On the day before the announcement that I was appointed as the tenth Bishop of Rapid City, I made a pilgrimage to St. Martin Cemetery on the grounds of Terra Sancta to pray at the grave of my predecessor, Bishop Peter Muhich. After that visit, my guides, with pride, took me with on a tour of Terra Sancta. It became immediately apparent to me that the diocese that I would soon lead had a treasure in its midst!
Since that first visit, I have heard from many, both from within and outside of the Diocese of Rapid City, who have found the grounds and facilities of our Terra Sancta Retreat Center to be a place of peace, reflection, and restoration of their spirits.
The beautiful Holy Cross Chapel, steeped in the long Benedictine tradition of the sisters who built it, is the spiritual center of Terra Sancta, which is surrounded by an outdoor Way of the Cross, recreational trails, and comfortable rooms for visitors and retreatants. Altogether, Terra Sancta provides a place of peace and quiet for renewal and reflection and a space for meetings and programs, facilitating opportunities for the People of God to grow in faith and holiness.
I am grateful for the many generous donors and supporters who transformed this former Benedictine convent into a place of retreat and renewal and those who have continued to support the retreat center since it was dedicated for its current mission in 2012. I am grateful for your interest in our Terra Sancta Retreat Center, and I personally invite you to come to this “Holy Ground” and rest a while in the Lord. I am certain that you will leave refreshed, renewed, and restored in faith!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Scott E. Bullock
Bishop, Diocese of Rapid City
