Fr. Steve’s updates

Friday, February 26, 2010

I seem to get a little more zip and energy back each day. I have two weeks until my next treatment and appreciate the reprieve in between.

As I look at prayer requests coming in to the office, I am very aware of the many people who suffer from chronic illness, and don’t get breaks or periods where they feel close to normal. They are in my prayers and thoughts in a deeper way during this Lenten season.

I decided to visit one of the homes for supper and got turned down on the first two I called!

Actually, houseparents are looking out for me. We have strep throat and colds going around campus, and the first two homes had sick kids. They’re looking out for me and said I shouldn’t risk catching an illness.

I ended up in Cyr Home with the 4th and 5th grade boys. Since Friday meant no homework, the crew was engrossed in cartoons when I arrived – Sponge Bob Squarepants. I’ve never gotten into that show, but watch once in a while just to be able to speak the same cultural language of a 10 year old.

There is another, more important, cultural language we’re stressing here at St. Joseph’s, and Jay wanted to show me a project they’ve been working on in Native American Studies. They’ve learned the importance of the pipe in Lakota tradition.

Pipe bowls are carved out of pipestone, or catlinite, a soft red stone that can be cut with a saw or filed into whatever shape the artist wants to create. Our students were each given a bar of Ivory Soap and asked to carve their own bowls as an artistic exercise.

Jay told me respecting the pipe and what it stands for means living in a sacred manner and treating other people well.

Author: St. Joseph's Indian School

At St. Joseph's Indian School, our privately-funded programs for Lakota (Sioux) children in need have evolved over 90 years of family partnership, experience and education. Because of generous friends who share tax-deductible donations, Native American youth receive a safe, stable home life; individual counseling and guidance; carefully planned curriculum based on Lakota culture and individual student needs and tools to help build confidence, boost self-esteem and improve cultural awareness. All of this helps children to live a bright, productive, possibility-filled future.

3 thoughts on “Fr. Steve’s updates”

  1. How wonderful and exciting..! I loved teaching on the Navajo reservation. I love the way they introduce values into their lives..and the knowledge of their ancestry. I became a member of the Chee family when I was there..No, not like white people who talk about that..but they insisted I am Lakota..also an Athpascan tribe, so I was not going to refuse. I worked with Don and Addie Defender from Rosebud.
    One day, Father, I hope we can meet and see the school..and catch up on all of our hugs..!
    Mia and Bob

  2. i agree, respect! it is whats missing in this world today in my opinion, after all you dont have to like someone or something but if you respect its right to be and the fact the creator saw fit to create it regardless of how ugly or unworth we might feel it to be it is after all one of gods children, respect is the kind that does no harm be it big or small deliberately and accepting gods will rather than leaning on our own understanding. God continue to bless you personaly and in your work.

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