Prayerful start to a new year

Monday, August 09, 2010

Today, all our Child Services Staff returned to campus to begin preparing for the start of a new school year. We met in the chapel mid-morning to start our year off with prayer.

There’s a real excitement and energy when people return from summer break, refreshed and rearing to go. I enjoyed shaking hands and greeting folks outside the chapel entrance as they arrived.

Besides the Child Services Staff, there are many on our team who work year-round to take care of maintenance, fundraising, admissions and planning. We all gathered together. It takes such a diverse crew to keep St. Joseph’s going, and today was a day to celebrate and appreciate what each team member adds to the school.

During our prayer service, I acknowledged all the different work groups on campus and filled people in on the highlights of what has happened here over the summer.

I also gave everyone a health update, so I could say it once rather than 90 times. While I still have some healing to go, I think I’ll heal best by getting involved in this community of staff and students and the work I love. I got a huge hand when I simply said, “It so good to be back.”

 While dropping off some items at the school, I stopped in at third grade teacher Kim’s classroom. She told me about finishing her Master’s degree over the summer, specializing in reading and math. She was happy to report that we’re already doing many of the practices the schools are recommending in those areas.

We try hard to keep up on best practices and implement them when possible.

Bikes, breaks and the big picture

Friday, August 6, 2010

Most of the year, the traffic on our South Dakota highways is light, and the driving is relaxing and easy. But this time of year, the Harleys are roaring through town making their annual pilgrimage to Sturgis. When I went to the post office, I saw many Hogs parked on the downtown streets.

A good number of riders also stop in to visit our campus. Today, as I strolled by the museum, some visitors asked me to say a prayer of blessing for safe travel. That’s good to do for any travel, but especially facing summer’s crowded highways.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

I had big plans for accomplishing so many things in the office today, but my tired body talked me into lying down on the office couch for just 10 minutes after lunch. Three hours later I woke up, so I must have really needed that one!

Before and after resting, I made some good progress on the pile of letters on my desk, which was my main goal.

In this age of email, letter writing is becoming a lost art. I probably keep my notes too brief, but I still like to drop people a personal line, especially when they’ve taken the time to send me a card or letter.

I got down to the last five notes that sit unanswered in my basket. The challenge will come Monday to see if I can keep up from here given all the day-to-day happenings.

Cards and letters have provided me great encouragement through this illness. And, in my daily prayers, it’s certainly increased my awareness of people’s fears and anxieties and need during their particular illnesses.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

I concelebrated mass downtown at St. James parish.

In the communion line, I got one big bear hug from a four year old that wouldn’t let go until I’d given the rest of his family communion. I also had to deftly maneuver the hosts out of the reach of an inquisitive two year old in her mother’s arms!

Many of the folks in town greeted me afterwards with a hug or hearty handshake. “It’s good to see you out and about!” was heard often. It is so good for me to get out into the community more and more.

Markus is a cultural anthropologist and museum curator from Germany who helped evaluate our museum collection a year or so ago. He is back in the States taking pictures of some of our paintings that he hopes to put together into a traveling exhibition of Lakota art that can be displayed at three cities in Germany. There is great interest in Plains Indian culture overseas. But also, for a small museum, we are developing a nice collection with good variety and perspective.  

We had our monthly SCJ gathering for prayer and fellowship. We elected a new leadership team in June. Now we’re beginning discussion of ways to strengthen and improve our Religious Life. It obviously starts with a deeper commitment by each individual to prayer. But, we have to also promote programs and activities that support people in their struggles, and give us a vision of where we want to go in the future.

Behind-the-scenes at St. Joseph’s

We’re a real crossroads this time of the year, but don’t get a whole lot of visitors in February!

Fr. Steve of St. Joseph's Indian School
Thursday, August 05, 2010

St. Joseph’s renovations
I didn’t have many meetings today, so I was free to move about campus and check in on what’s been going on.

I talked with Tom, head of our facilities department. Tom updated me on all the summer projects our maintenance crew has been up too. It’s obvious what they do when you see one of the homes being gutted and remodeled.  There’s so much behind-the-scenes work that goes on; people may not notice.

The campus was surveyed for drainage to improve problem spots. The electrical system on our geothermal Templifier was upgraded, so we won’t have problems heating the campus this winter.  Our crew takes great pride in all that goes into keeping the campus safe and beautiful.

I checked out our pool after it got a paint job and a new surface on the surrounding deck. I ran into Patrick, a houseparent I hadn’t seen for about a month. There are so many folks on campus I so enjoy sitting down to share with … even if I only take a few minutes to catch up.

Silent auction brings new friends
There’s been lots of activity at the pavilion where we’ve been silent auctioning off furniture we’ve replaced over the years.

First, we gave staff on campus the chance to look over what we have and switch out anything they could use for offices or campus homes. Now, we’re making a few bucks and clearing out needed storage space. Seems like the biggest spenders were parents of college kids, looking for some worn but usable couches and chairs for setting up an apartment. You’d think they’d buy more of the bookshelves, but no!

Our Lady of the Sioux chapel visitors
Over at the chapel I saw a man kneeling in prayer and another looking at the artwork. I turned on more lights so they could get a better look. They were two priests visiting from Massachusetts, on the way to Alaska. I answered questions about the school until their traveling companions showed up and urged them to hit the road on their westward journey.

Fr. Peter, an SCJ from Ottawa Canada, also surprised us with a visit. He’d been on a tour of many of the National Parks, and just stopped in for a cool drink and the chance to say hello before he continued his journey east. We’re at a real crossroads this time of the year, but don’t get a whole lot of visitors in February!

Success begins in the heart

I doubt I’ll ever spend 18 hours straight in a confessional; but I pray I can be a humble and good priest, and help people feel both the need for conversion and the love of God.

Fr. Steve of St. Joseph's Indian School
Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Feast of St. John Vianney
I doubt I’ll ever spend 18 hours straight in a confessional; but I pray I can be a humble and good priest, and help people feel both the need for conversion and the love of God. To do that I have to fully accept both those realities in my own life.

Visions for St. Joseph’s
Our management meeting dealt with a broad array of topics. Some issues are immediate like reshuffling janitorial duties, or how we’ll split our presentations to the all staff gathering next week. Other topics require long-term planning, such as adding on to the museum or starting our next strategic plan.

Four years ago our staff came together and worked out our vision for St. Joseph’s, which laid the groundwork for much of what we’re doing now. Our next plan will take us to 2017; so we’re laying out a time frame for that process now.

Celebrating birthdays with conversation
Two of my three member management team, Kory and Donna, have birthdays this week. After our meeting we went out to lunch to celebrate. It’s fun to visit with staff when you’re not just talking business and getting to know each other in a more personal way. If you’re going to have good teamwork, it’s important to build relationships.

How do you want to be remembered?

I spent the day helping with the funeral. Afterward, at the luncheon, I heard family and friends telling the stories of how he will be remembered.

Fr. Steve of St. Joseph's Indian School
Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Saying goodbye
Ron, a 69 year-old rancher from my former parish in Stephan, died after a long and painful battle with cancer. He died in the same house he grew up and lived all his life. He knew the cancer was terminal. When I talked to him a few weeks ago, he had come to a sense of peace and acceptance about that.

Ron knew a lot about many things; but, what I admired most was that instead of pontificating about what he believed, he asked, “What do you think about . . . ?” He was anxious to learn, and because of that, he had a lot of wisdom.

Remembering Ron
I spent the day helping with the funeral. Afterward, at the luncheon, I heard family and friends telling the stories of how he will be remembered. One of his sons recalled how Ron would give them a ranch chore and then pressure them to get done by a deadline; however, he wouldn’t tell them HOW they had to do it. Many of their days were spent experimenting with homemade gadgets that sometimes worked great; other times leaving them working late to make up for their mistakes. In allowing them to try different things, they learned.

The freedom to grow
I think God is like that too. We all have a broad outline of what we have to do – love God and our neighbor – but we each have to find unique ways to do that. In giving us freedom, God allows us to make mistakes … and hopes that we can learn from them.

Our Tiyospaye – extended family

Speaking of blood, since my clotting factor was too high last week, I had more blood work today. My level stabilized and is where the doctors want it.

Fr. Steve of St. Joseph's Indian School
Monday, August 02, 2010

New Staff
This morning I welcomed our seven new houseparents and one new teacher as they began their week of orientation. Three are South Dakota residents; one couple is from Michigan. The others represent Oklahoma, Louisiana and Ohio.

We get the most geographic diversity within the houseparent job. Most of our staff have local roots. The newcomers bring lots of enthusiasm, plenty of questions, and a little bit of anxiety as they tackle this new endeavor.

Mike, our Executive Director of Child Services, spoke about his first years as a houseparent. There are days that are fun and memorable; other days when the students frustrate and upset you terribly. He encouraged everyone to work through both the good and the bad. It’s the whole mix of admiring kids at their finest, and working with them at their lowest, that really makes the job get into your blood.

Doctor visit
Speaking of blood, since my clotting factor was too high last week, I had more blood work today. My level stabilized and is where the doctors want it.

Our Tiyospaye – extended family
Darby – who works on our computers – was back at work today after becoming a brand new Dad for the first time last week. His wife and son are both doing well. He just needs to have a “man-to-man” talk with his son about keeping it a little quieter in the middle of the night.

Encounters like this remind me that besides the students we serve and friends like you, our staff have family and loved ones that become part of our Tiyospayeextended family.

St. Joseph’s making way for 2010-2011 school year

During the school year, Sundays can be anything but a day of rest. However, today was very peaceful. I had plenty of time for reading and prayers.

Fr. Steve of St. Joseph's Indian School
Sunday, August 01, 2010

During the school year, Sundays can be anything but a day of rest. However, today was very peaceful. I had plenty of time for reading and prayers. Several phone calls came in from family and friends that lifted my spirits.

The only real work I did occurred when a donor arrived with a truck load of non-monetary goods; I was the only person he could find on campus. I helped him unload, and tomorrow Central Receiving will have their hands full once again.

I ventured out to the campus recreation center to see how much of a workout I could do. I increased my time and speed on the treadmill, and the soreness in the foot was more easily put out of mind with a closely fought baseball game on the TV. I’m not much of a weight person; but I worked on some upper body strengthening, since that part of me feels fine.

Tomorrow our new Child Service’s staff – 7 houseparents and 1 teacher – arrive and start their orientation. While the calendar still says we have much more summer left, tomorrow our summer at St. Joseph’s comes to an end.

Honoring loved ones

I concelebrated mass in Reliance this evening. I continue my “Recuperation Tour” of liturgies at the area parishes I was assigned to.

Saturday, July 31, 2010 Fr. Steve of St. Joseph's Indian School

I concelebrated mass in Reliance this evening.  I continued my “recuperation tour” of liturgies at the parishes I was assigned. I got another warm reception with lots of hugs.

People are glad to see me getting out and about and are very supportive. I also hear of difficulties and illnesses they are dealing with; and even as I feel so much comfort and prayer, my own prayer list for others grows.

A family I hadn’t met before stopped in to visit. They were friends of a friend who had arranged for a memorial brick for their adult daughter who had died. It took us a while in the very hot sun to find exactly where the brick was, but they effort was definitely worth it for them. Their entire trip together was something of a pilgrimage, and they placed flowers on the spot. They shed some tears, and told some stories. I felt privileged to share in that time with them.

Piles and projects … recovery and recuperation

But I have gradually been chipping away at piles and projects, and have been making long term progress … even if I don’t see it day-to-day. Sometimes recovery and recuperation is like that too.

Friday, July 30, 2010Fr. Steve of St. Joseph's Indian School

Today we had to get everything off the floor before leaving the office for the weekend because the carpet cleaners will scrub the building on Saturday. It’s a sign that summer is ending and the 2010-2011 school year is close at hand.

My office has been disorganized since the surgery; with even more piled on the table and desk, it really looks unmanageable. But I have gradually been chipping away at piles and projects, and have been making long term progress … even if I don’t see it day-to-day. Sometimes recovery and recuperation is like that too.

Visions for St. Joseph’s future

Today I showed up for a meeting in the Development office and was the only one in the conference room … until I realized I was a half hour early!

Thursday, July 29, 2010Fr. Steve of St. Joseph's Indian School

Often I get tied up with something around campus and run late for the next meeting. Today I showed up for a meeting in the Development office and was the only one in the conference room … until I realized I was a half hour early!

It gave me a good chance to walk around the office and check up on the many folks who work year round to handle bills and payroll, send out and answer mail, and try to answer the questions and needs of our donors.

The meeting was with the architect who is working on possibilities for our proposed alumni and historical center and museum storage addition. She presented three plans, and during the discussion we took elements of each and shifted the location to a different side of the museum so she can start drafting the fourth plan.

Her assistant just got his degree and joined their firm a month ago. I enjoyed watching how quickly he could use the computer program and shift things around and project them on the screen to give us immediate 3D visuals. One dream is to also think about adding an events center that would accommodate all our students and staff together, or be used to host public events. The project is still a couple of years off, and we have to see how much we can afford.

In the afternoon we started to have some power outages. First only my phone and computer went out, so I tackled a pile of letters on my desk. Next the lights went out, but I was able to keep going by the natural light. It’s amazing how quiet the office is without phones or electricity, and I secretly enjoyed the solitude.