Bishop Donald J. Kettler Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Sioux Falls
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
As I continue to fulfill my role as apostolic administrator for the diocese, I am grateful for your prayers, both for me and for the continued healing and return of Bishop DeGrood.
When I was a bishop in Alaska, I had the privilege of shepherding several different groups of indigenous peoples. Though they all migrated from the same place many years ago, they came to Alaska at different times and established different languages, to the extent that they could no longer understand each other.
At first glance, it might seem challenging to overcome language and cultural barriers. How do we bridge such vast gaps in our ability to communicate with each other? But when we take a step back and ask this question in the context of our Catholic faith, we find the answer.
Courage, kindness, love, respect, tenderness: these form our spiritual language as Catholics. They not only transcend our human language, but they are felt and received more deeply when they are expressed in actions, not just words. Additionally, our spiritual language is understood by everyone, regardless of any human or worldly barriers that might stand between us.
Think about the many stories of area farmers going out into a field to help harvest crops for a fellow farmer who is experiencing difficulty. While the people in these stories probably speak the same human language, their actions speak a spiritual language of kindness and love that all can understand.
Unfortunately, because of our sinfulness, we have a tendency to let human barriers keep us from expressing our spiritual language, which finds its fullest expression in community. When we push others away or isolate ourselves from those around us, we stifle not only the growth of a community but also act contrary to our nature as social beings. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that, “The human person needs to live in society. Society is not for him an extraneous addition but a requirement of his nature” (1879).
Do you see the terrible cycle this causes? By letting barriers like language, race and even parish boundaries get in the way of sharing our spiritual language, we deny a part of our nature which, in turn, reinforces these barriers and solidifies us in a terrible state of rugged isolationism.
My brothers and sisters, the language of our faith, the language of Christ, is heard and understood by everyone, no matter their race, language or parish affiliation. Do not short yourselves the opportunity to participate in the work of the Holy Spirit, who is actively building and reinforcing communities all over our diocese, especially in the work done through the Set Ablaze initiative.
Pope Francis touched on this many times during his papacy. “An evangelizing community gets involved by word and deed in people’s daily lives; it bridges distances, it is willing to abase itself if necessary, and it embraces human life, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in others” (Evangelii Gaudium, §24).
I invite you to reach out to those on the margins, extend a warm welcome to visitors from a different parish and get to know your fellow Catholics who are part of your pastorate. Let us pray as one people, united by the same spiritual language: “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, enkindle in them the fire of your love.”
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Donald J Kettler
Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of St. Cloud
Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Sioux Falls
