St. Joseph's Indian School

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Our 8^th grade girls hosted a four team basketball tournament and I stopped by the gym to watch some of the action. Our girls lost the first game, but came back in the 2^nd for a third place finish. Towards the end of the early game, Erin had been hustling and playing very hard, but fouled out. She went to the bench in tears, feeling she had let her teammates and everyone down. Afterwards I pulled her aside, and told her that I know how bad it feels when you foul out. But I appreciated how much heart she showed by her intensity on the court. It’s better to foul out trying, than to stay in the game and not help your team by taking it easy. Probably a good lesson about life there too.

Three of our girls’ homes are taking part in tomorrow’s Dancing Dolls recital. Most parents can handle one or two hairdo’s, but since our houseparents have 10 or 12 to do in the morning, they asked if we could have a special mass tonight to give them more time to get ready. I like when we can pray with smaller groups, and we had about 30 staff and students together in the small chapel. The girls took all the readings, and helped serve and bring up the gifts.

 

Friday, December 3, 2010

One of our alumni dropped off some scholarship papers. He wanted a letter of recommendation for a scholarship offered by the Daughters of the American Revolution. I didn’t associate that organization with scholarships geared toward Native American youth, and was pleased to find out about it. There are many charitable organizations that offer assistance to our college students. I keep telling our students they will be able to find scholarships for college as long as they prepare themselves to handle the studies. Making sure our students are prepared for higher learning is an ongoing challenge and priority for St. Joseph’s Indian School.

Brother Duane, one of our SCJ formation directors in Chicago, came out for Brother Clay’s year-end evaluation. We have all enjoyed Clay’s presence in the school and community, and will be sorry when it comes time for him to return to his own schooling in just a few weeks. I tell anyone I supervise, and not to expect any surprises in an evaluation. I bring up the issues and topics we’ve been discussing all along. I have a soft heart, but can be critical in a constructive way because that’s how we improve. I praise where praise is due, and point out areas of growth and change that are needed. All three of us came away from the evaluation feeling good about the discussion.

We have 20 students participating in our baptismal preparation program. Five of the students are grades 4-6, and the rest are about evenly split between 2^nd and 3^rd graders. Sunday they will go through the Rite of Acceptance in the RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation of Children) so after school we had a practice. One of the rituals calls for a signing of the senses, making the sign of the cross over the eyes, ears, lips, heart, shoulders and feet.  I felt the teacher in me,  helping them articulate why we pray for those senses to be blessed. The language about the yoke on the shoulders was harder for them to understand, but they could all relate to the concept of helping to shoulder the load because all of them help out in the home with their cleaning and responsibilities. But my favorite reply came from 2^nd grader Leola, who said we bless the shoulders, “So we can give hugs”! I definitely felt a spiritual hug and deeper sense of my own faith from her inspiration.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Today was a bad day for everyone’s diets – the staff “Sweet Sampling” day. Human Resources organized the annual parade of holiday sweets. People brought in a sample of  the holiday goodies they are making, and we copied recipes to share. Throughout the day, when people had breaks, they got to sample and nibble on the goodies. All the staff got a holiday curio and we had some fun door prizes as well. I had a lot of discipline and only tried three small samples. But when I got back to my office, I found that one of our ambitious and delicious bakers had dropped off a separate plate just for me, and my resolve melted!

Over the lunch hour, we met with the supervisors from all the different departments on campus. Together we went through a training on how to deal with employees with bad attitudes. (Not that we’d ever have that problem here!!) What was reinforced to me is that we can’t really change an attitude, but we can expect a change in behavior. I can’t tell people what to think or how they should feel, but if they disrespect others or cause tensions in the workplace I have to address that as a supervisor, because that brings everyone down.

On a positive note, I finished up all the staff Christmas cards and turned them into the business office so they can go out with the Christmas bonus. As I write them out, I realize that we have so many great folks who work hard for the good of our students, and show such support to their co-workers.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Today, all our South Dakota SCJs gathered for a time of continuing education. Brother Duane from Chicago led our discussions, and we also enjoyed the company of Fr. Paul from California, and Fr. Guy who came from Connecticut. Besides asking our staff to update themselves regularly, we as a religious order take that seriously ourselves. The morning session was a discussion/workshop on “Instruments of Hope and Healing”. It challenged us, “How can we encourage each other to live healthy spiritual and emotional lives? How can we help people who have been hurt by the church?”

After lunch, our discussions shifted to our community mission statement. We reflected on the question, “How am I faithful to the gospel in the spirit of our founder, Fr. Leo John Dehon?” Lots of days are taken up with day-to-day work related issues. Sometimes, you just have to step back and ask those bigger philosophical questions if you’re going to stay on the right track. For me, God’s love is key. I want people to feel God’s love through me, be it student, staff or donor. First, I have to be aware of and rooted in that love myself. If I keep faithful to that Charism, the day-to-day decisions fall more easily into place.

Tonight, the High School home had an assembly to present the traveling academic trophy to the home with the highest grade point average. Hogebach, our junior and senior girls, came in first again with an impressive 3.42 group GPA! Their next goal is to try to get everyone on the Honor Roll. The high school students have 3 weeks until semester exams, so they all have to buckle down with the books.

Erin and Danisha also gave a presentation to the other High School students about their trip visit to our sister school in Handrup Germany. Another trip is being arranged for next June, and they encouraged other students to apply for the trip. Both were scared at first, and said they wanted to go home after the first day or two, but after the two weeks had flown by, they wanted to stay much longer. Both talked about the ways it was a life changing experience to see the world from a totally different perspective.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

I checked in on the remodeling job we’re doing on the Speyer and Rooney Homes. Our facilities crew has the project moving along quite well. This is the third set of Lakota Homes we’ve worked on, and we get a little better and faster each time.  I notice the more dramatic change when the drywall is put up, but now comes the slower and more tedious part of taping and mudding and smoothing before painting. That’s time consuming to do well. I’m sure as the days get darker and colder, the crew will enjoy having such an indoor project to work on.

A few of the students still haven’t gotten back from Thanksgiving Break yet. Some of the problem is due to snowy weather in the Western part of South Dakota. Another reality is that families often lack reliable transportation, and we’ve had a couple of students who aren’t back due to car problems. Our family service counselors are scrambling around looking for ways to get students safely back to school.

Our 4^th, 5^th and 6^th grade girls were all in action on the basketball court this afternoon. Our 5^th graders won an exciting game 12-11 on Danielle’s basket with 30 seconds left. It was her only basket of the game, and we were happy not just for the win, but for Danielle to have something to be proud of. The whole team contributed to the effort. To top that, the 6^th grade team went into 4 overtimes before emerging victorious! I felt sorry for our houseparents who were back at the homes trying to figure out what time to have dinner ready as the game went on and on and on.

Monday, November 29, 2010

I went to the clinic for blood work today. When the nurse called back with the results, we apparently have found the right amount of blood thinner, because the numbers were in the proper range for another month. As I get set to go back in a week for the more intensive 6 month check up, knowing that part of the equation is right, takes away some of the anxiety. I’m hoping for another encouraging report.

We have our own printing press on campus, and the folks up there do great work. I hadn’t stopped by there for a while, so I said hello to the folks and checked in on their work. All the Christmas letters are in the process of being mailed, and now the folks there are printing lots of the brochures that we use throughout the year: fliers giving an overview of the school, the Lakota Life information, an insert on our charitable annuity program.  I went downtown to our thrift store to meet our new part-time employee, who was chatting with customers and ringing up merchandise like a seasoned pro. We have many employees who do jobs not usually associated with a school that contribute to our overall effort and help us be successful.

I met with the two 7^th grade girls who were chosen to go the St. Augustine Florida luncheon in January. They were both incredibly excited. Getting to see the ocean is high on their to-do list . Over the next few weeks, we’ll practice so they can overcome their nervousness and tell folks about their experience of St. Joseph’s.

 

Sunday, November 28, 2010

I drove 30 miles to the church on the Lower Brule reservation for mass. We started out with a small crowd but people kept filtering in until the small church was mostly filled. There were a lot of young children. Most of them were being cared for by their grandparents. While they provide so much care and love, I always found it important to reach out to young parents and support and gently challenge them to be more involved in their children’s upbringing. It’s only by strengthening the families that we can help build a better future.

I stayed for lunch and caught up with Fr. Joe and Fr. Hendrik, two of the priests in my congregation who serve on the reservation.

Back at St. Joseph’s, I had supper in Pinger Home (6^th-8^th grade girls) to welcome the students back after break. I met Jessica, one of the two new students that is now part of St. Joseph’s. The new students who come are usually quiet and a bit overwhelmed at first. Hopefully some of the other students will show hospitality and help her feel at home. With houseparents, counselors and teachers all working together, the students usually adjust fairly quickly and enter into our schedule of many activities.

 

Saturday, November 27, 2010

I enjoy reading. There are so many books that I want to read, that I seldom revisit any. Yet as the sun goes down and the season of Advent begins a new church year, I open the pages in a volume I’ve been through over 30 times – The Divine Office. Though the psalms and scriptures have become very familiar, week after week, year after year, each time I pray them, I am different. This season the  cry maranatha – come Lord Jesus – is filled with more of a sense of gratitude rather than impatient waiting. Just as I try to heal up a little at a time, day by day, God comes in the little daily events. I don’t have to wait for the big and dramatic in which to discover God.

For fun, I went to the gym and shot baskets this evening. One of the houseparents was teaching his son to shoot, which reminded me of all the times I spent in the back yard with my dad. After they left, I stayed and shot by myself. I hit one string of 25 free throws, and felt pretty good. Then I tried to drive in for layups and my legs just didn’t cooperate. I have to keep trying with the attitude that even if I don’t get all the way back, each little effort will make me stronger and better. With the snow season starting, I want to be able to walk and balance with less chance of slipping and falling.

Friday, November 26, 2010

The business office was closed today so our staff could enjoy the Thanksgiving weekend with their families. But there’s always mail to pick up, so I asked the students in the break home if they wanted to help, and I had three eager volunteers. I can actually sort the mail more efficiently by myself, but it gives them a chance to get out of the house and try something different. Sadly, some of the kids never get letters from home. Two of the students didn’t even know where the post office was located. I coached the youngest, Pearl,  how to go up to the counter and politely ask for our tub of mail. When we got home from the sorting, the girls had more fun playing peek-a-boo on either side of the staff mailboxes than actually sorting the mail. They laughed and had a good time. In the end, they felt important because they had helped, which was what I had hoped for all along.

Tonight was Chamberlain’s Parade of Lights festival that kicks off the Christmas season. Santa Claus and a horse-drawn wagon were in front of the Fire Hall to greet folks. St. Joseph’s donated the chili for the free meal at the Fire Hall, and I volunteered for the first shift. Passing out bowls, spoons and welcoming people as they came in was a lot of fun, and much less stressful than some of my other daily responsibilities. Our kids who stayed behind in the break home got to ride on the float with Santa, and were tickled to see folks along main street waving at them.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

While the temperature was a bone chilling 12 degrees, the skies were sunny and the roads clear as I drove the 25 miles north to Fort Thompson to concelebrated mass. Fr. Bernie began the mass by reintroducing me to the parishioners I already know and cherish from my time as pastor there. His point was that I’m a living example that we have much to be thankful for, especially when we’ve come through a rough stretch of life, be it health or other issues. I know many in that congregation have included me in their prayers, and I was filled with a deep sense of gratitude.

After mass, Sr. Charles had a few turkeys ready, and people brought along the other fixings. About 30 people stayed in the hall to have their Thanksgiving meal together. Some would repeat the festivities later at home. But for some it was their only holiday meal, which is why I find it so meaningful to return to the parish for that tradition.

TJ is one of our commissioned lay ministers in the church. He quit drinking years ago and has sponsored countless people through the AA program. He also has been a great promoter of retreats the Sioux Spiritual Center offers to help people trying to overcome addictions. He said that giving up drinking created a totally new life for him – like being born again. In case I needed a reminder how tough life can be for some families, he said that of the six boys in his family, he is the only one who lived past the age of 32. All but one of the deaths were alcohol related. After he raised his own family, he now has custody of 5 relatives ages 3-8, and is trying to raise them in a safe and loving environment.

Meeting people who make a difference like that on the reservation is truly inspiring.