ENDOWMENT

In 1976, Louis Frieberg was preparing to retire, but he wondered what would happen to St Patricks Catholic Church and its cemetery, located on his ranch. Given the remoteness of its location, he wondered who would take care of it? Once the property was sold, would the Church be turned into an animal shelter or granary? Who would keep the cows from walking through over his parents’ graves?

 

He decided to donate some acreage with the Church and cemetery to the Diocese of Rapid City in the hope that it would be taken care of. On December 31, 1976, he signed the papers.

In 1977 the Diocese entrusted the stewardship of the property to the Jesuits missionary priests to create a place for the formation of native American Catholics. Construction of the 15-bedroom house began in the summer of 1977. It was big enough to be purposeful and small enough to be intimate. They named it “Makpiya na Maka Okogna”, which is Lakota for “Between Heaven and Earth”. It came to be known locally as “The Sioux Spiritual Center.”

For 40 years, the Jesuits at the Sioux Spiritual Center devoted themselves to care for the special needs of Native American Catholics. The center became a wonderful place of respite and peace, far away from the stresses of daily life on the reservation. The Jesuits also directed the deaconate and lay formation programs for the diocese.

In 2018 the Jesuits handed over the management of the center to the Diocese of Rapid City, and the board opened its use to non-native Catholics as well. Since that time, the Sioux Spiritual Center has been in a process of re-developing its ministry for a wider variety of purposes. It continues to host the native recovery retreats and the native cursillo (Canku Wakan: Holy Road) as well as native parish groups. The diaconate and lay formation groups of the diocese continue to use the center. New retreats have been added to the roster, such as inner healing prayer retreats, Life in the Spirit retreats, and Ignatian silent directed retreats. The Covenant School of Spiritual Direction was established there in 2021. It has become discovered nationally, known as a special place to go off-grid and truly encounter the Lord in sacred silence.  It is no exaggeration to say that lives are continually being changed here.

In spite of its increased use, the Center has been carrying an annual budget deficit of about $50k, necessitating the establishment of an endowment to cover ongoing operating costs. Some years ago, a generous neighbor, Jimmy O’Grady, left part of his estate to the SSC to begin an endowment with.  That gift was invested in the Western South Dakota Catholic Foundation.

In 2021, it became abundantly clear that we needed to grow the endowment or face the possibility of closing.  To close the Center was absolutely unthinkable.  The Board of Directors took the decision to build up the endowment to the point that it will generate sufficient income to cover the annual deficit--setting a goal of $1.5 million.

This past summer, we hit a significant milestone, having secured gifts and pledges amounting to $1.1 Million.  We are grateful to the individuals and organizations that have come alongside us to bring us to this place!  And we are grateful to God for moving their hearts to be generous.

Over the years, many people offered their gifts of finances, labor, land, and indeed their lives to bring the Sioux Spiritual Center into existence. If your life has been blessed, please consider leaving a lasting legacy to preserve and protect the Center for the next generation with a Planned or Deferred Gift. 

Our endowment fund is held by the Western South Dakota Catholic Foundation.

Or, print off the pledge card below, and send it in!