Native American Ministry Leacers Convene for Specialized Training

ST. FRANCIS, S.D. - June 17, 2013 - PRLog -- NATIVE AMERICAN MINISTRY LEADERS CONVENE
FOR SPECIALIZED TRAINING
St. Francis Mission Staff To Attend Regional Conference

St. Francis, S.D. ----   A seven-day institute for personnel who are beginning or engaged in Native American ministry will be held at the Sioux Spiritual Center in Plainview,
S.D., June 18 to June 25.  Five members of the St. Francis Mission staff at Rosebud Reservation will attend as both speakers and students.

The educational institute, which includes 31 hours of dedicated classwork, is sponsored by the National Tekawitha Conference, headquartered in Great Falls, Mont.  The purpose and programs of the Conference align closely with those of the Sioux Spiritual Center, a spiritual and educational resource of the Diocese of Rapid City.

Speakers and workshop sessions will cover topics such as the theology of mission, anthropology, liturgy, Native culture and religion, collaborative ministry and recovery programs.  Native speakers involved in catechetics, parish administration and youth ministry also will discuss their work and experiences.

“Gatherings like these are invaluable for those of us in mission work with Native cultures,” said Fr. John Hatcher, S.J., director of St. Francis Mission.  “Whether you have years of experience or are just beginning in ministry, you learn so much from people engaged in similar work day to day.  It’s also affirmation and support for your efforts,” he added.

According to Fr. Hatcher, an important feature of the institute is that, although it takes place in a Lakota setting, the basic principles of inculturation it develops can be used in approaching any Native culture.

Fr. Hatcher will address the group on the theology of mission to Native American people and his approach to evangelization. Other St. Francis Mission staff will also be speaking at the event. Rodney Bordeaux, Chief Operation Officer of St. Francis Mission, will be talking about relationship with Tribal Government, Jim & Caroline Stands will speak about drug & alcohol recovery from a Native American perspective and Marylee & Cowboy Fasthorse will also talk about recovery topics.

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St. Francis Mission is a ministry of the of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) among the 20,000 Lakota (Sioux) people on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in south-central South Dakota. It is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1886.  The purpose of the Mission is to re-evangelize Catholic Lakota people and bring the Gospel of Jesus the Christ to those who have not heard it. More information is available at www.sfmission.org.

The Tekakwitha Conference is a non-profit Catholic organization for evangelization among the Indigenous of North America. For more information, see www.tekconf.org.