Over 220 South Dakota Faith Leaders Oppose Amendment G, Coming Together to Support Women and Children
SIOUX FALLS, SD (October 17, 2024) – Over 220 faith leaders from diverse religious traditions have come together from across the state of South Dakota to voice their opposition to Amendment G - the measure to add abortion through all nine months of pregnancy to the South Dakota State Constitution. These pastors and church leaders signed on to a joint statement urging South Dakotans to Vote no on G, and outlined the moral and ethical reasons why Amendment G is harmful to women and children.
The letter and signatories are below.
Pastor Janine Rew-Werling, Hosanna Lutheran Church in Watertown, SD, issued the following statement:
"As a pastor, my heart is for post abortive women and their struggles with guilt, shame, anxiety, depression, and even their risk of suicide. I have witnessed the reality of post-abortion trauma, and Amendment G is too extreme, putting women in danger. For any woman having a hard time, you matter! You don't have to live in agony, and we certainly don't want other women to face a lifetime of regret and hardship. God is with you and there is hope. Vote no on Amendment G."
Pastor Ryan Chase, Emmaus Road Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, issued the following statement:
"I oppose Amendment G because abortion violates God's moral law, and a constitutional right to abortion would do great harm to the people of South Dakota. As a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I call on other pastors and Christians to join me in standing for righteousness and justice by voting No on G. We have better news for the world - the good news that because Jesus Christ died for sinners, God's saving grace is available to all who have participated in or been affected by the sin of abortion."
Bishop Donald E. DeGrood of the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, issued the following statement:
"Jesus Christ instructed us, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself' (Mark 12:31). Love impels us to speak and share the truth with our fellow South Dakotans about the damage that would be done by Amendment G. We are obligated to warn of the harm that would be done to some of our state's more vulnerable and marginalized citizens: children still developing in the womb. We also must share the truth that Amendment G would threaten the health of women and undermine the rights of parents. Sharing the truth in love is one of the greatest acts of charity we can offer."
Pastor Greg Blanc, Calvary Chapel Community Church in Rapid City, SD, issued the following statement:
"Without any hesitation, the obvious biblical and ethical vote on Amendment G is an indisputable, 'NO.' Again, from a biblical perspective, church leaders should influence everyone we can - that we don't have to choose between being pro-baby and pro-mommy, we can and should do both. Giving an innocent child and their mother the respect and protection they need is the South Dakota way. South Dakota, choose life, and vote NO on G."
The Men's & Women's Groups will kick off this September for the 2024-2025 year!
The Men's Group will again be using That Man is You! by Paradisus Dei for the third year, featuring "The Fight of Faith." The group meets on Thursday mornings at 6:00 AM at the Holy Spirit Gathering Space for breakfast followed by a presentation, small group discussion, and prompt dismissal by 7:25 AM. The group kicks off on Thursday, September 12.
The Women's Group will be returning with a new program, She Shall Be Called Woman, the sister-program to the men's program offered by Paradisus Dei. There will be two group options: Monday evenings at 6:45 PM or Tuesday mornings at 6:15 AM. The Women's Groups will also meet at the Holy Spirit Gathering Space. The Women's groups will kick off on Monday, September 23 and Tuesday, September 24.
We encourage you to sign up and give the program a try!
The Mitchell Catholic Foundation presented $115,386 in endowment distributions to the ministries of Mitchell Catholic Parishes for 2024.
The endowment distributions included $92,326 for St. John Paul II School to aid in tuition assistance, teacher salaries, technology, music, and other areas of need; $6,328 for Faith Formation to aid in program needs; $9,804 for Holy Family Parish for mission and service, facility maintenance, evangelization and discipleship, music, poor and needy assistance, and other needs; and $6,928 for Holy Spirit Parish for care and facility maintenance, poor and needy assistance, and other areas of need.
Endowment distributions are the interest earned on initial investment funds donated by families or individuals.
“A set percentage each year is distributed from the endowment to the beneficiary as designated. Additional growth is reinvested to help the endowment grow and remain perpetual,” says Nicole Fuhrer, Gift Planning Officer for the Mitchell Catholic Foundation. “This becomes an annual source of funding for our parishes, parish ministries, and favorite charities.”
Endowments managed by the Foundation are only invested in funds that are in line with the teachings of the Catholic church. Donations can be made to an existing endowment fund, or anyone can start an endowment in their name or the name of a loved one.
“It is our honor to carry on your legacy of faith and love by supporting the ministries that are most important to you,” says Fuhrer.
Mitchell Catholic Parishes also received an additional $6,000 grant from the Catholic Community Foundation for Eastern South Dakota to launch Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in our parishes this fall.
For more information on giving or the Mitchell Catholic Foundation, contact Nicole Fuhrer at 605-999-9127 or
Introducing…St. John Paul II School’s new logo!
The new logo is a fruit of the Rise Up Strategic Plan as overseen by the Increased Enrollment Pillar. Funding from the Bids for Kids Fund-a-Need allowed the Increased Enrollment committee to work with Logoworks to develop the new logo, which was also very cost-effective.
The logo includes an illuminated cross, reminding us of Jesus Christ’s one true Catholic Church as our foundation. The colors red and blue complement our red uniforms and represent our pastorate of Holy Family and Holy Spirit Catholic Churches who have traditionally used blue and red, as represented in the Mitchell Catholic Parishes logo. The tagline “Guided by Faith, Driven by Excellence” reaffirms the strategic objectives of our Rise Up Strategic Plan and vision for the Mitchell Catholic Pastorate as a whole.
For more information on the Rise Up Strategic Plan, visit St. John Paul II's website.
Registration is open for 2024-2025 Faith Formation for Grades K-12!
$65 per child OR $150 maximum for 3+ children
No one will be turned away due to financial need. Contact the Faith Formation Office with questions.