May 5, 2024

RE:  Update on Pastorate Planning Process

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

As you know we have been working the last eight months on creating a Pastoral Plan for Pastorate 5 now known as “Our Lady of the Snows Pastorate”.  The goal of the plan is for all of us to grow in God’s Love by living out our call to be “Life Long Missionary Disciples.”

The Planning Committee was asked to develop goals under four headings: Worship, Discipleship and Evangelization, Community, and Service. Concrete steps as to how we will achieve these goals were also created.   If you would like to see a draft of the Plan a link to the Pastoral Plan is below.  This plan once approved by Bishop DeGrood will become the working document for all the parishes in the Pastorate.

The most challenging task placed before the committee was to provide a weekend Mass schedule that would provide a total of six Masses for the Pastorate which would be served by two full-time priests.  This would mean that two parishes would not have Sunday celebrations of the Mass.  After much prayerful discernment and discussion the following schedule will be proposed to Bishop DeGrood:

July 1, 2024 – November 24, 2024

Grenville – 5:00pm Saturdays  

Webster – 10:30am Sundays

Waubay – 8:30am Sundays

*Britton – Fr Albert in residence

Rosholt - 6:00pm Saturdays      

**Sisseton, St. Kateri – 4:00pm Saturdays

Sisseton, St. Peter – 8:30am Sundays 

Eden – 10:30am Sundays

*When Fr. Albert no longer provides weekend services in Britton, Britton weekend services will convert to Saturdays at 5:00pm

**Until December 1, 2024, Fr. Ken Lulf would be asking to do 4 Masses on a weekend

December 1, 2024 forward

Grenville – No weekend services

St. Kateri – No weekend services 

Rosholt - 5:00pm Saturdays Sisseton

Weekend services at St. Kateri Tekakwitha and St. Joseph will be discontinued at the beginning of the new liturgical year December 1, 2024 if approved by Bishop or July 1, 2024 if not approved.  These plans are fluid and may change sooner should circumstance dictate.   Routine confessions are held prior to weekend Masses and will be scheduled during special times of the year.

It is important to remember that these Mass times are a proposal only, including the possibility of the Bishop allowing me to celebrate four Masses until November 24th.  When the plan is approved the Mass times will be made public.  I offer them now only because I know the anxiety level of the faithful is rising as we grow closer the May 1st deadline for submission of the plan to Bishop DeGrood.

It is important to remember that St. Kateri and St. Joseph are not being closed.  The parishes will retain their canonical and corporate identities.  The churches and facilities will remain available for other parish celebrations such as funerals, baptisms, and the Blessed Sacrament will remain in the church.

As you might guess coming up with this schedule was not easy.  I acknowledge that there will be parishioners that will be angry and feel displaced.  I can only hope that through the guidance of the Holy Spirit we can journey together and embrace one another in this challenging time.

Finally, I want to thank the members of the planning committee for their hard work.  I realize that you didn’t feel qualified to do what was asked of you but thankfully you stepped forward in service of the Lord and your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Thank you.

I hope this letter answers some of the questions that you might have.  I ask for your continued prayers as we move forward as a Pastorate family.  “Our Lady of the snows.  Pray for us”

Sincerely,

Fr. Ken Lulf, Pastor

Our Lady of the Snows Pastorate

Pastoral Plan