RAPID CITY, S.D. – Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Rapid City has announced that the diocese has been awarded $100,000 in grant funding to promote excellence in preaching in his diocese.
The three-year project, called “To Preach the Good Word Well,” will focus on how the word of God transforms the lives of clergy and laity and forms their vision as people of God. The purpose of the project is to assist clergy and laity in more effectively preaching and listening to the word of God.
The funding was provided by a private foundation that wishes to remain anonymous.
“We are convinced that excellence in preaching enlivens parish communities. Good preaching begins with a sound knowledge of Scripture and includes reflection on the church’s tradition down through the centuries to the present time,” Bishop Cupich said in a statement.
“This project is unique,” he added, “in that it helps both the one who preaches and those who hear the word of God attend to what God does and what God is doing.”
The project director will be Jesuit Father George Winzenburg, who oversees the ministry formation program in the diocese. He will be assisted by a coordinating team and two consultants.
The 30,000 Catholics in the western South Dakota diocese represent 13 percent of the area’s population. Twenty-seven percent of the Catholics in the diocese are Native American.