youth – Page 32 – St. Joseph's Indian School

Fr. Steve’s updates

While the foot pain from my nerves is ongoing and bothersome, the hardest part of this stage of recovery is the lethargy, tiredness and lack of drive.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

While the foot pain from my nerves is ongoing and bothersome, the hardest part of this stage of recovery is the lethargy, tiredness and lack of drive. The weekend does bring more time for rest, but I feel worn out from sleeping large chunks of the day away.

Projects I would like to get to are started and left hanging as I lose energy, focus and staying power. What I think will only take a few minutes turns into a much longer production. I did at least catch up with some reading and long overdue letters.

Except for the museum – where we do have a good number of visitors – campus is eerily quiet for the long holiday weekend.

Fr. Steve’s updates

Today I stopped by the high school summer home. The only high school students still on campus are those who are working around town this summer.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Lloyd, one of our houseparents, stopped by the office to give me Star Trek DVD’s. He knew I’d appreciate having something to watch during my resting times. I’ve seen all the episodes many times, but this includes many behind the scenes shots and info. With the way my foot feels, it’s too bad Dr. McCoy couldn’t give me a quick hypo-spray and regenerate my damaged nerves.

Today I stopped by the high school summer home. The only high school students still on campus are those who are working around town this summer. Many had already checked out for the holiday weekend, but Dominic and Shay were still around.

I find the students are more talkative when alone or in small groups, and I had some good conversations with both. Whether summer or school year, it’s important to take some of that face to face time to understand our students and their needs.

Fr. Steve’s updates

I’ve been consistently able to put in three or four hours a day in the office. Even if I don’t accomplish so much, it at least helps me from going stir crazy.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

I’ve been consistently able to put in three or four hours a day in the office. Even if I don’t accomplish so much, it at least helps me from going stir crazy.

Today our business office supervisors all met to check in. We don’t receive as much mail or as many phone calls during the summer months, but that gives everyone more time to take inventory – not just physically, which we do this time of year – but to look at what’s working and what needs improvement.

Sometimes it’s in the quieter times that good ideas crop up and beg to be explored.

I stopped to check in on the progress in the Rooney/Speyer homes. The inside demolition was accomplished quickly after school was out, and our crew is already hard at work building new walls and replacing all the windows with ones that will insulate much better.

I obviously haven’t stopped in as much as when I’m running at full speed, but I know folks appreciate it when I take interest in the work they’re doing. And our staff does a lot of good work, even if much of it is behind the scenes.

Fr. Steve’s updates

I appreciate good staff, grow close to them and hate to see them go. But we always seem to find others who take up the commitment to our mission and help out with their own unique gifts, talents and personalities.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

At afternoon work break, our business office said goodbye to Desiree, who will leave us to work at home on the family ranch. I appreciate good staff, grow close to them and hate to see them go. But we always seem to find others who take up the commitment to our mission and help out with their own unique gifts, talents and personalities.

We have two homes open for our students who need the support of St. Joseph’s summer program. I stopped in for supper in the Summerlee home, and enjoyed the company of a half dozen of our young women, grades 3-8. They have three hours of school each morning, then afternoons filled with recreation or other activities. The favorite activity seems to be the trips into the town pool, and playful interaction with other kids their age.

Fr. Steve’s updates

Fr. Anthony, two of our high school girls, a houseparent and two staff from Planned Giving took off for New Jersey, where they’ll have a couple of appreciation luncheons for our donors.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Fr. Anthony, two of our high school girls, a houseparent and two staff from Planned Giving took off for New Jersey, where they’ll have a couple of appreciation luncheons for our donors.

I’m usually the MC at those, but I still need to get a little stronger before I start traveling.

Before the crew left I went over to the high school house to wish the girls well. Talia said she was a bit nervous, so I had her practice with me the things she planned to say.

I didn’t see Shay until just before they were ready to leave, but I sent her off with a hug and load of good wishes.

I find that our students have a lot to say about life on Indian reservations and hopes and dreams for a better future. It just takes a lot of encouragement to get them to believe in themselves and know that so many people are interested in what they have to say.

Fr. Steve’s updates

I had my first hair cut in about four months! There wasn’t much hair to cut since it all fell out during chemo, but my neck and around my ears was getting fuzzy.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

I had my first hair cut in about four months! There wasn’t much hair to cut since it all fell out during chemo, but my neck and around my ears was getting fuzzy. So, off to the barber shop I went.

Dad was a part-time barber, and we even had a barber chair in our rec room. I feel so calm and relaxed when I get my hair cut, and it’s nice to feel clean cut.

Since I was downtown, I stopped in at our Thrift Store to say hi to the staff there. Besides the regulars, one of our high school girls is also working there for the summer, gaining some pocket money, and just as importantly, experience working with people and handling responsibilities. She was using her creativity to design a new window display.

Later, I stopped by our museum to say hi to staff there, and again saw one of our high school girls working there. She said she likes getting to meet the visitors that come from all over, answer their questions and show them around.

Since there aren’t always a lot of jobs for youth back home on the Indian reservations, we have several high school students who stay for the summer and work.

Fr. Steve’s updates

I love to read and have lots of time on my hands, but until now, reading has put me right to sleep. This evening, I read for a couple of hours. It felt good to exercise my mind in that way.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

When you’re recovering from surgery, you have to enjoy the small progress you see each day.

I love to read and have lots of time on my hands, but until now, reading has put me right to sleep. This evening, I read for a couple of hours. It felt good to exercise my mind in that way. While I still sleep a lot, I hope more and more to be able to do a little work and the things I enjoy.

I have been going into the office for two hours or so each day, just to look at mail and messages. With mail, I’ve mostly opened it and put it in an ever-growing pile. Today, I answered everything that came in and knocked a few older cards off my to do list.

Again, a small thing, but if I can do that each day, slow and steady will win the race.

I had lunch in the dining hall with our eighth graders. They’ve been taking high school transition classes for three weeks and are finishing up their program. We have some good students going into our high school program and hope this extra time prepares them for going off campus for their studies at Chamberlain High School.

Fr. Steve’s updates

Today at mass I received the sacrament of anointing of the sick, as the students and staff prayed for me before I got ready to head off to the hospital.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Today at mass I received the sacrament of anointing of the sick, as the students and staff prayed for me before I got ready to head off to the hospital.

I actually feel fairly calm and confident about the doctors’ ability to handle the tumor, and my body and the Good Lord’s abilities to heal.

The surgery doesn’t scare me. It’s the unknown period of rehab and limitation afterward that I won’t know how to handle until I’m in the midst of it. Yet, it’s in the tough times of life I have to trust God to carry me through.

Maria, a third grader, brought me up a beautifully wrapped present from the students – a liturgical stole with images of Old Testament characters sewn upon it. The base color was green – ordinary time, which we return to after today’s Feast of Pentecost.

I’m looking forward to the time when I feel ordinary and life gets back to its regular routine. The gesture was a nice and fitting send off.

Fr. Steve’s updates

Today was our end of the year retreat for our graduating 8th graders.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Today was our end of the year retreat for our graduating 8th graders.

Parts of the day recalled memories of the year and asked the students to share some of their highs and lows. Other parts of the day were meant to help them think about high school and beyond, while helping identify their hopes and fears. Other events were meant to help them pray and celebrate being together.

Staff were invited to write a few words of advice or congratulations to any of the students in a letter. We took a half hour of quiet to let the students read through the notes. I noticed quite a few tears of gratitude, nostalgia and laughter. Many of these young people I’ve known since they were third graders, and they’ve grown up right in front of my eyes. I have vivid memories of so many of them.

I said a few words of goodbye since I won’t be at graduation. Graduation is a big event for our youngsters, and I’ll miss being a part of it all. But, I plan to be back strong in the fall and be what support I can through their high school years.

Our current crop of high school students finished their semester at the public school today. As I walked around campus, I noticed many of their families had arrived and were loading up their cars with clothes and memorabilia from another year completed. We’ll see a good number of them back in another week to start summer school or work experiences.

Fr. Steve’s updates

My SCJ community starts each day with morning prayer a little before seven.

Monday, May 17, 2010

My SCJ community starts each day with morning prayer a little before seven.

As I walked down the hill to the chapel, I noticed how the days are getting a little brighter each morning; today, the sun was already peaking over the hill when I left the house.

There was dew on the grass … birds chirping in many harmonies. Campus is quiet before the day starts, and you never know what each day will bring. But, having a serious illness gives you a perspective that life is fragile and precious, and each new day is a gift.

Before prayer, I prayed I will continue to use my time wisely in a way that benefits others.

Besides office work and a trip to the business office, I got to enjoy our 8th graders giving their PowerPoint presentations on figures in history.

I was running late, and they actually finished early. But, the students were really enthusiastic, and had a little class time left, so Cody and Jackie asked if they could do theirs again – a repeat performance. I learned a few new things about John Adams and JFK.

I also learned to appreciated the enthusiasm of a young person who’s put in a lot of work and wants to share.