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Fr. Steve’s updates

The oncologist called today with last week’s MRI results. The tumor has been steadily shrinking, which is such encouraging news. It will also make the surgeon’s job that much easier next week.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

The oncologist called today with last week’s MRI results. The tumor has been steadily shrinking, which is such encouraging news. It will also make the surgeon’s job that much easier next week.

First diagnosis – 12 x 11 x 10 centimeters

After chemotherapy – 11.8 x 8.9 x 8.5 cm

After radiation – 9.5 x 7.7 x 6.9 cm

Since it’s shrinking in all 3 directions, the size is significantly smaller – 1320 cubic cm at first, and now under 500! The combination of good medical care and so many prayers is apparently working!

After school we gathered in the Rec Center to say farewell to the seven Child Services staff who will moving on to other adventures in their lives. Some staff serve at St. Joseph’s for a limited time.

Three of the departing houseparents have been here between one and two years, and have contributed a lot in a short time. The other four, two teachers and two houseparents, have been on staff for between 15 and 25 years! We will surely miss each of their gifts. Yet I’m confident that new people will step in and bring new gifts, abilities and talents. They will become the characters, and the rock, that St. Joseph’s is built on.

Fr. Steve’s updates

I’m growing impatient with the waiting and am ready to get on with surgery, which is one week from today. The sooner the tumor is removed, the sooner I can allow for healing and let the recovery begin.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

At this point it has become harder to focus on work. I’m growing impatient with the waiting and am ready to get on with surgery, which is one week from today. The sooner the tumor is removed, the sooner I can allow for healing and let the recovery begin.

Today was a day full of meetings to sit through that helped me focus on the tasks at hand. The meetings also took on a festive air as staff are starting to celebrate my birthday a few weeks early since I’ll be in the hospital then.

At the morning management meeting we had some tasty muffins complete with a lit birthday candle and song. At the afternoon Child Services Team meeting Karla brought a pizza sized sugar cookie from the local bakery that we could all share.

If there is one thing we do well around St. Joseph’s, it’s taking time to celebrate.

Dr. Mitchell, Chamberlain’s public school superintendent, is moving on to another job next month. I dropped by the open house to wish well. I especially wanted to say thanks for how he’s collaborated with our St. Joseph’s staff and students over the years.

There are times we need special accommodations – like at parent-teacher conferences when a houseparent has to meet with the teachers of all ten of their kids! The superintendent has initiated some productive discussions on how to provide good transitions and experiences for our students.

The new superintendent worked at St. Joseph’s some years back, and then became the high school principal. Because Dr. Johnson also knows our students and programs well, we look forward to keeping that collaborative relationship strong.

Fr. Steve’s updates

My SCJ community starts each day with morning prayer a little before seven.

Monday, May 17, 2010

My SCJ community starts each day with morning prayer a little before seven.

As I walked down the hill to the chapel, I noticed how the days are getting a little brighter each morning; today, the sun was already peaking over the hill when I left the house.

There was dew on the grass … birds chirping in many harmonies. Campus is quiet before the day starts, and you never know what each day will bring. But, having a serious illness gives you a perspective that life is fragile and precious, and each new day is a gift.

Before prayer, I prayed I will continue to use my time wisely in a way that benefits others.

Besides office work and a trip to the business office, I got to enjoy our 8th graders giving their PowerPoint presentations on figures in history.

I was running late, and they actually finished early. But, the students were really enthusiastic, and had a little class time left, so Cody and Jackie asked if they could do theirs again – a repeat performance. I learned a few new things about John Adams and JFK.

I also learned to appreciated the enthusiasm of a young person who’s put in a lot of work and wants to share.

Fr. Steve’s updates

Today at church, we honored and prayed for our graduates. We’ll have 26 eighth graders walking up the aisle in two weeks, the biggest group in some years.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Today at church, we honored and prayed for our graduates. We’ll have 26 eighth graders walking up the aisle in two weeks, the biggest group in some years.

We honored Tammy LaRoche-Wagaman, who graduated eighth grade from St. Joseph’s in 1984, with our Distinguished Alumni Award. Tammy was recognized for her outstanding work in the nursing field.

We hope her example inspires our current students to persevere with their education. We may not have any famous alumni, but we are blessed with many who go about their work and make a great contribution to their tribes and communities.

We had a dinner after church for two seniors who have stayed on with St. Joseph’s High School program and graduate from Chamberlain High School next Sunday.

In the past, we’ve had trouble trying to get the seniors to say a few words, but Kelsey and Stefen each talked for about 20 minutes, with lots of memories to share. Stefen has been her for four years, and Kelsey has been here all 12. Their recollections were filled with both laughter and the emotional tears of saying goodbye. Maija put together a slide show that helped us remember them through the years.

Fr. Steve’s updates

I ate supper with the David Home girls. Afterwards, I experienced a battle of the books. I tried to get two first graders to take turns reading, but they were not in a very sharing kind of mood.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Today, I had the usual meetings with the Director of Child Services and the Child Services Team. As we wrap up the last three weeks of school, everyone is getting in full gear for the summer.

As soon as school is out, we start a seven week smorgasbord of summer programs. The high school program has the most complicated schedule to coordinate. Our students come and go to a variety of camps, jobs and summer classes.

We also had our monthly Strategic Protection Committee meeting, which deals with issues of campus security ranging from preventing accidents to monitoring access to campus and the homes. We place a premium on staff and student safety.

There are so many trainings our staff do that I forget about until being reminded. The college students who will work on maintenance crew for the summer need a defensive driving course.

Other staff need a refresher course in lawnmower and forklift safety. I appreciate that our supervisors make sure those happen.

I ate supper with the David Home girls. Afterwards, I experienced a battle of the books. I tried to get two first graders to take turns reading, but they were not in a very sharing kind of mood.

Both Sasha and Jasmine wanted my full attention. First graders are sometimes hard to reason with, so both girls read different stories out loud on either side of me, a competition in stereo. But, they both seemed OK with that, so I just bounced back and forth to listen as I could and to help or correct where needed.

Fr. Steve’s updates

Monday seems to have more of those small but time-consuming tasks as people have time over the weekend to think, then get back to work.

Monday, May 10, 2010

I didn’t accomplish anything big today … just stayed with 10 and 15-minute tasks, phone calls, questions and emails that can fill up so much of the day. Monday seems to have more of those small but time-consuming tasks as people have time over the weekend to think, then get back to work.

At the development office, we’ve seen an upswing in interest from Europe about Lakota culture and our school programs. We discussed ways to continue connecting with those folks.

Overall, it was a cold, rainy day! In South Dakota we appreciate the moisture most anytime, but it has been hard on our track team.

They’ve competed three times, but had four other meets rained out. At this point in the school year, with all the other events, there is no chance to reschedule, so our season came to an inglorious end.

After school the coaches passed out the ribbons our athletes earned for the season, and held a pizza party. No school records were broken this year, but the students showed a lot of heart in their events.

Fr. Steve’s updates

A small crowd in church for Mother’s Day. A few homes were away on a trip to Rapid City, but many of the students were checked out to be with their families.

Sunday, May 9, 2010
Mother’s Day

A small crowd in church for Mother’s Day. A few homes were away on a trip to Rapid City, but many of the students were checked out to be with their families.

Sadly, we have a lot of kids whose mothers are absent in their lives. About a third of our students are being raised by the grandparents or other relatives for a variety of reasons.

Some of the students also live many hours from home and weren’t able to be with their moms.

It’s on days like these when kids might feel especially lonely or hurt; as always, our houseparents, counselors and support staff do all they can to nurture and support our children in positive ways.

I wrote out congratulatory cards for our six high school students who will be confirmed at St. James in Chamberlain next week.

I also started on the graduation cards to our 8th graders, trying to make them personal, especially since I’ll be gone for surgery at that time.

For Mother’s Day, I – of course – called home. Mom said that this blog has been a good way to keep up with me, and if nobody else reads it, at least she does. So HI MOM! LOVE YOU! Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there.

Fr. Steve’s updates

I stayed home the rest of the day, occupied with laundry, reading, prayer, exercise, sorting baseball cards and watching some TV shows I’d recorded.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Yesterday and today have been rather low key for me.

Friday is my day off, and I only went into the office for a short while in the morning to answer mail. I stayed home the rest of the day, occupied with laundry, reading, prayer, exercise, sorting baseball cards and watching some TV shows I’d recorded. Not too exciting or noteworthy, but satisfying and restful to me.

Today, I met with Brother Clay for the first time in almost two months to review how his work has been going. Fr. Anthony has been supervising him in my absence.

When you first enter religious life, you renew your vows one year at a time until you’re ready for final vows. As Brother Clay asks to renew his vows this summer, we’re going through the formal evaluation and request stage.

As he reflects on what he’s learning, where there joys and struggles are, it’s also a good reminder to me to take time to name where I need to grow and improve, and what brings me joy and satisfaction.

As the weather gets nicer, visits to the museum are picking up again. I was called to the museum to say hello to Dennis and Bonnie, donors visiting from California. I had time, so I gave them a tour of campus.

I enjoy the interaction and the chance for a “show and tell” look at the school. I can’t do that every time, but visiting with folks is so much more enjoyable than paperwork.

Fr. Steve’s updates

Two students finished degrees in Native American Studies, which is so needed to pass on the culture and values. One woman is finishing her degree as an industrial engineer and will hopefully inspire others to follow her footsteps.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Letters have gotten stacked up over these past weeks. I answer what I can and then feel more behind with the day’s new batch.

But, today I wrote cards to the college students we’ve been helping with scholarship monies who graduate this year.

Another went back to college after 30 years of working and raising a family … showing it’s never too late to pursue an education and fulfill your dreams.

I’m glad St. Joseph’s is able to help such students find the means to attend college.

The end of the school year is also a time of transitions. Brenda, who has worked as a houseparent for 19 years, will retire when school is out. Her co-workers gathered for lunch at the Marina, and I was able to join them. Brenda has so many memories and stories of the kids in all those years, and I laughed as she reminisced.

Another goodbye was to Jan, who is retiring from the Title program. Those teachers are actually employees of the Chamberlain School district, but I always say that their heart belongs to St. Joseph’s. Jan and all the Title teachers show wonderful care for our students and help those most in need of individualized attention.

I stopped to videotape a message for our high school seniors who graduate from the Chamberlain program in just two weeks. They were sixth graders when I started here, and I have lots of memories as I’ve seen them grow up.

Then, it was on to the chapel to take the official graduation photo for the newspaper. Wow – so many milestones are fast approaching!

Wow – so many milestones are fast approaching!

Fr. Steve’s updates

I met with my management team as a group for the first time in eight weeks. Instead of a long drawn out meeting, the time together was actually rather short.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

I met with my management team as a group for the first time in eight weeks. Instead of a long drawn out meeting, the time together was actually rather short. They’ve kept me, and each other, in the loop, and while I was gone what needed to be taken care of and worked on was attended to well.

Sometimes, when I get stuck in all of the immediate issues needing my attention, I break out of the rut by working on things far into the future.

As I’ve wondered how long my recovery after surgery will be and what I will or won’t be able to do, I haven’t looked too far past May 25. But, good long range planning helps me make good decisions about how to be a good steward of my time today.

So, I took my calendar, which goes until August 2011, and started working backwards on some of the events and projects that are farthest out. It gave me both a new perspective and a burst of creative energy.

The high school boys had an inipi (sweat lodge) ceremony for the last Sons of Tradition session of the year. One of the elders from the nearby Crow Creek reservation came to campus to lead the prayer ceremony.

We always make participation optional, and some students chose instead to help with the fire or the meal. It was the first inipi for two of our students, and I listened as Chris shared how good he felt after going in and praying with others in that traditional way.

I joined the group for the feed afterwards – delicious Indian Tacos with freshly made fry bread.