Bishop Donald DeGrood addresses children at his Feb. 16 Mass of Thanksgiving at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul. Bishop DeGrood was celebrating his ordination just three days earlier as the ninth bishop of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Dave Hrbacek | The Catholic Spirit

Calling children to the front of the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, Bishop Donald DeGrood talked directly to them of God’s love and courageously following God’s will at his Mass of Thanksgiving Feb. 16 in St. Paul — just three days after he was ordained bishop of the Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

“I can tell you this, in my experience, there’s nothing like being in love with God, and loving ourselves the way God loves us and loving others the way he loves them. So let’s ask God to fill us with wisdom fill us with love, so we can go out and courageously do whatever he wants us to do courageously,” Bishop DeGrood said in his homily.

Back in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, which he called home as a youngster growing up in Faribault, a seminarian and a priest, Bishop DeGrood was greeted by a congregation of about 1,250 people – from preschoolers to seniors, many from parishes he once served.

He said he didn’t want to leave everyone he knows and loves — his family and friends, deacons, priests and others, but the Lord called him and assured him that his grace would be enough. God calls everyone to his will, and gives love and joy even in the midst of sacrifices to see his will through, Bishop DeGrood said.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis ordained Bishop DeGrood as the ninth bishop of the Sioux Falls diocese. Archbishop Hebda and other clergy joined Bishop DeGrood at the Thanksgiving Mass.

Born and raised on a farm near Faribault, Bishop DeGrood was a pastor, the archdiocese’s Vicar for Clergy and held other roles in the archdiocese. He served as pastor at St. Peter in Forest Lake, Blessed Sacrament in St. Paul and St. John the Baptist in Savage.

Renee and Brian Krautkremer were not surprised that Bishop DeGrood invited students to come up front during his homily and to help bring up the offertory gifts. Their fifth-grader Grace and second-grader Paige, who attend St. John the Baptist School, were among those who gathered near Bishop DeGrood during the homily.

“He often gets kids involved and is great at talking to them at their level,” Renee said. “We’re happy for him,” she said, “but he will be hard to replace.”

At the end of Mass, Bishop DeGrood said everyone’s presence was a great gift to him. He wished that everyone stay close to the Lord and on the path that leads to heaven.