. Joseph Cathedral)
Friday, May 25th
Priesthood Ordination
11 a.m. (St. Joseph Cathedral)
Monday, May 28th
Memorial Day
Parish Office Closed
SFPS: no school
Tuesday, May 29th
Anointing Mass
6:30 p.m. (Nave)
Thursday, May 31st
SFPS: last day of school
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Holy Week at
St. Katharine Drexel
At our recent Religious Education teachers' meeting, we discussed the importance of Holy Week in the Catholic tradition. I must admit that this little exercise prompted some deeper thinking on my part about why we renew these ancient customs each year. In fact, the liturgy of the Church is one of the surest ways we have for encountering our Crucified and Risen Lord and for receiving His gift of salvation.
At St. Katharine Drexel Parish, we work very hard to make our Holy Week liturgies especially beautiful and at the same time accessible. In earlier years, some of the liturgies of Holy Week were too long for families, and participation was not encouraged. Today, the liturgies are meaningful even for school-aged children.
On Holy Thursday, we celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Supper, recalling Jesus' Last Supper with His disciples. A very touching aspect of this liturgy is the ritual washing of the feet of several parish members, in imitation of Jesus' action at the Last Supper.
This foot washing is a reminder that Jesus gives Himself in the Eucharist to strengthen us in humility and to equip us for service. We are always called from the Table of the Eucharist to be servants in the world.
On Good Friday, we celebrate the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion. One of the central actions of this liturgy is the Veneration of the Cross. This is always a very moving ritual for me as I watch people file forward to pay homage to the cross with a kiss, a genuflection, or a simply touch.
I am often aware of the personal crosses that people carry as they move forward to venerate the cross. In this action, they unite their sufferings with the sufferings of Jesus and profess their faith in the power of Christ's resurrection.
The Easter Vigil pulls out all the liturgical stops to proclaim Jesus' victory over darkness and death. Step by step, we are prepared to renew our baptismal promises and to welcome new members into the Church. This liturgy is a bit long but certainly a powerful expression of our faith.
On Easter Sunday, we again proclaim our Christian belief that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. For those who follow Jesus, no darkness can last forever.
With this brief overview, I hope you are encouraged to celebrate Holy Week with your parish family. There would be no more effective way to be strengthened in faith and holiness and prepared to meet whatever crosses might come our way in the next year.
I also want to encourage your generosity to Operation Rice Bowl. Our parish forwards half of what we receive to Catholic Relief Services and retains half for our local assistance to those in need. The Gospel reminds us that whenever we assist the hungry, the homeless, the naked, or the sick, we really assist Jesus. Please return your Rice Bowls to the church during Holy Week.
Finally, I also encourage you to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance during Lent or Holy Week. This sacrament is a great conduit of God's grace that brings healing to the soul and helps us avoid sin in the future. Our parish Communal Penance Service will be Sunday, March 25th at 7 p.m., and additional times for confession will also be published.
I often remind penitents that the journey of faith is a marathon, not a sprint. Let's encourage one another along the way.
Father Gregory Tschakert
St. Katharine Drexel Parish
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Lent is for Preparing
 Lent is a time for fasting, self-denial, and almsgiving. But the focus of these and other forms of penance, the real purpose of Lent, is
preparation. We begin Lent on Ash Wednesday with a recognition that we are all mortal and will pass to ashes after our time on earth. On Easter morning, we celebrate Our Lord's Resurrection from the dead, His rising, and the opening of the gates of Heaven to all the faithful. During the forty days of Lent, we prepare for this miracle of miracles.
If you have been slow to begin your Lenten sacrifice, if you have slipped in fulfilling your intention, or if you simply want to put more focus into your preparation, here are some ideas:
Lenten resources and programs in our parish:
- Devotionals for children and for families can help you focus your family prayer for these 40 days. You can pick up these devotionals in the Gathering Space.
- Operation Rice Bowl enables us to share what we have with some of God's children whom we will never even meet. Rice bowls are also available in the Gathering Space.
- Stations of the Cross each Friday at 5:30 p.m.
- Our Knights of Columbus Council will host a fish dinner every Friday in Lent in the Multipurpose Room, immediately following Stations. This is an excellent opportunity to pray together and then share a time of common life in our parish.
- Study and discussion of Bishop Robert Barron's series "Seven Deadly Sins, Seven Lively Virtues" immediately follows the Friday fish dinners.
And some ideas from the Web:
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Meet Jordan Pannell, Our Youth Director
 1) Where did you grow up? Brothers? Sisters? And anything else you'd like to share.
I grew up here in Sioux Falls. I am one of five children, and am also one of triplets (two girls, one boy). I also have another younger sister and a younger brother. I am a passionate musician and photographer. I am always willing to try new things. Finally, I am recently married, and am madly in love with my wife, Mikaela!
2) Education and experience that you bring to the position of SKD Youth Director?
I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Youth Ministry and Theology from USF. I have been in volunteer ministry with the Diocese for about five years. I have been involved in a lot of music ministry with local retreats.
3) Vision/goals as SKD Youth Director?
As a Youth Director, my only goal is to walk with youth in their relationship with Christ. I want to give them opportunities to encounter Jesus, living and breathing, in tangible ways.
4) Upcoming youth projects and activities?
This summer we are going to Steubenville North, which is a favored retreat among the youth. We are also providing a mission trip to Milwaukee through a retreat agency, CHWC (Catholic Heart Work Camp).
5) How can SKD parishioners help?
The best ways the parishioners can help is with prayers and supporting the youth in their walk. As a minister, I only see some of the kids a few times a week.Ministry of presence is very important.
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 Two young people from our parish are preparing to serve in religious vocations.
Nick Ahrens, son of Lee and Jera Potter, is a seminarian, and Erin Bechtel, daughter of Dave and Leah Bechtel, is a novice. Please keep these young people in your prayers. Our St. Katharine Drexel Parish Vocations  Committee invites you to pray for vocations, especially for those in our parish who are considering the vocation of priesthood, religious life, or the permanent diaconate. Please join our Vocations Committee in our Chapel for Eucharistic Adoration for the intention of vocations on the first Tuesday of each month from 5:30-6:30 p.m., and in praying a Rosary for vocations each Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m.
About 20% of our parish family has committed to the Catholic Family Sharing Appeal (CFSA) thus far.
Our parish financial goal is $91,500. So far, we have almost $50,000 in commitments. Our parish goal for CFSA participation is 100% -- if you are unable to make a financial commitment, prayers for the success of CFSA are gratefully welcome. If you'd like to know a little more about CFSA, here's a
note from Fr. Tschakert
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132 unborn babies -- 62 boys and 70 girls -- are being prayed for each day in our Spiritual Adoption Program.
If you'd like to pray for an unborn child,
please visit the
"Spiritual Adoption" page on our website
for more details about this program.
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Fun Facts about the Diocese of Sioux Falls
1838
- Catholic missionary priests journey into what would become the Dakota Territory. Father Pierre Jean De Smet was the first of the missionary priests. He begins ministering in the region in 1838. Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, a small log structure built in Bruyer's Settlement four miles east of Vermillion, is generally recognized as the first Catholic Church established in what would become the Diocese of Sioux Falls.
1879
- Bishop Martin Marty is designated vicar apostolic of the Dakota Territories. He chooses Yankton as his Episcopal home.
1889
- The Diocese of Sioux Falls is established by Pope Leo XIII in September 1889. The Diocese comprises all of South Dakota. At the time, St. Michael Parish was located at the corner of 5th and Duluth. It became Bishop Marty's new Pro-Cathedral. Two months later, in November, South Dakota becomes the 40th state.
1902
- The Diocese of Lead is established. The Diocese of Sioux Falls now encompasses just east river South Dakota.
And did you know, our Sioux Falls Diocese . . .
- is part of the Saint Paul and Minneapolis Archdiocese?
- includes approximately 109 Diocesan Priests, 13 Religious Priests, 39 Permanent Deacons, 119 parishes, 29 seminarians, and 262 lay religious?
- has more than 120,000 baptized members?
If you'd like to learn more, check out these sites:
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St. Katharine Drexel Parish on the Web
 Mass Schedule, Calendar, Online Giving, Readings, and much more. Our Parish Web page has been updated and redesigned. Check it out!
 Log on to our Flickr site to see photos of our beautiful Sanctuary and Nave as well as our stained glass windows. Want to help us? Contact Carol Deering (212-5218/
[email protected]) of the Communications Committee.
 Our Parish YouTube page includes eight videos. Do you have an idea for a video on our channel? Talk with Fr. Tschakert (275-6870/
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