Kathy Gittings, Philip, explains the ideas generated at her table.
Time and time again participants at the Spirituality Initiative weekends say they are thankful for having the opportunity to meet Catholics from other parishes in the peaceful setting at Terra Sancta. In addition, participants enjoy discovering how much they share in common.
The January 29-31, Spirituality Initiative, brought together parishioners of Father Leo Hausmann, Wall; Father Ron Garry, Philip/Milesville/ Midland; and Father Kerry Prendiville, Lead/Deadwood.
Jacqueline Sells of St. Ambrose Church in Deadwood, said, “The part of the Spirituality Initiative that I found to be most helpful was the coming together of our two parishes with our pastor. Historically, the communities of Deadwood and Lead have been rivals, especially in their schools. Although the high school merged more than twenty years ago, I think, much of that competitiveness remains. There is, naturally, a spill over into the church with little crossover for the Masses or other activities. Definitely, this has been steadily improving and I think the decisions we made at the Spirituality Initiative will continue to feed that change.
Father Ron Garry of Philip shares a meal with other Spirituality Initiative participants. (Photos by Greg Sass)
“It was also helpful to join with other parishes, discuss their issues (so many were the same), and hear their solutions,” she added.
After returning home with new ideas, parishes were asked to implement them. “We have started work in our parish on three of our goals. Our first goal is to provide a joint parish directory. We want both churches listed alphabetically as a unit. However, we do want to recognize the validity of their separateness also; therefore, the family pictures will have different color frames according to church membership. Our second goal was to enlist more greeters so we can have someone at each Mass. Last Sunday Father Prendiville had an announcement in the bulletin asking for interested parties to contact him. Our third goal, bringing inactive or fallen away Catholics back to the church has taken a baby step with the formation of a committee to work on it.”
Sells commented that the Black Hills in which Terra Sancta is set, “are the most awesome natural beauty God has created.” She had several recommendations for future use — some of which are listed here. “I would like to see Terra Sancta used for our parish with a program similar to the Spirituality Initiative weekends. It is very conducive to that program, large enough not to have to limit numbers and neutral so no one’s feelings can be hurt. For that same reason I also think it would be a great place for parish picnics and much needed retreats”
“I found myself at peace there and able to focus in my quiet times on God in all his persons. I would like to see Terra Sancta available for individual silent retreats or for families. What a wonderful place to heal from those personal losses which come into our lives.”
Joe Gittings is from Sacred Heart Parish, Philip. He said, “The part of the Spirituality Initiative that I found most helpful was the interaction with members of the other parishes present. Listening to the strengths and weaknesses of each parish in many ways mirrored what members from our parish listed as its strength and weakness.” In Philip he said they have laid the ground work for some but not all of the goals discussed at the Spirituality Initiative.
Darlene Wulf, Owanka, is from St. Patrick Parish in Wall. She said, “I enjoyed seeing fellow Catholics — so many said their children don’t attend church, thank God mine do.” She endorsed daily prayer for fallen away Catholics.
Wulf was joined by fellow parishioner, Mary Erz from Wall. Erz said, “I was intrigued to notice that during the sharing and conferring times, many of the same questions, thoughts, and answers were common to many of the small groups. By the grace of the Holy Spirit, our minds were individually and collectively led to consider the same areas of concern in our varied parishes. This sharing was one of the aspects of the weekend that I found most significant.”
Since returning from the weekend she said, “In order for implementation of our suggestions and ideas, our parish council must be brought more fully into the picture. Personally, I would like to address the feeling of family/community in our parishes by making it easy and convenient for everyone to know each other and something about our families.”
“Terra Sancta is as yet an unopened oyster,” Erz said, adding that most of the possible uses for the facility have already been voiced.