A celebratory trip, the Akta Lakota Museum and day camp at St. Joseph’s Indian School!

Good day from St. Joseph’s Indian School.

As some of you may know, this year has been proclaimed a Holy Year of Mercy by Pope Francis. Part of the celebration calls for people to visit the Cathedral and pass through the Holy Door as part of a pilgrimage. I joined parishioners from St. James Catholic Church in Chamberlain and St. Margaret Catholic Church in Kimball to visit the Cathedral of St. Joseph’s in Sioux Falls.

To meet the requirements for the plenary indulgence, the trip was geared to have the opportunity for Confession, to offer prayer for Pope Francis’ intentions and to receive the Eucharist by joining in the noon Mass. After the Mass, we were given a guided tour of the Cathedral and the renovations that were done in the past few years. The group joined together at a local Perkins for lunch before heading home. We enjoyed sharing reflections of what had impressed people the most about the experience and the tour.

The team at the Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center has received some great reviews from recent visitors! You can read some of the reviews for yourself by clicking HERE.

Some visitors mentioned that they had been looking forward to visiting St. Joseph’s for quite a while and others stated they had been encouraged to come and visit by seeing the signs along Interstate 90. Many were impressed that our campus is right on the banks of the Missouri River. Perhaps their reflections may encourage you to give some thought to coming out and saying hello as you pass through the Chamberlain area!

Know you are always welcome, especially on the third weekend in September when we have our annual powwow.

You may recall we hosted St. Joseph’s Rising Eagle Day Camp in June. Children from the Crow Creek and Lower Brule reservations had a fantastic time participating in recreation, arts and crafts, Native American language studies and swimming, and many other activities. The children were also able to enjoy nutritious breakfasts, lunches and snacks—thanks to donors and friends like YOU!

Several of the children want to express their gratitude for being able to take part in the program and express their thanks by saying pilamaya – thank you—in Lakota. Allow me to also extend my personal thanks for your generosity which made it all possible.

Summer is flying by quickly out here. Soon we’ll have orientation for both new and old staff as we get ready for the return of the students on August 14th. Things will also get noisy as the bikers start passing through the area on their way out to the annual Sturgis motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota.

I hope your summer continues to be relaxing and enjoyable. May we keep the need for rain in our prayers for those areas around the country that are suffering from drought and forest fires.

Fr. Anthony Kluckman, SCJ

Chaplain

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. View all posts by St. Joseph's Indian School