Dear Disciples of Christ at Holy Spirit, St. Helen’s, and St. Mary’s,

Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ  =  All My Relations

Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ. Peace and Blessings on all of you. I am writing this on July 14, 2025. In a few days, myself and 10 other members of our One Catholic Family will be departing for Pine Ridge Reservation. We will have arrived back to Northwest Indiana a few days ago both emptied and filled. In next week’s bulletin, I will be writing about our experience.

I have been on the reservation as a guest of the Jesuit Priests who operate Maȟpíya Lúta (formerly known as Red Cloud School). On this trip, we will present to them the $16,224.22 check representing our Lenten Almsgiving for the school. Thank you much for having made that possible.

This trip will have been different than my first. Writing this, I have mixed feelings of anticipation and excitement, and maybe a bit of nerves about our upcoming Mission. There are also a whole lot of questions in my mind and heart. I believe we are going to have to be emptied of many preconceived notions, expectations, and beliefs. We will be there to empty ourselves in service. We need to be emptied out to receive the experience at Pine Ridge. I believe the best attitude I can take is one of service and surrender.

Appropriately the day I am writing, July 14th, is the Feast of one of my most beloved Saints. St. Kateri Tekakwitha. She is known as the Lily of the Mohawks. Saint Kateri was born of a Christian Algonquin mother and a non-Christian Mohawk chief. Her parents died from smallpox when she was 14. Seeds of faith were planted and in 1675 she was instructed in the faith and baptized by Father Jacques de Lamberville. Because of her conversion and desire to remain a virgin for Christ she suffered harassment and abuse. In time, she fled by foot, to a Christian village on the Saint Lawrence River. She died at the age of 24 in 1680. Her last words were Jesus I Love You. Look her up and learn more.

I would like to devote our Mission Trip to this beautiful Saint. Saint Kateri Tekakwitha – Pray for Us.

Fr. Ian