Native American – Page 50 – St. Joseph's Indian School

A lovely Christmas

Sunday, January 02, 2011

I made my first, long overdue visit home to Indiana for Christmas in 14 years. My family knew that when I became a priest, I wouldn’t be home for most holidays. After last year’s cancer scare, this was a special Christmas that I really wanted to be home for. I made the rounds with different members of my family and got to meet my newest grand-niece for the very first time. We had lots of laughs, ate too much, revisited the old stories and caught up with new events in our lives. My Christmas was lovely.

When I drove onto campus yesterday, our facility crew was hard at work removing snow. On New Year’s Eve, Chamberlain got about 8 inches, and winds whipped the drifts high. Interstate 90 was closed down for the day to prevent travelers from getting stranded out in the country. On my travels, the road surface itself was fine, but the biggest problem I encountered was snow blowing across the highway which caused white-outs at times. But the campus is shaping up, and everyone is able to get where they need to go today.

Our St. Joseph’s homes opened back up today at noon for the children. While most of the students take some time to trickle in, one 7^th grade girl was at the Pinger home with her grandmother as soon as the houseparents opened the door. While there are always some tears of homesickness as students are dropped off and families part, generally our students are glad to come back. Today was a day to catch up with students and staff and share holiday stories and memories.

I ran into several houseparents at the dining hall, which also opened today so the Homes can do their grocery shopping and replenish refrigerators that sat empty for two weeks. Each of the homes stocked up on milk and eggs, fruits and vegetables and all the makings for the next several days of meals.

Behind-the-scenes at St. Joseph’s

We’re a real crossroads this time of the year, but don’t get a whole lot of visitors in February!

Fr. Steve of St. Joseph's Indian School — Thursday, August 05, 2010

St. Joseph’s renovations
I didn’t have many meetings today, so I was free to move about campus and check in on what’s been going on.

I talked with Tom, head of our facilities department. Tom updated me on all the summer projects our maintenance crew has been up too. It’s obvious what they do when you see one of the homes being gutted and remodeled. There’s so much behind-the-scenes work that goes on; people may not notice.

The campus was surveyed for drainage to improve problem spots. The electrical system on our geothermal Templifier was upgraded, so we won’t have problems heating the campus this winter. Our crew takes great pride in all that goes into keeping the campus safe and beautiful.

I checked out our pool after it got a paint job and a new surface on the surrounding deck. I ran into Patrick, a houseparent I hadn’t seen for about a month. There are so many folks on campus I so enjoy sitting down to share with … even if I only take a few minutes to catch up.

Silent auction brings new friends
There’s been lots of activity at the pavilion where we’ve been silent auctioning off furniture we’ve replaced over the years.

First, we gave staff on campus the chance to look over what we have and switch out anything they could use for offices or campus homes. Now, we’re making a few bucks and clearing out needed storage space. Seems like the biggest spenders were parents of college kids, looking for some worn but usable couches and chairs for setting up an apartment. You’d think they’d buy more of the bookshelves, but no!

Our Lady of the Sioux chapel visitors
Over at the chapel I saw a man kneeling in prayer and another looking at the artwork. I turned on more lights so they could get a better look. They were two priests visiting from Massachusetts, on the way to Alaska. I answered questions about the school until their traveling companions showed up and urged them to hit the road on their westward journey.

Fr. Peter, an SCJ from Ottawa Canada, also surprised us with a visit. He’d been on a tour of many of the National Parks, and just stopped in for a cool drink and the chance to say hello before he continued his journey east. We’re at a real crossroads this time of the year, but don’t get a whole lot of visitors in February!

Success begins in the heart

I doubt I’ll ever spend 18 hours straight in a confessional; but I pray I can be a humble and good priest, and help people feel both the need for conversion and the love of God.

Feast of St. John Vianney
I doubt I’ll ever spend 18 hours straight in a confessional; but I pray I can be a humble and good priest, and help people feel both the need for conversion and the love of God. To do that I have to fully accept both those realities in my own life.

Visions for St. Joseph’s
Our management meeting dealt with a broad array of topics. Some issues are immediate like reshuffling janitorial duties, or how we’ll split our presentations to the all staff gathering next week. Other topics require long-term planning, such as adding on to the museum or starting our next strategic plan.

Four years ago our staff came together and worked out our vision for St. Joseph’s, which laid the groundwork for much of what we’re doing now. Our next plan will take us to 2017; so we’re laying out a time frame for that process now.

Celebrating birthdays with conversation
Two of my three member management team, Kory and Donna, have birthdays this week. After our meeting we went out to lunch to celebrate. It’s fun to visit with staff when you’re not just talking business and getting to know each other in a more personal way. If you’re going to have good teamwork, it’s important to build relationships.

How do you want to be remembered?

I spent the day helping with the funeral. Afterward, at the luncheon, I heard family and friends telling the stories of how he will be remembered.

Saying goodbye
Ron, a 69 year-old rancher from my former parish in Stephan, died after a long and painful battle with cancer. He died in the same house he grew up and lived all his life. He knew the cancer was terminal. When I talked to him a few weeks ago, he had come to a sense of peace and acceptance about that.

Ron knew a lot about many things; but, what I admired most was that instead of pontificating about what he believed, he asked, “What do you think about . . . ?” He was anxious to learn, and because of that, he had a lot of wisdom.

Remembering Ron
I spent the day helping with the funeral. Afterward, at the luncheon, I heard family and friends telling the stories of how he will be remembered. One of his sons recalled how Ron would give them a ranch chore and then pressure them to get done by a deadline; however, he wouldn’t tell them HOW they had to do it. Many of their days were spent experimenting with homemade gadgets that sometimes worked great; other times leaving them working late to make up for their mistakes. In allowing them to try different things, they learned.

The freedom to grow
I think God is like that too. We all have a broad outline of what we have to do – love God and our neighbor – but we each have to find unique ways to do that. In giving us freedom, God allows us to make mistakes … and hopes that we can learn from them.

Our Tiyospaye – extended family

Speaking of blood, since my clotting factor was too high last week, I had more blood work today. My level stabilized and is where the doctors want it.

New Staff
This morning I welcomed our seven new houseparents and one new teacher as they began their week of orientation. Three are South Dakota residents; one couple is from Michigan. The others represent Oklahoma, Louisiana and Ohio.

We get the most geographic diversity within the houseparent job. Most of our staff have local roots. The newcomers bring lots of enthusiasm, plenty of questions, and a little bit of anxiety as they tackle this new endeavor.

Mike, our Executive Director of Child Services, spoke about his first years as a houseparent. There are days that are fun and memorable; other days when the students frustrate and upset you terribly. He encouraged everyone to work through both the good and the bad. It’s the whole mix of admiring kids at their finest, and working with them at their lowest, that really makes the job get into your blood.

Doctor visit
Speaking of blood, since my clotting factor was too high last week, I had more blood work today. My level stabilized and is where the doctors want it.

Our Tiyospaye – extended family
Darby – who works on our computers – was back at work today after becoming a brand new Dad for the first time last week. His wife and son are both doing well. He just needs to have a “man-to-man” talk with his son about keeping it a little quieter in the middle of the night.

Encounters like this remind me that besides the students we serve and friends like you, our staff have family and loved ones that become part of our Tiyospaye – extended family.

St. Joseph’s making way for 2010-2011 school year

During the school year, Sundays can be anything but a day of rest. However, today was very peaceful. I had plenty of time for reading and prayers.

During the school year, Sundays can be anything but a day of rest. However, today was very peaceful. I had plenty of time for reading and prayers. Several phone calls came in from family and friends that lifted my spirits.

The only real work I did occurred when a donor arrived with a truck load of non-monetary goods; I was the only person he could find on campus. I helped him unload, and tomorrow Central Receiving will have their hands full once again.

I ventured out to the campus recreation center to see how much of a workout I could do. I increased my time and speed on the treadmill, and the soreness in the foot was more easily put out of mind with a closely fought baseball game on the TV. I’m not much of a weight person; but I worked on some upper body strengthening, since that part of me feels fine.

Tomorrow our new Child Service’s staff – 7 houseparents and 1 teacher – arrive and start their orientation. While the calendar still says we have much more summer left, tomorrow our summer at St. Joseph’s comes to an end.

Honoring loved ones

I concelebrated mass in Reliance this evening. I continue my “Recuperation Tour” of liturgies at the area parishes I was assigned to.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

I concelebrated mass in Reliance this evening. I continued my “recuperation tour” of liturgies at the parishes I was assigned. I got another warm reception with lots of hugs.

People are glad to see me getting out and about and are very supportive. I also hear of difficulties and illnesses they are dealing with; and even as I feel so much comfort and prayer, my own prayer list for others grows.

A family I hadn’t met before stopped in to visit. They were friends of a friend who had arranged for a memorial brick for their adult daughter who had died. It took us a while in the very hot sun to find exactly where the brick was, but they effort was definitely worth it for them. Their entire trip together was something of a pilgrimage, and they placed flowers on the spot. They shed some tears, and told some stories. I felt privileged to share in that time with them.

Piles and projects … recovery and recuperation

But I have gradually been chipping away at piles and projects, and have been making long term progress … even if I don’t see it day-to-day. Sometimes recovery and recuperation is like that too.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Today we had to get everything off the floor before leaving the office for the weekend because the carpet cleaners will scrub the building on Saturday. It’s a sign that summer is ending and the 2010-2011 school year is close at hand.

My office has been disorganized since the surgery; with even more piled on the table and desk, it really looks unmanageable. But I have gradually been chipping away at piles and projects, and have been making long term progress … even if I don’t see it day-to-day. Sometimes recovery and recuperation is like that too.

Visions for St. Joseph’s future

Today I showed up for a meeting in the Development office and was the only one in the conference room … until I realized I was a half hour early!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Often I get tied up with something around campus and run late for the next meeting. Today I showed up for a meeting in the Development office and was the only one in the conference room … until I realized I was a half hour early!

It gave me a good chance to walk around the office and check up on the many folks who work year round to handle bills and payroll, send out and answer mail, and try to answer the questions and needs of our donors.

The meeting was with the architect who is working on possibilities for our proposed alumni and historical center and museum storage addition. She presented three plans, and during the discussion we took elements of each and shifted the location to a different side of the museum so she can start drafting the fourth plan.

Her assistant just got his degree and joined their firm a month ago. I enjoyed watching how quickly he could use the computer program and shift things around and project them on the screen to give us immediate 3D visuals. One dream is to also think about adding an events center that would accommodate all our students and staff together, or be used to host public events. The project is still a couple of years off, and we have to see how much we can afford.

In the afternoon we started to have some power outages. First only my phone and computer went out, so I tackled a pile of letters on my desk. Next the lights went out, but I was able to keep going by the natural light. It’s amazing how quiet the office is without phones or electricity, and I secretly enjoyed the solitude.

This is the year we soar to new heights!

Ironically, I thought about my leg; I’d be happy to get back to my old heights. That will take slow and steady efforts.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Our Child Services Team (CST) gathered around the table for the first time in about a month to give each other updates about all that has been happening over the past month.

During the year we meet weekly, but less frequently during the summer months. Still a lot happens.

Mike, our Executive Director, put out a theme: “This is the year we soar to new heights!” Ironically, I thought about my leg; I’d be happy to get back to my old heights. That will take slow and steady efforts. But so will improving our programs to help the students thrive and grow.

Our principal, Kathleen, shared the highlights of a presentation she has prepared to help staff see the difference between a residential school and a day school. Because the students are here around the clock, we are their primary adult relationships during this time in their lives. When we can get the homes and school and counselors working together on the same page with integrated services, we have an opportunity to reach kids in a way that other schools cannot.

Our Admission’s committee met again and accepted more students; we are down to our last few openings. It’s hard to get the right balance of students for the homes. We have a shortage of 4th and 5th grade boys, but have to put many junior high girls on the waiting list. It can vary so much from year to year. We’ve prioritized children in each age group who we will accept if other students don’t come back, and the committee will meet throughout the year as needed whenever there are new openings.

We’re expanding to five high school homes this year. Although they will not all be completely filled, we have our biggest group of high school students projected at 48!