Author: St. Joseph's Indian School

Friday, August 13, 2010

I drove 2 ½ hours to St. Francis on the Rosebud Reservation to talk to Fr. John, who has been my spiritual director for all 19 of the years I’ve worked in South Dakota. Though I’ve talked to John on the phone several times, I haven’t actually seen him since before Christmas, when the cancer was discovered and treatments began.

After recounting the ordeal from start to finish, John asked, “What kind of toll did it take?”

I have to say, the emotional toll was highest during the chemo and radiation phase. The physical toll was highest after the surgery. I’m only recently getting my energy and spark back. But, considering all I’ve been through, I’m doing OK. And, in that, I know God has seen me through.

Perhaps I’ve grown in compassion, and I certainly have a better understanding of the fears and struggles people with serious illness face. My brush with mortality certainly makes me less likely to sweat the small stuff. Like many important events that shape our lives, we often don’t realize the grace that comes with them until long after the fact.

After our talk, I was treated to supper at the Buffalo Jump Coffee House. It’s a new place in Mission that benefits the downtown Youth Project. Buffalo Jump provides both employment opportunities and activities for the Youth in the community. That alone is so needed in a community with such high dropout and suicide rates.  The food was scrumptious, and the hospitality of the Jesuits and stimulating conversation made it a great evening.

 Saturday, August 14, 2010

Lower Brule Fair and Powwow lasted all weekend. I spent time there today at the rodeo, softball tourney, and of course, the powwow. The best part for me is that it’s like a big family reunion, where you keep running into people you know, not just from the Lower Brule community, but from all over. A stroll around the powwow grounds that would normally take just a few minutes might take an hour, as you see people and stop and talk.

I saw one of our St. Joseph’s sixth grade girls taking care of her 5 younger siblings. Some of our girls have a lot of responsibility thrust on them at an early age.

Tia, one of our new houseparents, sat next to me while the Grand Entry of the dancers was taking place. I explained what we saw, as this was her very first powwow. When you’ve taken part in many powwows, it can become somewhat routine. But, not for a first-timer!

Tia’s eyes were wide with wonder and enjoyment at all the color and pageantry. As the drummers in front of us raised their voices in song, and beat the drum in unison, seeing it through her eyes helped me reconnect with that initial thrill and inspiration.

Our annual powwow and cultural celebration is just around the corner. We host our signature event here on campus September 17-18. Everyone is welcome, and we’re all excited to see share such a joyous occasion with so many friends!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

At noon today all of our 19 homes opened, and I spent much of the day welcoming students back. I generally start my rounds at the health center. All of the students have to check in there, so I ran into many students getting their eyes and other basics checked.

Only a few students trickled in during the first hours, but that gave me plenty of time for visiting and checking.

Then, I made my way to each of the homes. The most popular food on the stove was chili since it could simmer all day and be ready any time someone new rolled in. All the clothes and possessions needed to be catalogued and initialed, paperwork and permission slips had to be signed, and many other tasks were on lists that keep the houseparents very busy.

At one home, the father of a student saw a staff member wearing a T-shirt from our last sobriety walk. He talked freely about his 14 years of sobriety, but also the difficulties he put his family through in his days of hard drinking. It’s a sad reality in too many families, especially the families we serve.

Since I last saw many of the students in May while I was still going through treatments, at least four children blurted out, “Your hair grew back!” Indeed, I’ve made a lot of progress since May. The hugs and smiles and talks with families make this a great day and a great place to be.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

It’s the hottest part of the summer, and today, I was asked to write a few words for the Christmas cards! I had a hard time thinking about snow and long cold nights!

Since our own Tipi Press Printing office designs and prints the materials we need on campus, we have to give them some good lead time. They produce great materials from cards and notepads to newsletters and bookmarks.

But, I did feel like Santa Claus in another way.

St. Joseph’s makes several trips across the country each year for donor appreciation luncheons. Our students are very excited when they are selected to see a place they’ve never been and talk about their experience at St. Joseph’s.

Today, I lined up chaperones for future donor events. When I asked staff if they’d be willing to go, they got just as excited as the kids. Asking people to do something they’re tickled about felt like I was passing out presents.

 Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Besides staff training and orientation, there is a blur of activity around campus. Time is given each day for teachers to work on setting up their classrooms, and houseparents to make sure everything in their homes is student ready.

Another by-product of the blur as everyone returns is a huge increase in the amount of work orders (RQs) our maintenance department has to handle. The facilities crew is scurrying about campus trying to fix and help. But, they also have to set priorities and know that hanging a bulletin board may need to take a backseat to fixing an old pipe that is leaking through to the ceiling tiles on the floor below.

As everyone comes together and there are competing demands for time and resources, tensions and stress can arise. Some days we all battle impatience and can have misunderstandings and personality clashes. It’s part of our human nature. We try to handle those as they arise, and be good models to the children we serve.

For me, it’s the quiet times of prayer and reflection that give me the strength to handle the stress and keep on the right path.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

This afternoon, I stopped at Central Receiving to say hello to  Lucy, whom I met at Hope Lodge.

She dropped off a load of children’s bikes she had refurbished. Lucy caringly matched helmets that she thought would go with each of the bikes.

Since the houseparents are wearing a path to the door of Central to stock up on supplies for the new year, we left the bikes outside. In short order, they had all found new homes in one of our 19 homes on campus. They  will surely already be in use Sunday afternoon when the students arrive!

At Central, Cathy and Glenda sort and organize all the donations that arrive on campus. Some come through the mail, while others come when friends load up their car or camper and drop them off when they visit campus. The work can be taxing over the summer months, but seeing the houseparents’ appreciation in finding so much of what they need in our own on campus “store” it makes it worth the effort.

Tonight, was our beginning of the year staff picnic at the pavilion on campus. The weather didn’t cooperate with us as the temperatures were in the high 90’s, which kept some of the crowd down.

Still, many spouses, children and relatives of staff joined us to break bread (at least hot dog buns) and share companionship.  Besides working hard, there’s such value in just coming together for a shared meal and some fun.

At events like this, I visit all the picnic tables and say hello and get to know the families. My leg forced me to do that in much shorter time periods this evening. It’s actually easier for me to walk than stand around. I hadn’t seen some of the staff’s children for a year and hardly recognized them as they’ve changed so much! Getting to know families of our new staff is a special pleasure during events like this.

I enjoyed the evening and feel like we are already on our way to a successful school 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.

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.