Corpus Christi Procession to Take Place in Mitchell
MITCHELL, SD—The Mitchell Catholic Parishes of Holy Family and Holy Spirit will host a Corpus Christi procession on Sunday, June 2, 2024 at 12:00 PM in honor of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.
During the procession, the Blessed Sacrament will be carried by a priest to bring Jesus out into our community. Children who received their sacrament of First Communion this spring will be invited to lead the procession and strew flower petals along the path. Parishioners and guests are welcome to follow behind. Attendees can walk any portion of the procession or drive ahead to the stops and wait.
The route will start at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, go west on Elm Street, north on the sidewalk along Ohlman Avenue, turn east on Ash Avenue, and make a stop at the Pro Ecclesia Sancta Formation House (former Franciscan convent). After a time of adoration, the procession will continue east on Ash Avenue, turn south on Edgerton Street, and return to Holy Spirit Catholic Church. The total route is approximately 1.2 miles. A reception will follow at Holy Spirit church.
The Corpus Christi procession is a centuries-old tradition of the Catholic faith. For more information on Mitchell Catholic Parishes or the Procession, visit mitchellcatholic.org or contact Holy Family at 605-996-3639 or Holy Spirit at 605-996-7424.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
After Pentecost we have entered into a different liturgical season we know as Ordinary time. This Sunday, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Sometimes due to the difficulty in understanding this revealed truth, we forget the predominant place it has in the mysteries of our faith. This is how the Catechism of the Catholic Church describes it:
“The mystery of the Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God in himself. It is therefore the source of all mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them. It is the most fundamental and essential teaching in the hierarchy of the truths of faith. The whole history of salvation is identical with the history of the way and the means by which the one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, reveals himself to men and reconciles and unites with himself those who turn away from sin” (CCC 234).
This shouldn't be that hard to remember because as Catholics we always start our prayers by invoking the Holy Trinity through the sign of the Cross.
Knowing this should encourage us to ask for the grace of understanding more and more of the implications of this mystery in our life of faith. God revealing himself in the most Holy Trinity is a sign of love for us and an invitation to develop a relationship with each one of the Persons of the Trinity. One concrete way to do this is to address each one of these Divine Persons in our daily prayer. This shouldn't be that hard to remember because as Catholics we always start our prayers by invoking the Holy Trinity through the sign of the Cross.
Finally, I would like to invite you to save the date for two important celebrations. First, on June 2nd after 11 am Mass at Holy Spirit, we will have our “Corpus Christi” Eucharistic Procession followed by refreshments. Second, we will have a special Holy Hour on June 6th at 7pm in preparation for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart and a special Mass on June 7th at 6 pm followed by a reception, also at Holy Spirit. Help us spread the word and bring your family and friends.
In Christ, Fr. Cesar Valencia, P.E.S
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
This Sunday, we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church, the birth of the Church. This feast day is a wonderful reminder of the great need we have of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity. “Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.”
It is important to remember that it is the Holy Spirit who opens our understanding of God’s Word and that guides our Church. It is the Holy Spirit that gives us the courage to be disciples of the Lord. For this reason, it is important to develop our relationship with Him and ask for the gifts of the Spirit (wisdom, understanding, fear of the Lord, piety, counsel, knowledge, fortitude), especially for the one that we might need the most in this particular time of our lives.
One way to do this is to learn some prayers in which we address the Holy Spirit directly. On our “Breaking Bread” missal you will find the prayer “Come, O Holy Spirit, come” (Veni Sancte Spiritus). I invite you to learn that prayer or to include it as part of your daily prayers.
Come, Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the earth!
Fr. Cesar Valencia, P.E.S
As part of their ministry to the youth, Pro Ecclesia Sancta has formed a group called Semper. Semper includes intentional formation and fellowship for junior high, high school, and college-aged youth.
Recently, Semper leadership team members from junior high and high school participated in a two-day retreat at Lake Poinsett Camp near Arlington, SD.
“From our experience in the past, with leading retreats for high schoolers, we have seen that it is always best to go out of town for a retreat,” said Br. Bryan Esquivias, PES. “This allows them to disconnect from home, but also it allows them to experience a sense of discomfort, which helps open them up more. Since they are no longer in the comfort of being in a place that they are familiar with, it is amazing to see how this greatly helps them focus during the retreat.”
The retreat included a focus on spiritual formation, including talked from the brothers and sisters, with time for reflection and one-on-one mentoring.
“Most of the talks were focused on helping them understand the importance of the spiritual life, and also helping them understand their call to holiness and what that looks like at their stage in life,” added Br. Bryan. They also enjoyed plenty of fun, including volleyball, gaga ball, and socializing.
"I learned so much more about my faith, and how to continue to grow in it. I realized the importance of meditation and how relaxing it really was. Lastly I was able to connect with people my age who have the same beliefs as me.”
Leadership team member Alexa Bechen attended and had a great experience: “During the Semper Leadership Retreat, I learned many things. I learned so much more about my faith, and how to continue to grow in it. I realized the importance of meditation and how relaxing it really was. Lastly I was able to connect with people my age who have the same beliefs as me.”
The overall goal of the retreat was to held the leadership team members understand the importance of the spiritual life, what it means to be a part of the leadership team, and form a commitment to that role.
Br. Bryan said the retreat had obvious fruits for the youth: “By the end of the retreat, we all noticed a huge progress in their attitude towards the spiritual life. They were all very attentive to the talks and very receptive as well! When it came time to meet one on one, they were very transparent and willing to talk to all of the brothers and sisters.”
Semper plans to continue developing its ministry this summer and fall. For more information on how to get involved, contact Fr. Juan Carlo Villavicienco at
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
We celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord this Sunday. After spending 40 days with the disciples after Easter Sunday, our Lord ascended to heaven with the promise of sending his Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday. In today’s gospel, we hear Mark’s account of this crucial moment in which Jesus takes his place at the right hand of the Father.
Three things should catch our attention from Mark’s account. First, Jesus’ great commission, meaning the divine command to “go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” Second, Jesus’ teaching on the necessity of baptism for salvation: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” Third, the list of signs that will accompany those who believe: speak new languages, drive out demons, pick up serpents, drink poison without harm, and lay hands on the sick. These signs will be fulfilled in the Acts of the Apostles and are still fulfilled in our day.
Our mothers are probably the first disciples we ever met, the first ones that preach the gospel to us, the ones that brought us to the Sacrament Baptism so that we might experience the cleansing power of the Spirit.
So, Jesus went up to heaven and left us a clear mission to follow. We might ask ourselves: are people following these divine commands? I can say with certainty that many are doing it. People that are super close to us, are so close that sometimes we are not even aware of it. They are our mothers. Our mothers are probably the first disciples we ever met, the first ones that preach the gospel to us, the ones that brought us to the Sacrament Baptism so that we might experience the cleansing power of the Spirit. For this reason, on this Sunday in which we also celebrate and remember our mothers, I invite you to say to your moms wherever they are: “Thank you, Mom, for the gift of faith, for the gift of life.” I also invite you to give thanks to our Heavenly Mother, the Holy Virgin Mary by praying the rosary today in her honor for the gift of Our Savior Jesus Christ.
In the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Fr. Cesar Valencia P.E.S