The Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls continues its series of events celebrating 125 years as a diocese with a first ever all Catholic schools Mass. Bishop Paul J. Swain will celebrate the Catholic Schools Mass, Wednesday, January 21, at the Sioux Falls Arena. Nearly 4000 students are expected and will be joined by many adults.
Praise and worship music will begin at 10.30 a.m. and the Mass will be at 11:30 a.m.
The special gathering also coincides with the annual Catholic Schools Week. All students inattendance will be wearing a common shirt with logos on the front and back commemorating the125th and Catholic schools week.
The national Catholic School week theme this year is “Communities of faith, knowledge and service”and locally that theme has shifted to “Legacy of Faith” which is also the theme for all the 125thevents.
“The impact of bringing all the kids together is that they are not alone,” said Katie Mellor, Director ofCatholic Schools for the Diocese. Especially for students from the smaller Catholic schools, “Somedon’t realize that they are part of a bigger thing … to have everybody together to realize that God isbig and the Church in our area is big, is important and this can be a once in a life time experience for them.”
While everyone is welcome to attend, the Mass will also be streamed at the diocesan YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/user/SiouxFallsDiocese.
The 125th Anniversary events began last September with a gathering in Yankton, the birthplace of the diocese, followed by a November Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph recalling the actual decree from Pope Leo XIII creating the diocese, and a gathering in Aberdeen honoring consecrated life. Future events include a farm Mass near Woonsocket in June and a gathering in Marty in Julyhonoring the legacy of the Native American community. The culminating events will take placeAugust 13-15 with a diocesan wide gathering at the Sioux Falls Convention Center and the Arena