Sunday, January 23, 2011
The temperature was -13 degrees in Chamberlain, South Dakota when I left the house this morning to cover the weekend masses at the local parish and its mission church. The country roads changed from icy, to clear, to drifted over and back again every few hundred yards depending on the shelter belts and wind direction. Like many areas we continue to cope with wintry weather.
Getting out into the community was an enjoyable experience. I can get so busy with life on campus, that I don’t get to mingle with families in the community enough. Many have been praying for my recovery, and were heartened to see that I’m up, around and getting closer and closer to a normal routine. While I enjoy our children’s liturgies at St. Joseph’s Indian School, I also miss preaching in a congregation of all ages, and tried to find examples that would connect their lives and struggles, hopes and dreams, to Jesus’ call to follow.
Hi Fr. Steve,
BRRRRRR!!! -13 degrees is really cold. We thought we had it bad being 0 and in some places below that even, with wind chills up to 11 below zero.
Hope your car kept running during that bitter cold. Our prayers are with those without heat on the reserevation. We know first hand what it’s like to be cold.
Even with a propane heater and the little electric heater our temperature in the house rarely gets up to the upper 40’s if we’re really lucky sometimes we can get it to be 50-52 degrees. We pray that the elders are warm and kept safe.
We know the children are well provided for but what of their families?
God Bless you for getting out to the community when it would have been alot easier for you to stay on campus and stay warmer.
Hopeit warms up for you out there soon.
Love,
Nancy & Kenny
Now you can see, Father Steve..why you are called “Father”..
Hugs and Blessings !
Mia and Bob
With this difficult winter we are all having, my thoughts and concerns have often reached out to the Midwestern and Western residents, especially those whose lives have touched mine through St. Joseph’s and other organizations. At least I know the children at St. Joseph’s are well, safe and warm but like others have expressed here, I worry about their families and the ones not within the walls of St. Joseph’s.