Native American Ministry
Even though Summers here in the Arizona Desert can reach temperatures in the mid 100’s, we still had many activities going on at the Missions on the Gila River Indian Reservation. Our Consolata Sisters offered Vacation Bible School at our St. Anthony Mission during the second week in June with close to forty students representing four districts of the Reservation attending throughout the week. One of the bus drivers from nearby St. Peter Indian Mission School offered to transport those students who were without transportation to and from Vacation Bible School.
Three of our Missions celebrated their Feast Day this Summer. St. Anthony of Padua Mission had an all day celebration starting with Mass in the morning on Saturday, June 15th. Unfortunately, none of our Friars were available that day, so one of our retired priests, who had never been at a Feast Day Celebration before, offered to step in and cover. After Mass, he stayed and spent the entire day with the people. He absolutely enjoyed the experience, and stated that the people were hospitable and enriched his understanding and appreciation of their culture and faith life.
On the following Sunday, June 23rd, another Feast Day was celebrated at our St. John the Baptist Mission after the 7:00 am Sunday Mass. Fr. Antony Tinker, FHS, the Director of Native American Ministry was the main celebrant for the Feast Day. Then on Sunday, July 28th, our newly ordained Fr. Peter Teresa McConnell, FHS celebrated his first Feast Day on the Reservation with our St. Anne Mission. Fr. Peter Teresa was ordained a priest on June 1, 2019!
Lastly, on August 25th, we had one more celebration on the Reservation. Both Bishop Olmsted and Bishop Nevares came down to St. Peter Mission to celebrate the 8:00 AM Mass in honor of Sr. Carol Mathe, OSF who was celebrating her Diamond Jubilee and Sr. Martha Carpenter, OSF who was celebrating her Golden Jubilee this year. Both Sisters have been teaching at St. Peter Indian Mission School for over thirty years! Along with their Jubilees they also celebrated the 150th anniversary of their religious community, the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. Needless, to say, it was standing room only at this celebration. Many generations of students from all over the Reservation attended to celebrate the Sisters.
In all of these ‘Summer Activities’, Black & Indian Missions played a huge part. Due to your overwhelming generosity, we are blessed to have 2 groups of Sisters on the Reservation, both the Consolatas and the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. We are also able to pay Mass stipends and mileage to our retired priests and cover some of the costs of our two priests dedicated to Native American Ministry. Thank you so much!
