Kateri Northwest Ministry Institute
This year, the Kateri Program is joyfully blessed in welcoming back Maureen Foley-Bensen to teach scripture. Many years ago, Maureen was asked to be a part of the teaching team for the program, invited by the original founders of Kateri Northwest Ministry Institute, Fr. Dick Mercy, S.J., and Fr. Tom Colgan, S.J. Now Maureen has returned with a great enthusiasm to once again help deepen the participant’s love and understanding of the Sacred Word.
Maureen’s background in scripture started in New York, where she studied under the tutelage of Monsignor George Denzer and Bishop Emil Wcela, both noted scholars, at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington on Long Island. After earning her Master’s degree in Religious Education, Maureen joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in 1978 and has lived and worked among the Native people in Omak, Washington on the Colville Indian Reservation for the past 40 years.
Maureen travels from her home in Omak to Spokane, Washington twice monthly – once a month to meet with the Spokane group, and once a month to continue her travels into Montana with Fr. Mike to meet with the participants in the St. Ignatius group. Since the trip into Montana to get to Great Falls is quite far, our director Fr. Mike brings a recorded version of Maureen’s classes for discussion with the Great Falls group when they meet on their scheduled weekend. Maureen has the three groups engaged in studying the book of Exodus as well as the two prophets of Isaiah and Hosea. There has been a wonderful, favorable response from the participants as they all delve into the scriptures together to explore and absorb their meaning in such a deep, meaningful way.
