Las Casas Fund & Board.
Number 26 February 1997:
- MANITOUMIE: WHERE THE GREAT SPIRIT DWELLS
- WHISPERINGS FROM THE WHITE EARTH
- A MINISTRY TO A BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
- CURRENT WISH LIST
- ROSE BRUSCO CIRILLO 1910 - 1996
- IN THE BEGINNING...
- BARTOLOME DE LAS CASAS
- STATUE
- OPPORTUNITY REMAINS AVAILABLE
- THE LEGEND OF THE DREAMCATCHER
MANITOUMIE: WHERE THE GREAT SPIRIT DWELLS
The last meeting of the Las Casas Board of Trustees was held October 3-5, 1996 at a unique Wisconsin location: the Sinsinawa Mound Center. "The Mound" invites one to reflect on our history and how Native American peoples are a significant part of it.
Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP, was among the first Dominican preachers in the United States, who came to America from Italy in response to the call for help from the Dominican Bishop of Cincinnati, Edward Fenwick, OP, who ordained him a priest in 1830. Following his bishop's missionary zeal to the Indians, Fr. Mazzuchelli, OP, preached throughout Wisconsin and Upper Peninsula Michigan, specifically to the Sac and Fox, Chippewa, Ottawa, Menominee, and Winnebago peoples.
Back then, southwestern Wisconsin was referred to as Manitoumie, "where the Great Spirit dwells." Both Indians and white settlers mined lead ore and other minerals in this hilly area. In 1844, Fr. Mazzuchelli, OP, purchased the largest hill in the area, known simply as "The Mound", from a local settler. Three years later he founded the Dominican Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary at this site, which is still their Motherhouse today as they celebrate their 150th anniversary.
Many of us cannot identify our ancestral roots nor claim such as heroic past as the Sinsinawa Dominicans can with their founder, Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP. Nevertheless, studies are now being done which indicate the extensive influence that Native American culture and values have had on the American immigrant population.
In The Graywolf Annual (pp. 22-23), Paula Gunn Allen writes:
"The transfer of Indian Values and culture to as large and influential a segment of American immigrant population as possible...is amply demonstrated in the Indian values and social styles that increasingly characterize American life..."Contemporary Americans va1ue leisure almost as much as tribal people do. They find themselves increasingly unable to accept child abuse as a reasonable way to nurture. They bathe more than any other industrial people on earth -- much to the scorn of their white cousins across the Atlantic, and they sometimes enjoy a good laugh at their own expense...
"Two-thirds of their diet and a large share of their medications and medical treatments mirror or are directly derived from Native American sources. Indianization in not a simple concept, to be sure, and it is one that Americans often find themselves resisting; but it is a process that has taken place, regardless of American resistance to recognizing the source of many if not most of American's vaunted freedoms in our personal. family, social, and political arenas."
Our past history, both Dominican and American, is laden with Native American ancestry, culture and values. Are you cognizant of the Native American influence all around you, in your own life, and in your local history? One only has to scratch the surface!
During the Las Casas Board of Trustees meeting, I took a walk after dinner one day to enjoy the beautiful autumn day at "The Mound" I came upon the remnants of a stone fort, now part of the actual building and landscape at Sinsinawa. The white settlers had build it in the 1830's to defend themselves during the Black Hawk Wars. In my homestate of Illinois, Abraham Lincoln had joined the army to help fight Black Hawk. Yet, my Dominican forefather, Samuel Mazzuchelli bought this "Mound" (fort included!) as part of his missionary efforts to white settlers and to the Native American people of the area. Surely both of them remembered the Black Hawk Wars from the previous decade!
And what was it that we had for dinner at "The Mound" today? Corn-on-the cob, mashed potatoes' pumpkin pie...!
By Jerry Stookey, OP Board Member, Chicago Illinois
WHISPERINGS FROM THE WHITE EARTH
Since the last newsletter which was distributed in September, Sister Mary Ann and Sister JoAnn are working at implementing the seven grants that have been awarded to the Las Casas Dominican Ministry Among the Cheyenne and Arapaho here in Canton, Oklahoma. This past summer and the present fall have been busy! We are continuing to pray for a third member for the on site team. A Columbus Dominican sister called and is planning to spend a month with us in Canton sometime in late January and February. We look forward to this new life with great hope. Also, we have heard from Father Tom Condon. O.P., novice master of thc Southern Province. Hopefully, a number of the novices will spend some time with us in Canton this summer.
The Las Casas Board of Trustees has asked that the newsletter be published here in Canton beginning with this present issue. We have hired a young Cheyenne/Arapaho woman, Anna Jean Williams, to type and prepare the mailing list and labels and also all of the articles. Anna is presently completing a course in computers and office practices at the Vo-Tech School in Fairview, Oklahoma. She has been doing an excellent job and we are so proud of her! During December Sister Elaine Osborne, O.P. of the Great Bend Dominicans will be coming to Canton to set up the newsletter for the printer and Anna will be working with her also to gain more experience in newsletter publishing. Mary Ann and I are indeed grateful for all the help.
The last maailing of the Las Casas newsletter enclosed a contribution request envelope for the first time. A number of responses have been received and we thank those individuals and groups who have found it possible to contribute to the work among the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians here in the northwest part of Oklahoma. It is good to know that so many are aware and concerned for this ministry. On November 15 the White Earth Center has become a site for the serving of Senior Citizen Hot Lunches through the Wheatheart Nutrition Project of Oklahoma. We needed to have some upgrading done at the center to comply with Federal regulations concerning the handicapped. The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribe financed these improvements and now we have a wheelchair accessible restroom and a cement sidewalk up to the entrance for wheelchair accessibility. The elders are happy to be able to come to a closer site; since May they have had to travel to Watonga for the lunches and this was not always possible for some. Now they can be picked up in the C & A Lucky Star Tribal van and come to socialize, play bingo, enjoy other energizing activities with their friends and share a good, hot meal together.
As we spoke of in other "Whisperings...," the needs assessment that was completed in the fall of 1994, revealed needs to be addressed in the areas of education, health care, legal assistance and family welfare The grants, that have been awarded to Las Casas cover projects in pre-natal and post-natal education and follow up, developing a computer lab for women who have not had computer experience, the salvaging and passing on of traditional arts, community organizing in the area of parental involvement in the education of their children, and providing space and personnel for AA, Alateen, Alanon meetings and youth activities. We've been busy! Other projects not funded by grants also continue on a regular basis.
There is a "young lady" by the name of Sister Rebecca Shiroda, O.P. (Becky for short), living in retirement at the Dominican motherhouse in Adrian, Michigan. Sister has been very active in collecting, washing (if necessary), packaging and mailing boxes of used clothing to us here in O4dahoma weelcly to be distributed among the Cheyenne and Arapaho people. Used books have also arrived here through Sister's efforts. The people and we, ourselves, are most grateful to Becky for her generous and painstaking work for us. Even our postal workers want to send a thank you note to Sister for increasing their business! God bless you, Becky, and any of your helpers; you are indeed a donor to the Las Casas ministry.
We cannot mention the donation of used clothing without acknowledging Marge Berge, and Jean Wells of New Jersey, and Wilma Hart of the Christian Community Church of Canton, Oklahoma, who also contribute wonderful used clothing to us on a regular basis. Thank you, Marge, Jean and Wilma for your thought of the needs of the people, and may you enjoy the blessings of our Creator.
Until next time, we ask you to please keep us and the Cheyenne and Arapaho people in your good prayers. Be sure that you and all our benefactors are in our prayers daily.
Mary Ann Cirillo, OP
JoAnn Fleischater, OP
Canton On-Site Team
A MINISTRY TO A BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
The St. Paul's Mission School, on Fort Belknap Reservation in Northcentral Montana, is in an enchanting place. The Native Americans in the area have great love and respect for "Mission" school. Its graduating classes over the years have produced homemakers, teachers, nurses, attorneys and people of great faith.
The first Sparkill Dominican sisters arrive there in 1973. Today the school consists of grades Kindergarten through sixth. Sister Helen Regina Durso, the principal, has been at the Mission School for 17 years. Sister Christine Ferrar teaches 6th grade and has also been there for 16 years and Sister Joan Keehan, who teaches 3rd grade, has been there for three years. Other Sisters who taught in Mission School are Kathleen Kane, Laura Fucito and Mary Hourigan. Jesuit volunteers have been teaching in the school for over 25 years.
The Mission has come a long way from the Spring of 1880 when Father Eberschweiler, S. J. set out with three companions to find a site for a mission. They came upon an "oasis" in the desert, and it remains so today. The site for St. Paul's Mission is a spacious valley watered by a mountain stream, with pine covered slopes to the north and south It is enhanced by a clear view of the purple Bear's Paw Mountains in the distance.
The Mission school building was built and ready for occupancy that fall. The Mission grew materially and spiritually. In 1893, Father Feusi, S. J. built the Boys Boarding School. In 1898 Father Macklin. S. J. built the beautiful Mission Church and in 1901 he erect the Girls Boarding School.
When St. Paul's Mission celebrated its Silver Jubilee it was a the height of its prosperity, but in 1931 a fire completely destroyed both the church and the Girls Boarding School. The Mission Church, as it stands today, was rebuilt of local sandstone in 1933.
Years of drought followed; creeks dried up. The Mission and the people were reduced to destitution. Another blow was struck in 1936 when a fire devoured the pine trees and left the Little Rockies barren and black. Fathers John and Joseph Balfc, S. J. held tough and tried to hold the Mission together. It was then that the Ursuline Sisters were recalled to work in other areas and that devastated the people.
Bishop O' Hara made a personal trip to . Milwaukee to secure the School Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi. A new era had arrived Four sisters came to Montana and a new day school was started. In May of 1937, the first 8th grade graduates recaved their diplomas. They pleaded for more schooling and the St. Paul Mission High School was founded in 1938.
In the summer of 1939, Sister Clare Hartman left Milwaukee for St. Paul's Mission. She is the librarian at the Mission School today and Sister Germaine, the only other Franciscan sister is the homemaker. Sister Clare is 89 years young and Sister Germaine is in her 70's.
Another fire destroyed the grade school in December, 1973. The school was rebuilt and is now "bursting at the seams." An addition is needed for at least two more classrooms and a room where the speech teacher and child psychologist can conduct their programs. New computer software and updates on reading and language arts programs are also necessities.
--Sr. Kathleen Kane, OP
Sparkill, NY
CURRENT WISH LIST:
Received:
A stand-up deep freeze was purchased from a local resident and serves to preserve frozen foods from the Oklahoma Food Bank.
Carpeting for the White Earth Center was laid on January 19. The Canton Christian Church was putting in new carpeting and Las Casas received some of the old. It is a beautiful rust color.
Needed:
Underwear and socks for adults and children are always in demand Games and sports equipment for the youth center would be welcome.
ROSE BRUSCO CIRILLO
SEPTEMBER 26, 1910 -- DECEMBER 31, 1996
A special life has passed from our sight...but never from our hearts.
My Mother, Rose Cirillo, had a peaceful death to new life surrounded by those she loved. So many of you called and sent cards. I want to thank all of you for the Mass enrollments, sympathy cards, and prayerful support. It is great to be a Dominican!
May I share several of these comforting thoughts with you "This new year has brought new life to yow mother -- like a Rose in springtime! American Indians and Christians both understand death as moving on to God, which brings us aroound full cycle to new birth and joy." Father Jerry Stookey, O.P., Las Casas Dominican Ministry.
"A time will come when my life will cease, But when that time comes I ask that you remember these things: Bury my body but don't bury my beliefs. Bury my heart but don't bury my love. Bury my eyes but not my vision. Bury my feet but not the path of my life. Bury my hands but don't bury my diligent efforts. Bury my shoulders but not the concerns I carried. Bury my voice but not my message. Bury my mind but don't bury my dreams. Bury me don't bury my life. If you must bury something let it be my faults and my weaknesses but let my life continue on in you." Randal Rohr's words read at Sister Francis Schier's brother's funeral -- Sister Francis wrote that she hoped that these words would help me. too.
A person may remember those with whom she laughs, but one will always remember those with whom she cries. Sister Margaret Charles Kociolek O.P. was present with us as we attended to the necessary preparations for Mom's wake and funeral. We are forever grateful for Margaret's love and fnendship. A friend is one who listens with the heart. Another Dominican to whom I am grateful Is my on-site team member, Sister JoAnn Fleischaker, O.P. Sister JoAnn has kept the Las Casas Ministry going alone during my absence. It is JoAnn who is present to me each day as I grieve, cry and process Mom's death. My heartfelt gratitude to this Dominican woman of faith and compassion
My family and I are grateful that Father Joseph Payne. O.P. was able to celebrate the Mass of Resurrection for Mom at St. Mary's Church in Rockledge, Florida
My sister, Cathy, and I remain grateful to each of you for being with us as our precious mother completed her work on earth and joined our dad. Richard, Cathy's son, Ricky, and so many of our family where her eyes are opened and her ears hear what God prepared for her from all eternity.
Thank you, and may our loving gracious God bless you and your family as we begin this New Year of 1997.
Sister Mary Ann Cirillo, O P.
Catherine Mary Berdan and Family
IN THE BEGINNING...
Part of the process of self-know1edge is staying in touch with one's historical roots. A simple way of doing this occasionally to tell the story of a birth and of growing up somewhere somehow. LAS CASAS DOMINICAN MINISTRIES is no exception. As new members come onto the Board of Trustees or new friends add their support and prayers to this ministry, the need arises once more to tell the story of the early years. So,
"Chance" meetings can have a profound and lasting impact. LAS CASAS began with a "chance meeting in the mid 1970's between Fr. Albert Broderick, OP, who was at the time a law professor at Catholic University of America, and Fr. Joseph Burger, a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma, who was visiting in Washington D. C.. Fr. Burger mentioned his concern for the Native American people in his area who suffered considerably from prejudice and especially suffered at the hands of local law enforcement authorities. There were other 'crying needs' of the Native Americans, particularly of the Cheyenne and Ampaho tribes, that needed attention.
Fr. Broderick who was involved in a legal aid project in Washington, D. C., at the time, and another Dominican Friar, Fr. Regis Ryan OP, visited Fr. Burger in Northwest Oklahoma, and as a result, in August 1977, a letter writing campaign was launched to begin a legal assistance project which would eventually be called LEAPCAT (Legal Assistance Project for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.) The letter writing campaign was very successful. A decision was made to put part of the money into a fund to be managed by a board that could sponsor other to assist these Native American peoples. The fund was named after Bartolomeo de Las Casas, a 16th century Dominican friar/bishop who championed the cause of Indigenous peoples against oppression by Spanish colonizers.
To spark interest by other Dominicans, an informal meeting was scheduled to take place before the annual meeting of the Dominican Lcadership Conference in the fall of 1977. In the meantime, Fr. Ryan invited Sr. Betty Jean Goebel OP, of the Great Bend, KS, Dominican Sisters to come and help him learn about tbe needs of the Cheyenne-Arapaho peoples. The Great Bend sisters were the congregation located nearest the area in question. The report by Fr. Ryan and Sr. Goebel was presented to those who attended the meeting. It suggested a further project to be called DRUMS Dominican Resources United for a Ministry of Service). The LAS CASAS FUND, as it was then called, was then incorporated in the state of New York. Several Dominican women from the Great Bend KS, Blauvelt, NY, and Amityville, NY Dominican sisters' congregations began ministry in the area and thus LAS CASAS was born! It continues to this day in its efforts to serve the needs of Cheyenne-Arapaho and other Native American peoples.
R. B. Williams, OP
San Antonio, Texas
BARTOLOME DE LAS CASAS
The life of Bartotome de Las Casas spans the decade" of the "discovery" of the Americas by the Europeans and its exploration and eventual conquest of those lands by Spain and Portugal. The history of that period of time is filled with accounts of cruelty, even genocide of whole peoples. Since the father of Bartolome was a merchant his family was closely involved in the "New World." After studies in Salamanca, Spain, at 18 Bartolome journeyed to the islands of Hispaniola (now the location of Haiti and the Dominican Republic). There he worked with his father in taking over lands given his father by Columbus. Hc had to bc aware of the adverse effects of this takeover on the native population and in later years drew memories of this period of his life when he wrote his History of the Indies.
Had Bartolome remained a Spanish landowner becoming every more prosperous at the expense of native inhabitants of the islands no doubt he would have no place in the history books. As it is he becomes better known as the centuries go by since his death in 1566. He took note of the evils surrounding him as a young man and began to perceive the injustices that the conquest of New World as causing. After returning to Spain for further studies and being ordained in 1507 he returned to Hispeniola as a priest-landowner.
His sense of justice would in the end prevail, however. The Dominicans arrived on the island in 1510 as missionaries and soon began to preach against the system of the "encomendero" which in effect brought about the enslavement of the natives. The Spanish military secured the "pacification" of these peoples and the church personnel were expected to support the cruelties imposed on the original peoples of the newly discovered lands. By 1514 Las Casas had made up his mind that he had no right to his ill-gotten lands and slaves. He gave freedom to his workers and returned to them his lands. In 1515 he sailed for Spain where he intended to "tell the king" of the horrors he had witnessed.
The real life work of Las Casas began in 1514. As a priest-landowner, "encomendero", he had been an active participant in a socioeconomic system that was destroying the Native Americans, body and soul. Influenced by the Dominican friars who preached against this injustice, he came to realize that he would have to give up his lands and the free labor of the Indians in order to live justly.
Since his family had contacts with some influential person in the Spanish government, Bartolome began his work for the benefit of the Native Americans by traveling back to Spsin in 1515. There he fought for their defense especially through trying to change the unjust system of the "encomienda" which was really a thinly disguised form of slavery to which the Indians were subjected.
In the ensuing years Las Casas was involved in two attempts to change the way Spain explored and settled the lands that belonged to Native Americans. Both were unsuccessful and served to discourage him momentarily from taking on more experiments of that kind. Then, in 1522, aware of the commitment of the Dominican fears to work for the freedom and justice of the Indians, he sought admission to the Order in Santo Domingo, Hispaniola. From then on, as a Dominican preacher he would continue the struggle to bring peace and justice to the native inhabitants of the "New World."
As Vicar for Dominicans in Guatemala Las Casas was able to - finally - effect a peaceful exploration and evangelization in that land. With other Dominican friars and some native converts he entered an area known as the "Land of War" because the Indian tribes there were known to be fierce warriors. After months of efforts on the part of Las Casas's group? the tribes were converted peacefully and the area was renamed Tierra de La Paz. To this day you can visit the Departamento in Guatemala shown on every map as "La Paz."
Other events took place during these years that helped to improve the situation of the oppressed Indians. In 1536 Las Casas led the arguments in the Mexican Ecclesiastical Conference of churchmen toward the adoption of three resolutions affecting the native peoples. These resolutions declared that:
- Conquests of these lands were unjust
- Conversions must bc worked for peacefully, through preaching
- Adult Indians must receive catechizes before being baptized
In 1522 he was admitted to the Dominican novitiate in Santo Dominigo on the island of Hispaniola. This island (now comprised of Haiti and the Dominican Republic) was the first base for Dominican and Franciscan missionaries in the Western Hemisphere. He was sent to Puerto Plata on Hispaniola in 1526 to found a priory there. At this time he began his monumental History of the Indies that is still studied today by serious students of that era.
Elizabeth Ann Schaefer, OP
Akron, Ohio
Watonga, Oklahoma
November, 1996
Dear Friends:
I am writing to you to share some wonderful and exciting news. For the past three years, I have been traveling to Bear Butte Mountain, (Nowahwus) in Sturgis, South Dakota.
As you may know, this mountain is sacred to the Southern Cheyenne people, as our Sacred Arrows were received there over 4500 years ago. I have been making the trip to lay down offerings and pray to Maheo for myself, my family, and all people.
On my second trip, last year, I visited the Park Center located on the side of the mountain. On a patio outside, I saw that a bust of Frank Fools Crow, a Sioux man, had been installed there to honor him.
I immediately thought that since this mountain, Bear Butte, is sacred to the Cheyenne people, some sort of symbol of our people should be there, also.
After my return home, I began talkcing to friends and family about my idea for Bear Butte. One of those people, a sculptor from Oklahoma City, suggested a statue of one of the Keeper of the Sacred Arrows. In my experience, I knew Edward Red Hat, the First, to be a well-respected Arrowkeeper. The sculptor, John Learned, said that he would be willing to create a life-size statue of Edward for placement at Bear Butte. He has worked on it for a year now and the statue is almost complete. He is contributing the statue to us without cost.
In conversations with family and friends, we decided to install and dedicate the statue of Edward Red Hat at Bear Butte State Park next spring. This will be a great tribute to Edward Red Hat, as a symbol of all those men who have had the sacred duty of care of the Arrows; it will also be a tribute to all those Cheyenne who have followed the teaching and laws that came with those arrows from the cave of Sweet Medicine.
It is our hope that many of our Cheyenne people and friends will be able to go to Bear Butte for the dedication next spring. In order to accomplish this, we are trying to raise funds for this long trip and for the installation of the statue. Since, in the past, you have expressed interest in our Cheyenne ways, I am writing to ask if you will help us establish a fund that will enable us to make this 500 mile pilgrimage next year.
We are establishing a Trust Fund at the Watonga State Bank in Watonga, Oklahoma, for the costs of installation, gasoline. food, and travel expenses for our friends We will be having benefit dances this winter to help defray costs of the trip, also.
If you would care to make a contribution to this fund, please send your contribution to:
Bear Butte Trip
c/o Watonga State Bank
P. O Box 169
Watonga, Oklahoma 73772
If you have questions or concerns, you can forward these to me at:
Floyd Black Bear
P. O. Box 364
Watonga, Oklahoma 73772
I appreciate, in advance, any assistance you can render in helping us to establish this tribute to the Keeper of the Sacred Arrows and the Cheyenne tribe of Oklahoma.
Sincerely,
Floyd Blackbear
Member of the Cheyenne/Arapaho
Tribes of Oklahoma
OPPORTUNITY REMAINS AVAILABLE
The Personnel Committee of the Las Casas Board of Trustecs announced an opening for someone to join Mary Ann Cirillo, OP (Hope) and JoAnn Fleischaker, OP (Adrian) at Canton, OEC in working with the Cheyenne and Arapaho people. The need is for someone drawn to Dominican team ministry and community living, who has had some experience in ministry with minority groups and who would have an interest in working in two or three of the following areas: youth work, pre-natal/post-natal education, computer work, managing finances/grants, community organizing, basic adult education.
If you are interested or know of someone who might be, please contact: Mary Jordan Langenhenning,OP - 504- 346-5200 or Gerald Stookey, OP - 312 - 666-3244. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.
LEAPCAT DISSOLVES
The Board of Directors of the corporation in 1996 determined it was appropriate to windup and dissolve the corporation. Oklahoma law provides that upon the windup of a non-profit corporation it is appropriate for the governing board to distribute any remaining funds pursuant to the by-laws of the corporation. The Board determined that Las Casas qualifies for a portion of the assets which were available for distribution at windup.
The on-site team received thc following letter from Rick Bazarth, Attorney fw the LEAPCAT corporation. They want to share this letter with all Las Casas News readers.
"Greetings: I wanted to write this letter to accompany the "form" letter that I wrote to all the recipients of monies from LEAPCAT's windup of corporate affairs to bener recognize the efforts of you sisters and your predecessor over the past 2a years in behalf of LEAPCAT and the people and ideals that it served. The Dominican Order's work among the Cheyenne and Arapaho people has been unequaled in its goals and successes these past years. I am proud to have been a part of that efforts in some little ways over the years.
"It is interesting how one, after the passage of time has the opportunity to look at the things one has done with his life with some satisfaction and how events shape those decisions and the degree of that satisfaction. I got out of Law School in 1976 at the height of the 'oil boom' in Oklahoma, a time when it was extremely advantageous to be a lawyer as there were many great oppornmities for lawyers at that time. For some unknown reason I saw the advertisement and announcement for LEAPCAT and subsequently got that position. I didn't make much money and it really didn't dawn on me that I was missing a supposed economic opportunity. I did, however, make a great many good friends over the years that have stayed with me for those 20 years. I consider that I am where I am today as a result of where I was and what I did those 20 years ago. I thus wonder who among us can look back for two decades and with satisfaction recognize that one event shaped the intervening years and events to a large and positive extent.
" I was pleased to be involved with LEAPCAT and will cherish those memories and friends and the good karma that I created and thereafter received by my chance involvement with you Dominicans so many years ago. Your efforts to help the Cheyenne and Arapaho are evident around you. What may not be as obvious is the positive influence your efforts and presence have on the rest of us.
"Best wishes on your continued endeavors."
Sincerely,
Rick Bozarth
| This is our first newsletter out of Canton! Formerly, the newsletter was sent from the headqarters of many Dominican agencies in Chicago. We know we have some inconsistencies in the newsletter style this time but we resolve to correct these as we learn the equipment on which we are producing, the newsletter. Happy reading! |
THE LEGEND OF THE DREAMCATCHER
The Native Americans of the Great Plains believe that the air is filled with both good and bad dreams. Historically, dreamcatchers were hung in the tipi or lodge, and also on a haby's cradle board.
Legend has it that the good dreams pass through the center hole to the sleeping person. The bad dreams are trapped in the web, where they perish in the light of dawn.
Partnership in Las Casas Ministry
What does this mean?
How will my contribution be used?
Will a small donation make a difference?
Clearly, Las Casas Ministry is a partnership. Partners level of support run the gamut including the ministry of Sisters JoAnn and Mary Ann. The site team involvement of the Las Casas Board of Trustees, grants from religious congregations/provinces and foundations, and contributions of churches, organizations and individuals. Each and every form of support is appreciated and vitally important for Las Casas ministry. That's partnership!
Donations to Las Casas are used to purchase food and persona1 items from the Oklahoma City Food Bank to provide educational materials to respond to emergency needs of neighbors who turn to Las Casas for assistance in time of crisis, to sustain on-going programs such as the co-op and tutoring and to help support the on-site team ministry. These are just examples of the many needs addresses by Las Casas partners.
Recently, Las Casas received four welcomed grants which not only provide service but also create employment opportunities.
The Adrian Dominicans and the Racine Dominicans contribute funds designated for pre-natal education and post-natal follow-up by Cheyenne and Arapaho Outreach workers with Cheyenne and Arapaho women. A grant from the LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious) and the Springfield Dominicans will be used to hire a youth director and an assistant on a part-time basis and to purchase equipment and materials for White Earth II programs.
Partnership in Las Casas Ministry means much to recipients and donors alike. Each partner makes a difference. We're counting on you to help strengthen and expand the ministry with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma.
Gerry O'Meara. OP
Sinsinawa, Wisconsin
Las Casas
Dominican Ministry Among the Cheyenne and Arapaho
524 West Pine
Canton, Oklahoma 73724-9703
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