Voice of the Southwest, Vol. 53 No. 2

Voice of the Southwest dioceseofgallup.org | Vol.53 No.2

ON JUNE 28, SEMINARIAN NATHANAEL BLOCK WAS

ORDAINED TO THE

PRIESTHOOD

Columns 4

Bishop James S. Wall

From the Bishop Following in the footsteps of Southwest Saints and missionaries

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Dr. Jean Lee

Saints for Today Sts. Cosmas & Damian

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Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

Making Sense of Bioethics Clearing the air around marijuana use

News 5

Local/World News Briefs

06 Cover Story

Latest priestly assignments • Bishops’ Guidelines for Forming Voting Consciences

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Priestly Ordination

Seminarian’s Ordination to the priesthood for the Diocese of Gallup is the first in seven years

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Diaconate Ordination

Four news deacons ordained; Two will become priests in 2015

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La Fiesta de Colores

Religious-themed art show celebrates Hispanic culture

Features 10

75 Years as a Diocese

Examining churches dedicated under the Most Rev. Bernard Espelage, first Bishop of Gallup

14 16 18

Catholic Schools Events and Classifieds 25 Years as Priests

Pastors Fr. Tim Farrell and Fr. Frank Chacon reflect on 25 years of priestly ministry

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09 19

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315 Years at Laguna

The Franciscan mission at Laguna Pueblo turned 315 over the summer

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V8’s for Vocations

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Prison Ministry

Classic Car Restoration will fund seminarians’ education

Sr. Elizabeth Racko explains the importance of ministry to men and women in prison

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Voice

of the

Southwest

Publisher

The Most Rev. Bishop James S. Wall

Editor

Suzanne Hammons

Advertising/Office Manager Ella Roanhorse

About Us The Voice of the Southwest is the flagship publication for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gallup. Published by Bishop James S. Wall four times per year, the Voice covers news, events, and happenings throughout the Gallup diocese--which spans 55,000 square miles in northwest New Mexico and northeast Arizona.

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Tell us what you think! Respond to an article, provide feedback, or simply tell us what’s on your mind. Letters must be signed and should not exceed 300 words. The Voice reserves the right to edit for clarity and length. Opinions expressed and published are solely the writer’s and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinion of the editor.

Email comments to:

designoffice@dioceseofgallup.org

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Voice of the Southwest PO Box 1338, Gallup NM 87305-1338 For advertising, contact: Ella Roanhorse, 505.863.4406

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From the Editor Autumn is here (although it seems like just yesterday we were beginning the new year) and with it come two major events. I wish we had enough space in this issue to devote more time to these topics - indeed, two magazines on their own could be filled - but as it is, I wanted to briefly touch on these two upcoming occasions.

First up - election season. As Catholics and people of conscience, we are called to look carefully at the issues and stances of candidates, whose actions have the capacity to deeply affect the future of our communities, states, and country. On a personal level I’ve always disliked the idea of voting for a candidate based simply on the party they belong to or because of labels such as “liberal” or “conservative”. The problems and issues our society must face each day are too complicated and broad to fit under terms like these, and to truly vote in an intelligent and conscientious way, we must look deeper. I can’t tell you how or why to vote - no one can, nor should they, because that is a decision we must each undertake individually. There are ways, however, to inform ourselves, and you can find a little bit more on page 5.

The second event is the upcoming Year of Consecrated Life, which will begin this November and run all

throughout next year. By declaring this year, Pope Francis wanted to highlight how vital religious communities are for the Church around the world. In our own Diocese, for instance, think of the Franciscans, who have lived and worked among the Native Americans for hundreds of years, or the Missionaries of Charity, who operate homeless shelters, the members of the Sisters of Charity, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, and many more, who teach, minister, and counsel for the benefit of anyone in need.

Over the course of the next year, I hope to devote some time to highlighting each community, both in the magazine and online.

In the meantime, when you see these religious men and women serving in your parish, please remember to keep them in your prayers. Although the Year of Consecrated Life is a fantastic idea, the presence of religious communities in our Diocese is something we should appreciate at all times.

Suzanne Hammons is the Media Coordinator for the Diocese of Gallup and a 2011 graduate of Benedictine College. You can email her anytime at designoffice@ dioceseofgallup.org

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From the Bishop: Proclaim the Gospel by Following in the Footsteps of the Great Missionaries of the Gallup Diocese Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, May God’s blessings and His peace be with you as we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Diocese of Gallup.

This past Summer I had the opportunity to go to two dioceses to preach the annual Mission Appeal. I visited the Diocese of Rockville Centre, NY, which contains Queens and Long Island. It was my first time visiting the area, and I found the people to be very welcoming.

I am grateful to Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre for his generous invitation. The following week I returned to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Carmel, Indiana. This was my fourth visit to the parish. Fr. Richard Doerr, a good friend of mine, invites me each year to preach the Mission Appeal to his parish, and I look forward to my time with the generous parishioners of the parish.

I am also thankful to Bishop Timothy Doherty of the Diocese of Lafayette for his invitation to visit one of his parishes each year.

A number of our priests and I, at the invitation of generous Bishops, go out to different dioceses each year to celebrate Mass and preach the Mission Appeal.

When we do this we have the opportunity to share the rich Catholic history of our beautiful diocese located here in the Southwest. I take personal pride in sharing the over 400-year history of the Catholic Church located in the great states of New Mexico and Arizona. This is not a personal boast, but rather a celebration of the presence of Christ and His Church in the Land of Enchantment and the Copper State. Saint Paul teaches us that “Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord” (1 Cor 1:31). With this in mind, I would like to share with you some of the “boasting” I do when I preach the Mission Appeal.

We know that in 1539, only eight years after the appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Saint Juan Diego, the missionary Friar Marcos de Niza led an explorative mission to Zuni Pueblo. At the heart of his mission was the desire to follow the command of the Lord when he

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instructed the Apostles to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you (Mt. 28:19-20). Our Lord’s words are a constant reminder to His that He “desires that all people come to know salvation”. I am ever grateful to those missionaries who have gone before us.

Our diocese is blessed to contain two of the oldest churches in North America, San Esteban del Rey at Acoma and San Jose at Laguna. San Esteban del Rey is located at Sky City and is the oldest church in the diocese, having been built in 1629. San Jose Parish at Laguna is the oldest continuous parish - with Mass celebrated weekly - dating back to 1699.

Each September, the parishes celebrate

We are part of a Church that is missionary

by Her very nature, meaning we are sent by Jesus Christ each day to evangelize. their patronal feasts and thank God for the bounties of the harvest.

In 1936, when our present diocese was still part of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and the Diocese of Tucson, Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, then the Secretary of the Vatican State, came to the United States to make a number of pastoral visits. At the request of Saint Katherine Drexel, Cardinal Pacelli came to the Southwest to ascertain whether a new diocese should be established in the area that would primarily serve the needs of the Native American peoples. Three years later, when Cardinal Pacelli was elected the successor of Saint Peter and chose the name Pius XII, he established the Diocese of Gallup. In this Diocese, we are forever grateful to the Venerable Pius XII. In 1969, the soon to be beatified Pope Paul VI created the Diocese of Phoenix, which in turn established the present boundaries of the Diocese of Gallup,

which now encompasses over 55,000 square miles in northeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico.

Blessed Theresa of Calcutta graced the diocese with her presence in 1986 and 1988 and in turn sent her sisters to minister in the Gallup area. We are grateful to the Missionaries of Charity for their continued presence in our diocese, especially as they minister to the poorest of the poor.

When we celebrate an anniversary we are afforded the opportunity to look back over our history. This allows us to reflect upon the great work of the Church, and the many great missionary men and women who have gone before us. We are part of a Church that is missionary

by Her very nature, meaning we are sent

by Jesus Christ each day to evangelize.

We must announce to the world Christ and His victory over sin and death. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI instructed the members of the Church to participate in the New Evangelization, which means we go and announce Jesus Christ “to those regions awaiting the first evangelization and to those regions where the roots of Christianity are deep but who have experienced a serious crisis of faith due to secularization.”

There is to be no delay in our efforts to evangelize. Pope Francis instructs us that the missionary work of the Church is vital. “The purpose is to proclaim the Kingdom of God, and this is urgent!

There is no time to waste in small talk, no need to wait for the consent of all; there is need only of going out and proclaiming.”

As we look back over our rich history, let us be inspired by the good works of the Church, so we might also look forward with great hope. Our hope is always in the One who has the power to save: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8).

Sincerely yours in Christ, Bishop James S. Wall

Local/World Catholic News New Priest Assignments Bishop James Wall announces the following appointments: Fr. Joachim Blonski Pastor St. John the Baptist, St. Johns AZ San Rafael, Concho AZ Fr. Daniel Kassis Pastor St. Rita, Show Low AZ Fr. Raymond Mahlmann Parochial Vicar St. Anthony, McNary AZ St. Helena, Alpine AZ Fr. Raja Yeruva Parish Administrator San Lorenzo, Ramah NM St. Patricks, Chichiltah NM Good Shepherd, Vanderwagen NM Fr. Peter Short Parish Administrator Our Lady of the Snow, Snowflake AZ Fr. Nathanael Block Parochial Vicar Sacred Heart Cathedral, Gallup NM Fr. Robert Hyman Parish Administrator St. Helena, Alpine AZ St. Anthony, McNary AZ Fr. Bill Welch has entered retirement at the Little Sisters of the Poor, Gallup NM Please keep these priests in your prayers as they begin their new assignments.

US Bishops Release Voting Guide The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has provided an excellent guide for Catholics on how to properly inform their consciences on election issues.

“We bishops seek to help Catholics form their consciences in accordance with the truth, so they can make sound moral choices in addressing these challenges. We do not tell Catholics how to vote. The responsibility to make political choices rests with each person and his or her properly formed conscience.”

They explain that issues may fall under one of seven key themes: The right to life and dignity of the human person - Human life is sacred. Within our society, life is under direct attack from abortion, euthanasia, human cloning, and destruction of human embryos for research. These intrinsic evils must always be opposed.

Call to family, community and participation - The family, based on marriage between a man and a woman, is the fundamental unit of society.

This sanctuary for the creation and nurturing of children must not be redefined, undermined, or neglected.

How our society is organized - in economics and politics, in law and public policy - affects the well-being of individuals and of society.

Rights and responsibilities - Every human being has a right to life, the fundamental right that makes all other rights possible. Each of us has a right to religious freedom, which enables us to live and act in accord with our

God-given dignity, as well as a right to access to those things required for human decency - food and shelter, education and employment, health care and housing. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.

Options for the poor and vulnerable - A moral test for society is how we treat the weakest among us - the unborn, those dealing with disabilities or terminal illness, the poor and marginalized.

Dignity of work and the rights of workers - Economic justice calls for decent work at fair, living wages, opportunities for legal status for immigrant workers, and the opportunity for all people to work together for the common good through their work, ownership, enterprise, investment, participation in unions, and other forms of economic activity Solidarity - We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. Our Catholic commitment to solidarity requires that we pursue justice, eliminate racism, end human trafficking, protect human rights, seek peace, and avoid the use of force except as a necessary last resort.

Caring for God’s creation - Care for the earth is a duty of our Catholic faith. We all are called to be careful stewards of God’s creation and to ensure a safe and hospitable environment for vulnerable human beings now and in the future.

To find the full guide, please visit usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithfulcitizenship or www.faithfulcitizenship.org

Nigerian Archbishop Visits Earlier this summer, Archbishop Anthony Obinna (pictured in the middle) of the Archdiocese of Owerri in Nigeria visited Gallup to meet Bishop Wall and visit priests from Nigeria who are serving throughout the Diocese of Gallup. Please offers your prayers for him and for the many priests who move from their homes to come work in our Diocese.

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By Suzanne Hammons Voice of the Southwest

“For the Glorification of God”: Seminarian Ordained to Priesthood The pews were packed at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Saturday, June 28, when Deacon Nathanael Block was ordained to the priesthood – the first priestly ordination for the Diocese of Gallup in seven years.

During the homily, Bishop James Wall noted that this ordination was the result of many years of prayer and dedication.

“Today is truly a blessing for the Catholic Church, and in particular, this local Church – the Diocese of Gallup.

We are grateful to the Lord, as he has called Deacon Nathanael Block to the order of priests. This call from the Lord, and the ‘yes’ in response on the part of Deacon Block, is an answer to many prayers.”

For Block, the ordination was the

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fulfillment of many years of hope and struggle.

“I entered the seminary for the first time when I was 18 years old – I’m now 28, and this is my fourth Diocese. And so it was through a process of God letting me be in some Dioceses for a short period of time and being let go, or being refused at the beginning right away, before coming here and being accepted at this Diocese. The struggle was more of trying to discern despite the strange pathway and the roundabout way [of coming] to the priesthood: ‘Where is God calling me, and is it here to the priesthood?’”

Fr. Block’s family is from New Mexico, and when his older sister entered the Dominicans of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, he began to discern his own

vocation. It took many years before he realized that he was called to serve in the Diocese of Gallup, when his sister, now assigned to the Diocese of Phoenix, introduced Nathanael to Bishop Wall.

Fr. Matthew Keller, the vocations director for the Diocese of Gallup, recalls meeting Nathanael soon after.

“I met him through Bishop Wall, who knew his sister. She said that he had been in seminary but was out and was still discerning, and Bishop Wall asked me to get to know him to see if he was a good fit for the Diocese, and if I thought he was a good candidate for the priesthood.”

After Nathanael spent some time living in the Diocese and assisting at parishes, he was accepted as a Diocesan candidate and finished his schooling at Holy

Far Left: Nathanael is ordained a priest by Bishop Wall

Apostles Seminary in Connecticut.

Fr. Keller noted that in his own journey to the priesthood, the sacrifice of the Mass in particular became a completely new experience.

“For me, it was the first time in my life feeling satiated in the spiritual life. When you start saying Mass, you feel satiated. I now understand that was a desire in me to get closer to and participate in the life of the Lord in some way that I felt like I was missing, and I think that was my call to the priesthood.”

Fr. Block echoed a similar feeling the night before his ordination.

“God’s utter goodness is what keeps coming back to me. I mean, this is something so astonishing, that I’m going to stand before the altar and offer Mass, offer worship of God – His divine sacrifice. I’m going to be able to be in the confessional and in His name forgive sins, and when I pronounce those words of absolution, sins will be wiped away, miracles of grace will be performed. Not because of my worthiness but because of His mercy, which has chosen me to be His hands, His feet, in this life. And that’s just so beautiful. There’s nothing like it, in all of the suffering and the pain that the last eight years have been, both good and bad. One Mass – that’s all worth it, and I’d go through 10,000 times as much, just to say Mass.”

Following Fr. Block’s ordination this

Middle: Fr. Nathanael and his sister, Teresa Benedicta, OP, after his first Mass as a priest

Right:

summer, two more seminarians – Joshua Mayer and David Tate – are looking forward to their own priestly ordinations in 2015. Fr. Keller said he feels as though the people of the Diocese are “reaping the harvest” at last.

“It makes you happy to be part of what is clearly God’s plan for someone.

There’s a lot of work behind the scenes, a lot of people that help behind the scenes.

It takes a lot of people to form a priest, and a lot of time, and a lot of resources.

And also, tons of effort on the part of the seminarian. But, on the other hand [the

get confirmed – by no means are you done being a Christian. It’s the opening of being fully initiated in the Christian life, kind of a beginning. And the priesthood is like that, too. There’s a great mystery in it because you get to share in the priesthood of Christ, and there’s a lot of spiritual growth and spiritual battles, but also a lot of rewards as well.”

Fr. Block expressed a similar sentiment. Even though his seminary studies are through, he still has the rest of his life to fulfill his vocation.

“The question can never be: ‘Am I worthy?’ because the answer is always going to be ‘no’. We’re never going to be worthy, be able to perfectly fulfill Christ’s role. The question has to be ‘Am I called?

Is this what God is asking me to do? Am I willing, because of that call, to strive for holiness, to strive to always go forward in that calling?’ That’s the question, and I think God answered in the affirmative in my case.”

For Fr. Nathanael Block, his true calling – his life’s work – is only just beginning.

“The Catholic priesthood is great for two reasons – the glorification of God, and the sanctification of his people. And both occur especially in the sacraments, the making of God’s people holy. So the best I can, I’ll be living it out the rest of my life.”

“God’s utter goodness is what keeps coming back to me.” seminarian] comes out on the other side having been formed in the spiritual, human, intellectual, and pastoral aspects of Christian life.”

He compared the priesthood, in one respect, to the sacrament of Confirmation.

“You’re expected to not stop right there – to continue study and to be formed throughout the rest of your priesthood. You get the sacrament of Holy Orders, which opens the door to priestly ministry. But it’s like when you

The priests of the Diocese of Gallup greet and bless their new brother

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Four New Deacons Ordained for Diocese Two Will Continue on Path to Priesthood The Diocese of Gallup officially received four new deacons on Saturday, May 24, when Bishop James Wall ordained four men to the Diaconate Order.

Todd Church and Matthew Lamoreux were ordained as permanent deacons, and Joshua Mayer and David Tate were ordained as transitional deacons – “transitional” meaning that they are currently also studying for the priesthood.

On Saturday, June 28, seminarian and Deacon Nathanael Block was ordained to the priesthood – the first priestly ordination for the Diocese in many years.

Tate, a classmate of Block’s and himself a year from priestly ordination, described the process as one of joy.

“Being a convert, I am still growing in my understanding of all things Catholic.

Actually, that works to my advantage because it is all so interesting and wonderful. I feel good because I now feel I have been ‘authorized’ to speak about the things I have learned about the Faith.

I really feel like an official representative now for the Church. It is awesome.”

Calling on the four men to follow Christ in their vocations, Bishop Wall reminded them and all present at the Mass to “proclaim the Gospel with a great sense of joy and a great sense of love, no matter what the cost.” He also noted that as Deacons, they have many great Saints to rely upon for inspiration, such as Stephen and Lawrence – two early Church martyrs.

Now that the four men achieved the status of deacons, they take on very special duties within ministry in the Church.

Preaching, assisting at Mass and with

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certain sacraments, and being spiritual teachers for their parish communities are some of the tasks for which they are now prepared.

When asked about how he was looking forward to serving as a Deacon, Tate explained that there are two facets of life in the Church which he enjoys.

“The first is declaring the Faith,” he

“I hope to interact with people in what I call a ‘progressional’. It is similar to the ‘confessional’, but in conversation, so that people can feel free to ask questions without making a special appointment.

They can just drop by unannounced.”

Tate also noted that priests and deacons each have unique roles in the Church, even if the diaconate only lasts

Deacons L-R: Josh Mayer, David Tate, Todd Church and Matthew Lamoreux

said. “This means giving a homily, and participating in the teachings of the articles of faith. I remember when I worked full time in another capacity, I did not have free time for learning about my relationship with God. I hope to give people more time [for God].”

Second, he said, he hopes to visit often with the parishioners in his community.

for a year or so as it does with transitional deacons.

“When one studies knowing that they will become a priest, I think there is the possibility to overlook the joy of being a deacon…both paths bring you greater understanding of the beauty of the Church, the Sacraments, and serving Christ in the religious life.”

La Fiesta De Colores Marks 20 Years of Hispanic Cultural Tradition

It may be one of the best-kept secrets in New Mexico.

Twenty years ago, a group of artists decided to start a festival dedicated to the very best of Hispanic art and culture. Initially, the mind turns to Taos or Santa Fe when thinking of vibrant New Mexico art scenes, but this yearly celebration, named “La Fiesta de Colores”, occurs in the little town of Grants.

Over one weekend in the spring, the festival is packed with activities ranging from processions and dances to boxing and car shows to music, food and a huge display of religious art.

“The Hispanic community decided they wanted to celebrate their culture and heritage,” said Jerry Montoya, a local artist and organizer of the fiesta. “They wanted to highlight their rich culture in the arts, music and dance along with the visual arts. Food and religion were also a big part of our culture and history in New Mexico.”

The art show, which is the highlight of the Fiesta, has been hosted for the past several years by the community center at St. Teresa Church in Grants. Award-winning artists come from across New Mexico, including Taos and Santa Fe, to display their work. Each year may also loosely follow a theme – in 2013, many artists chose to depict St. Kateri Tekakwitha in their work to honor her canonization as the first Native American saint.

This year, because of the double canonization of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII, many artists included John Paul II in their paintings and sculptures.

Engaged Encounter

The festival also exists thanks to a long tradition of Hispanic cultural influence in both New Mexico and the Grants area. Montoya explained that over hundreds of years, Hispanic art in the area has taken on a uniquely New Mexican slant.

“Art in the Spanish colonial era was mainly through the church with its images of the saints and the prayers in Spanish. When the Spanish colonists moved on they took their images of the santos, leaving the locals to create their own with the resources that they had on hand. Pine and cedar wood replaced their marble and bronze statues; straw and tin replaced their gold and silver.”

Now, Montoya says, he and his fellow Fiesta participants are hoping to continue in the footsteps of the artists who came before them.

“Sharing ideas and the techniques of my holy art with my friends and fellow Santeros (someone who creates religious art) is like a family experience. We research iconography and share materials. Recreating the images of the Saints in our own native resources gives me a great feeling of the Holy Spirit inside me.”

He noted that many visitors compare the Fiesta to the Spanish Market located in Santa Fe. Although the 2014 Fiesta is now finished, it is only projected to grow in the coming years.

And, as Montoya and other artists hope, it will preserve and continue a long tradition of uniquely New Mexican Hispanic culture.

For more photos, artwork, and information, visit lafiestadecolores.com Voice of the Southwest | dioceseofgallup.org

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1939 - 2014: Celebrating 75 Years as a Diocese Note: the excerpts taken here come from various histories collected in the Diocesan archives, as well as an excellent book written by Elizabeth Kelley for the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Diocese in 1989,

1. St. John the Baptist, St. Johns In 1871, about 30 families settled about 12 miles north of St. Johns at Rock Crossing. In 1872, Father Juan Brun began providing religious services for the people of the area.

He visited them about annually on his travels through the vast parish centered in Seboyeta, stopping at Zuni. The people of St. Johns brought their children to him at Zuni to be baptized.

In 1874, the town moved to the present location, naming the town San Juan. This was later changed to St. Johns.

In 1880, Father Pedro Maria Badilla was appointed by Bishop John Baptist Salpointe of Tucson, and arrived to take up residency in St. Johns. The area, which became a parish in 1890 covered much territory in all directions.

One of his first projects was to build a church and school at St. Johns and dedicated it to San Juan Bautista. The adobe church, the first in the county, became his burial place and served the people for over 40 years, until a new church was built in 1942.

2. St. Joseph, Aztec For many years, Aztec was a very small community with people living on ranches in the surrounding area. During this time, it remained a mission of Blanco, but, beginning in 1910, Fr. Albert Daeger, OFM, or one of his assistants would visit Aztec about once a month, at first in the home of the local Catholics and then in the courthouse. For 10 years, Mass was held at the local mortuary. When this building was sold, the need for a church became apparent.

After attempts to hold Mass at the courthouse failed, as did attempts to buy an unused Protestant church, the people began a drive to raise money for their own church.

Construction on this building began in 1946, and the church was solemnly dedicated to Saint Joseph by Bishop Espelage in 1947.

3. St. Catherine, Cibecue Deep in the southern reaches of the Diocese of Gallup is located the parish of Saint Catherine in Cibecue, established in 1928. In that year land was obtained from the Apache Indians on which to build a church.

Construction began soon afterwards under the direction of Father Fidelis Voss, OFM the first pastor. It was completed on Decem-

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ber 22, 1928.

The people live a simple life, with heavy reliance on cattle raising, farming, hunting, and occasional employment in forestry, lumbering and construction.

4. Sacred Heart, Quemado The town of Quemado was established in 1916 and in its early years was a mission of Monticello and later of Aragon. A small church was built for the priest to use when he visited the area.

In 1942, the first resident priest, Father Leo J. Lambrick, was assigned to Quemado.

During his time in residence he was able to say Mass weekly for the wide-ranging inhabitants of the area, but when he moved to Springerville, Mass was said only monthly.

In 1950, the present church was built and dedicated to the Sacred Heart on October 16, 1951 by Bishop Espelage.

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(Continued from previous page - see map on pages 10 and 11 for placement of churches and missions throughout the Diocese of Gallup)

5. Madre de Dios, Winslow Winslow, founded in 1882, was growing both geographically and in population.

Because people were living farther and farther away from St. Joseph Church and had to cross a wide expanse of railroad tracks to go to church there, priests from St. Joseph began saying Mass in 1948 at Cooperstown in the Penitente Morada chapel.

It was then decided to build a church on the south side of town.

With generous donations, construction began on the church in 1949. In early 1950, a fire occurred in the still uncompleted church, and construction had to begin again.

The church was finally constructed, dedicated to Madre de Dios and officially named as a parish in September, 1951.

6. St. Berard, Navajo When the lumber mill was relocated from Sawmill to the present site of Navajo, a town quickly grew. It was founded in 1958, and soon the Catholic church was built there.

The parish was established August 15, 1963, and Fr. Lawrence Schreiber, OFM, was named pastor. To him fell the task of constructing the church which he named Saint Berard as a memorial to Father Berard Haile, OFM, the famous priest who had done so much work on the Navajo Reservation.

The structure was dedicated on October 11, 1964, by Bishop Espelage only three years after Father Berard’s death.

7. St. Anthony, Naschitti In 1933, the government established a school at Naschitti and the need for a chapel there soon became apparent.

As with the church at Tohatchi, of which Naschitti is a mission, a benefactor was found and the chapel was built and dedicated to St. Anthony by Archbishop Rudolph Gerken of Santa Fe on June 11, 1935.

in San Rafael where Padre Roberto lived.

Padre Roberto had construction begin on a church in Grants in 1920. It was completed in 1923. It was dedicated to Saint Teresa of Avila by Archbishop Albert Daeger of Santa Fe.

9. Our Lady of Fatima, Chinle

When the lumber mill was relocated from Sawmill to Navajo, the church there became a mission of St. Berard, and is still maintained today.

Chinle parish, formed in 1906, has the distinction of being the second oldest resident Navajo Mission in the Diocese of Gallup.

Chinle was chosen as the site for a mission because of a proposed government boarding school for the area and because of its central location.

In 1904, Fr. Leopold Ostermann, OFM rented a crude, stone, two-room house and established official residence there. In 1905, he directed the construction of a church and residence, and in 1910, religious instruction for the children was begun.

In 1912, a new church was completed and dedicated on March 25. The original 1905 structure became the rectory and it is still in use.

8. St. Teresa of Avila, Grants

9a. St. Anthony, Many Farms

In 1882, the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad contracted with three Grant Brothers to build the railroad through this area going west.

They established a base camp which became known as Grants’ Camp and in time shortened to Grants.

In 1911 the first Mass was celebrated in Grants by Fr. Robert Kalt, known by everyone as “El Padre Roberto,” at the home of Don Jesus Maria Blea. There was no church in Grants and the people usually attended Mass

In the same year as the church at Chinle was undergoing repairs, a mission was established at Many Farms. It was dedicated on September 24, 1967.

6a. St. Francis, Sawmill

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10. Our Lady of the Rosary, Piñon In 1931, Fr. Winfred Stauble, then assigned at Keams Canyon, began his visits to the Pinon area. Parents of the children at the Keams Canyon Boarding School, who were receiving instructions in Catholicism, began

requesting that a priest be assigned to their area and worked actively to obtain a site for a church.

In 1939, a stone chapel was completed under the direction of Fr. Winfred and dedicated to Saint Mary of the Rosary. It was rebuilt in 1959, most of the work being done by priests and brothers.

11. Sacred Heart Cathedral, Gallup In 1889, Fr. J.B. Brun set about building the first church in Gallup. It was made of adobe and served the Gallup Catholics until 1916 when the west wall collapsed.

Following this, church services were held in the basement of the Catholic school for one year until the new church was completed and dedicated.

When Gallup became the See city of the new diocese in 1939, the little church was remodeled to serve as a cathedral and was used until the Cathedral was constructed in 1955.

Sacred Heart Cathedral was dedicated on June 19, 1955, by James Francis Cardinal Mclntyre of Los Angeles, Archbishop John Francis O’Hara of Philadelphia and Bishop Bernard T. Espelage.

12. St. Francis of Assisi, Gallup As early as 1929, Gallup was growing sufficiently to need a church on the North Side to ease the burden on Sacred Heart Church.

Land and an old store were purchased, and in 1942 remodeling was begun to provide a small church.

This was dedicated as Saint Francis Church on April 4, 1943, and became a parish in 1944.

The bells from one of the nearby abandoned missions were installed there.

20. Our Lady of Guadalupe, Kayenta Until 1968, Catholics in the Kayenta area were served by the priests from Tuba City.

In that year, an anonymous donor provided funds and the construction of a church was completed, dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

19. Our Lady of Guadalupe, Holbrook Before 1900, Holbrook was a mission station, visited a few times each year by priests from Prescott and Flagstaff.

In 1913, the original church in Holbrook was built and dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

A new church was constructed and dedicated in 1968.

21. Our Lady of the Snows, Snowflake

13. St. Jude, Tuba City In 1951, a group of Catholic people from Tuba City, both Indian and non-Indian, journeyed to St. Joseph Mission, Keams Canyon, to petition that a priest go to Tuba City at regular intervals to say Sunday Mass. The matter was referred to Saint Michael’s Mission, headquarters for the reservation work, and for two years a priest traveled from there one Sunday each month, a distance of 160 miles.

In 1953, the Fathers at Saint Joseph Mission, Keams Canyon, assumed the responsibility of caring for Tuba City and Mass was offered there two Sundays each month.

Eventually, a church was constructed and dedicated to Saint Jude Thaddeus, the Apostle in 1961.

14. St. Mary, Farmington Saint Mary’s was the second parish to be established in Farmington. The church was built in 1962 under the leadership of Father Kenneth Robertson OFM, and was staffed by the Franciscan Fathers until June 1, 1976 when it became a parish in its own right.

15. St. Rita, Show Low Catholic services in Show Low began in the year 1949, when Eric and Mary Marks generously offered the use of their resort, the Paint Pony Lodge, for the celebration of Mass on Sundays by the pastor of Saint Anthony Church in McNary.

Mass was said at the resort until 1961, when it was moved to the elementary school auditorium to provide more space.

In 1961, under the direction of Father Linus

Hohendorm, OFM, pastor at Saint Anthony’s, land was purchased and construction began on the present church of Saint Rita.

16. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Page The first construction workers for the Glen Canyon Dam Project arrived in 1950.

At the same time, negotiations were started to obtain land for the church buildings.

Ground was broken for the construction of the parish building on November 7, 1958, on the 182nd anniversary of the now famous Crossing of the Fathers, done in 1776, by Fray Francisco Dominguez and Fray Silvestre Velez de Escalante.

It was dedicated on May 17, 1964 to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by Bishop Espelage.

17. Immaculate Conception, Cuba The town of Cuba was founded in the 1870s. Priests from Jemez to the south came to hold service for the people in this village.

By 1916, when the parish was established, the name Cuba was in use.

A church was built in 1912 by Father Camillus Fangmann OFM, and dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, and in 1966 a new church was built to replace the old one.

18. St. Anthony, Dulce In 1946 priests began holding services at Dulce, an Apache community three miles away from Lumberton. In time, it became necessary to construct a Church for the many people there, and on October 3, 1965, the chapel to Saint Anthony was dedicated.

In 1930, a small mission was established in Snowflake, and priests were making regular visits there from Holbrook. Masses were held in rooms in private homes and when the congregation grew larger, a small chapel was constructed of ammunition boxes.

Through the money-raising efforts of the congregation, land was purchased and construction began on a church which was dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows on August 5, 1968.

22. All Saints, Ganado Ganado had at first been a mission of Klagetoh. Throughout the 1950s and 60s, Ganado, which has a hospital and a public school, had been growing, and a church dedicated to All Saints was built in 1969. It became a parish in 1983.

23. St. Vivian, Milan As the small town of Milan began to grow west of Grants, priests in Grants began to recognize the need for a church there to serve the Catholic population.

In the early 1960s, land was donated to the diocese for a church by the then Mayor Salvador Milan.

However, the small congregation was not able to build a church yet, so the priest used an Episcopal church until their own could be built.

A church which was built and dedicated to St. Vivian on November 11, 1969, the last church to be dedicated by Bishop Espelage.

In the next issue, we’ll take a look at the history of parishes dedicated under the second Bishop for the Diocese of Gallup, the Most Rev. Jerome Hastrich.

Voice of the Southwest | dioceseofgallup.org

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Catholic Schools: Welcoming the 2014-2015 Academic Year From the Superintendent:

School Standards Workshop Addresses Unique Diocesan Needs In June, twenty educators from the was also done for the area of Science in Diocese of Gallup Catholic schools and relation to the Next Generation Science Xavier University, Chicago, gathered at Standards released in 2011.

Three teams were assembled, one for Sacred Heart Retreat Center to discuss, each curricular area, to reupdate, and standardview and discuss the exiting ize the curriculum stanDiocese of Gallup standards, dards for the elementary the New Mexico and Arizona schools in the diocese.

State Standards, standards Thanks to a grant from from other Catholic diocesCatholic Peoples Founes, and the Common Core dation, Superintendent and Next Generation stanJeanette Suter was able dards in each subject. Each to bring together princiteam was also charged with pals and teachers from compiling a set of standards the diocese and consulJeanette Suter in the curricular area that not tants from Xavier for a only exceeded all other verweek-long work session addressing standards based education in sions of standards studied, but also integrated the Catholic faith throughout all the Diocese.

With the recent controversy over the grades and all subject matter.

By the end of the week, the teams had Common Core State Standards, it was time for the schools to deconstruct the successfully created sets of standards standards for Math and Language Arts that met the goals of the workshop, and and determine what standards were to which teachers could easily implement be used in the Catholic schools. This in their classrooms.

St. Bonaventure, Thoreau

40TH ANNIVERSARY - St. Bonaventure School recently celebrated its 40th anniversary with a large fiesta and gathering of families of teachers and students. Sr. Natalie Bussiere, a former principal of the school and one of the planners of the celebration, noted that happiness and joy permeated the day’s activities. The mission at Thoreau is also dedicated to various outreach and community programs. One of these is a partnership with Dig Deep, a program dedicated to building wells and access to fresh water, including wells on the Navajo reservation.

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Voice of the Southwest | dioceseofgallup.org

St. Francis, Lumberton

VOLUNTEER GROUPS - A group of riders affiliated with the organization Bike & Build passed through Lumberton in July and were hosted by the staff at St. Francis School. Bike & Build consists of college students who bike across the country and help build houses along the way with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, In return for meals and a place to stay overnight in Lumberton, the riders volunteered to provide a community session on bicycle safety.

Principal Madeline Lyon said the school was delighted to be able to host the riders.

“What is important to understand about the standards we have written is that they are not Common Core or Next Generation; they are not the standards being used in the public school systems. While those standards were consulted and considered, we found that there were skills and content we wanted our students to have that were not addressed in those standards.” Mrs. Suter went on to say, “The standards we have developed for our schools represent the best of what was to be found in Common Core and Next Generation standards, but also what we in Catholic schools undeniably believe are necessary skills, knowledge, and the integration of the Catholic faith that is essential for the education of our children.”

Superintendent Suter hopes to be able to conduct a similar workshop next summer addressing the curriculum standards for Social Studies, Technology, and Religious instruction.

St. Anthony, Zuni

NEW COMPUTER LAB - Students at St. Anthony are now enjoying a brand-new computer lab and classroom projectors.

The school applied for a grant to overhaul their outdated computers in 2013, and were awarded funds from the Raskob Foundation. These were then used to install a fully equipped computer lab, alongside new projectors for each classroom.

Sr. Mary Pudota, principal, said “A brand new computer lab for the school was a dream, but now it’s a reality. We’re always seeking funds to improve our kids’ resources.”

Left: Sarah Serrano and Rob Curtis of Seton present Bishop Wall with a “chapel”.

Sacred Heart, Gallup sponsored by Chandler School Seton High School in Chandler, AZ, has adopted Sacred Heart School in Gallup as a sort of “sister school”. Sarah Serrano and Rob Curtis, both teachers at Seton, are heading the new partnership. During a visit to Gallup and Sacred Heart School earlier in the summer, they presented Bishop Wall with a “chapel” a model of a church which represents a

unique way for Seton to fundraise.

“We have a chapel program – we have a chapel at Seton, and then they have a chapel here now that we presented to Bishop Wall,” said Serrano. “Everybody that sees it can put in money, and so it’s a way to constantly raise funds for the school.”

According to Curtis, the chapel is only

the start of the relationship between the two schools.

Barbara Kozeliski, principal of Sacred Heart School, stressed to the Seton teachers that the needs of Sacred Heart were twofold.

“I asked Barbara what the greatest need was at Sacred Heart – obviously there’s the financial need – but above and beyond that what is the biggest?” said Curtis. “And she came right out and said that the school also has a great deal of spiritual need.”

Curtis and Serrano hope to eventually set up a retreat program where students of both schools would come to share their faith together.

Now that Seton has taken on Sacred Heart School as somewhat of a sponsor, Serrano and Curtis stress that the partnership is still in the beginning stages, but they look forward to bigger projects in the future.

St. Joseph, San Fidel: New Year, New Goals St. Joseph School recently undertook reorganization in order to keep its doors open as it has done for some 91 years. It was decided to continue the work of the school and to raise funds through bake sales, bazaars, and various other means.

The efforts were successful in raising over $50,000, and the reorganization also brought a deep sense of commitment from those who are connected with the school.

In the subject of faith, students are instructed in the Catholic tradition of knowing Jesus and the Creator by practicing a prayer life that begins each

St. Francis, Gallup 3 STAR CERTIFICATION - St. Francis is starting the 2014-2015 school year with a new 3-star preschool certification from the State of New Mexico. A 5-star rating is the highest a school can achieve, and principal Julie Weeks hopes to move up to a 4-star certification within the year. In order to achieve each new star, a school had to meet statewide criteria and undergo an on site inspection. The new rating also means that the school may be eligible for more funding in the future.

morning in the Chapel and by participating in weekly Mass. Each day students receive instruction in the Gospel through the tradition and of the Catholic Church.

The goal of St. Joseph in academics is to form individuals who are life-long learners who demonstrate responsibility for learning. Last year students read over 2500 books! This year students will be involved in web-based learning through Google Education, Kahn Academy, and Discover.

St. Joseph School has for been part of a rich cultural heritage that includes the Laguna, Acoma, Hispanic, German,

St. Anthony, Show Low 8TH GRADE LEADERSHIP - St. Anthony was proud to graduate its first 8th grade class in May 2014, and is looking forward to educating the second group of 8th graders in the 2014-2015 school year. Last year’s graduates left leadership notebooks for the benefit of this year’s class, and each 8th-grader has the opportunity to earn a St. Anthony Shield” - a symbol of leadership and academic achievement from the school.

Alongside the new class, the school has also boosted their enrollment for the current school year.

Basque, Lebanese and Anglo traditions.

We support and celebrates the gifts of different communities. Every year we invite traditional and local leaders to speak about the traditions of each community.

The hallmark of a good education is the ability of our students to give back to the community through Service. Education is not what we know, but how we use wisdom for the benefit of the family, community or world.

May God’s blessings be upon all of us as we begin a new school year.

- Antonio Trujillo, Principal

Sacred Heart, Farmington INCREASED ENROLLMENT - Sacred Heart is kicking off the school year with an added enrollment boost. The school increased general enrollment by 17% just through recommendations and word of mouth from the families of students. Sacred Heart also increased the student body by adding new grades, and now accepts students from preK to grade 8. Principal Jeff Raichel noted that the community in Farmington has been very supportive of the efforts of the school, and is looking forward to Sacred Heart’s Annual Harvest Fest on October 4.

Voice of the Southwest | dioceseofgallup.org

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Calendar of Events/Classifieds October

November

10 12

02

10 12

24 26

Engaged Encounter Retreat A retreat for couples preparing for marriage.

Place: Sacred Heart Retreat Center

Gallup, NM 87301 Cost: $85/couple, or $50 for commuters Contact: Deacon Randy Copeland at 505-726-2707 Daughters of Charity Come and See Weekend Are you called to be a sister?

Come and see! Pray with us – walk with us – talk with us!

The Daughters of Charity are given to God in Community in a spirit of Humility, Simplicity, and Charity for the service of those who are poor since 1633.

Place: Los Altos, CA Contact: Sr. Lisa Laguna at 213-210-9903 srlisadc@aol.com daughtersofcharity.com

Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat Rachel’s Vineyard is a post abortive ministry for men and women who have suffered emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, mentally, and often physically as a result of having undergone an abortion either through choice or coerced.

Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat (cont’d) Place: Albuquerque, NM Contact: 505-884-1295 www.DefendingLife.org

16 Voice of the Southwest | dioceseofgallup.org

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Annual Sacred Heart Cathedral Bazaar Includes a turkey dinner, Arts & Crafts Booths, live music, and more!

Time: 12noon - 4pm Place: Sacred Heart School Gym 515 Park Ave. Gallup, NM Contact: 505-722-6644 Women’s Cursillo (English) #319 Cursillo for women Place: Winslow, AZ Contact: Petra Velez at 928224-0902 or gallupcursillo.com Men’s Cursillo (Spanish,

20 - Tentative) #5 Spanish Cursillo for men 23 Place: Durango, CO

Contact: gallupcursillo.com

December 08

Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Holy Day of Obligation

Upcoming VIRTUS Sessions: St. John the Evangelist, Houck Date: October 12 Time: 11am - 2pm Place: St. Anselm Road

Houck, AZ Contact: 505-934-5119

VIRTUS sessions (continued) St. Joseph School, San Fidel Date: October 14 (6pm - 9pm), October 21 (6pm - 9pm), October 28 (6pm - 9pm), Contact: 505-552-6362 St. Michael Elem. School Date: October 15 Time: 5:30pm - 8pm Place: 1 Lupton Rd,

St. Michaels, AZ Contact: 928-871-4636 St. Mary’s, Farmington Date: October 19 Time: 6am - 9am Place: 2100 E. 20th St.

Farmington, NM Contact: 505-325-0287 St. Mary’s, Tohatchi Date: October 23 Time: 6pm - 9pm Place: 1 St. Mary Dr,

Tohatchi, NM Contact: 505-733-2257 Our Lady of Guadalupe, Holbrook Date: October 25 Time: 9am - 12pm Contact: 928-524-3261 St. Mary of the Angels, Pinetop Date: October 25 Time: 9am - 12pm Contact: 928-367-2080 Want to see your event here or online?

Send announcements and notices about upcoming events to designoffice@dioceseofgallup.org or call 505-863-4406 ext. 4406.

Diocese of Gallup: Promise to Protect If you or someone you know has been abused by a priest, deacon or other employee or minister of the Catholic Church, please report this to: Elizabeth Mason Victim Assistance Coordinator Pro Tem 505-906-7357 We will help.

Your confidentiality will be protected.

Si usted o alguien que usted conoce ha sido víctima de abuso por parte de un sacerdote, diácono u otro empleado o ministro de la Iglesia Católica, favor de reportar el incidente a: Elizabeth Mason Coordinador de Asistencia para Víctimas Pro Tem 505-906-7357 Nosotros le ayudaremos.

Su confidencialidad será protegida.

Do Háida’bił bee hodozįįł daíigi beeádee haho’dzíí’ Catholic Church dóó éé’ neishoodii yił ndaałnishi’ igíí dóó Baa ndaałah’ igíísh doo há’ atééh’ igoo da, nínįi’ yiyiiłaah’ Dóó’ oóshlí ła’ ísh ákóbí’ diiłyąą go nił beehoozin, Akohootįįngo nił beehoozin’go baahwíí’ diłníi’ Elizabeth Mason Victim Assistance Coordinator Pro Tem 505-906-7357

Are you called to be a Sister?

Come and See!

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Walk with us! Talk with us! Pray with us!

Religious Vocation Discernment Retreat October 10 -12, 2014 Los Altos Hills, Ca. Sr. Lisa Laguna, D.C. or 213-210-9903 SrLisaDC@aol.com

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DaughtersOfCharity.com Daughters-Of-Charity.com DISCERNMENT FOR SINGLE CATHOLIC WOMEN AGES 18-40.

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Advertise with us! We offer a variety of spacing and placement options, both online and in print.

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For more information, call 505-863-4406 or visit Gallup voiceofthesouthwest.org/advertising Print in Color 2014

Voice of the Southwest | dioceseofgallup.org

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Reflections on 25 Years as Priests This year, Diocesan priests Fr. Timothy Farrell (left) and Fr. Frank Chacon (right) each celebrated their 25th anniversary since ordination. The following are some reflections they had to answers from the Voice of the Southwest.

How did you discern your vocation?

Fr. Farrell: It’s one of those questions that is not easily answered because it was a feeling – I felt a pull toward it. And I kept testing it and putting it away and saying “nah, I don’t wanna do that, I’ve got my life planned” and all that. I was a writer, I loved doing what I did. I was moving up in the newspaper business pretty quickly, I was already a [newspaper] editor at the age of 24, and so I had quite a future in journalism, but I felt the call. I had a good spiritual director who helped me determine that I needed to give the seminary a try, and when I got there, even though it was very difficult, I loved what I did there, my studies and my ministry and the seminarians. So I stayed for five years and decided “God is calling me to ordination”. I haven’t regretted a minute of it.

Fr. Chacon: I was a late vocation. In those days, it was considered a late vocation. I was in my 30s. Now that’s not really considered a late vocation but in those days it was – 1980s. I began going to daily Mass - I was in the Air Force at the time - and I began going to daily Mass, and I think that’s what began to help me discern my call to the priesthood – beginning to attend daily Mass at the lunch hour.

What are the challenges and benefits of working in this Diocese?

Fr. Farrell: Well, I think the challenges are we are far apart from each other. In other words, I don’t get to see most of the priests most of the year, and they don’t see me. But you get over that pretty quickly, I mean you’re so – I’m so busy as a priest in my parish, I’ve got 3,000+ people in my parish, I’m not moping about lack of fraternity because I got used to that a long time ago. What I do is keep my prayer life going and take care of my people as best I can and make sure that I remain a strong and good priest for the church. And so the challenges, yes – it’s a mission diocese, but the poverty isn’t the problem. We’re a very rich Diocese culturally, rich in our simplicity of ministry, and we don’t have a lot of problems other Dioceses do. You know, we’re a meat and potatoes ministry, which is exactly what I love to do. There are no illusions here. I’m not trying to rise up in any organization, I just love being a pastor with my people.

Fr. Chacon: What strikes me as good here is just the fact that, you know, I like the people here. Their great love and respect for the priesthood – the way they support their priests and their deacons. Just the spirituality, you know, they’re into the Rosary and Eucharistic Adoration, great love for Our Lady, and so forth, and you know this is something that we priests are greatly inspired when we see this in our parishioners.

And I like the priests here. They’re easy to work with – all the priests that I’ve worked with, you know, I’ve gotten along very well with. The Bishop’s been supportive, so all those things combined together. I’ve always liked the Southwest – when I lived in California I’d go back and forth to the Midwest and back East and I’d drive through New Mexico and Arizona. I just felt very attracted to this area.

What are some hobbies that you have?

Fr. Farrell: Well, I’m a writer, so I write a lot. I read a lot, I hike.

I love to travel, so I just got back from Greece and Turkey. I give a pilgrimage, usually once a year, and I just went in the footsteps of St. Paul to Greece and Turkey and so I love to travel. I guess those would be basics.

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Fr. Chacon: You know, when I was a younger priest I used to love to ski. I’ve always like to hike and I still do that. I like to walk – we have a beautiful river walk here in Farmington, and I do that every day except Saturdays. It’s very nice – a big river with a lot of trees, and I enjoy doing that. I run into a lot of parishioners there.

We have big mountains right in the area, and so I go there with parishioners quite a lot and with visiting priests. We go hiking up in La Plata Canyon.

San Jose de la Laguna Turns 315 Pueblo’s Governor Reflects on Relationship Between Catholicism and Laguna Culture Anyone driving through west-central New Mexico on Route 66 will eventually spot a white adobe church high atop a hill to the north, situated in the middle of Laguna Pueblo. Considering the history of the area, the paved interstate and its travelers are relative newcomers, while the church, San Jose de la Laguna, has stood for 315 years.

The Pueblo itself is older, settled in proximity to a lake, now gone. Linguistic-minded readers may note that the word laguna itself means “lake”. Spain and its conquistadors had already begun to colonize this part of New Mexico, and history commonly holds that San Jose was constructed in 1699.

Although the Franciscans established the church at Laguna some 19 years after the great Pueblo Revolt of 1680, the village was not without its own share of religious and cultural unrest. At one point San Jose was used as a stable, remaining that way until some Catholics in the Pueblo were able to restore it.

The adherents of both Christianity and traditional Laguna beliefs now enjoy life in the village together, and earlier this summer, a special anniversary Mass to celebrate the 315th anniversary of San Jose was celebrated by Bishop James Wall. Various Laguna dignitaries were

also in attendance for the day, including Pueblo Governor Richard Luarkie.

To Luarkie, the Mass and anniversary celebration was a testament to the endurance of the Laguna way of life.

“There’s an incredible perseverance and resilience to overcome an inquisition or imposition on our Pueblo way of life,” Luarkie said. “To have the compassion and gentleness in spirit and heart to still embrace – regardless of all those elements that led to things like the Pueblo Revolt – to still at some point say ‘let’s sit down and eat together.’ On a community level it’s a little more challenging because you have variant views of community members about the church.

It’s also demonstrated at a community level the ability to bring camaraderie, to demonstrate forgiveness, and to perpetuate the life and responsibility that we’ve been given to take care of this part of the world.”

According to Luarkie, historically Catholicism in the Pueblo was not always a positive influence, imposing on the traditional Laguna notions of spirituality, with later efforts from various Protestant branches all vying to gain a foothold in the area.

Despite the events of the past, the influence of the two groups on each other

is not always negative.

“I think that religion has played a role in helping to bring some sense of acknowledgment that there is a higher authority, regardless of how you pray,” said Luarkie. “I think religion has also brought an opportunity for reflection, not only on who we are as a Laguna people, but what we represent as participants and co-existors in this society.”

The melding of both cultures can be seen today. Various patron saints have their own special feast days and Masses at the Pueblo. A choir of Laguna drummers and singers performs at San Jose, and even travels to the Cathedral in Gallup to provide music for the feast day Mass of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the saint beloved by so many Native people.

Governor Luarkie hopes the relationship between Catholicism and Laguna culture continues to provide strength for the Pueblo as a whole.

“The lesson that can be given is that even if you’re the Church, you’re not perfect. Even if you’re a pueblo, we’re not perfect. But that does not excuse us from pursuing perfection. We should chase it every day. And in this pursuit of perfection, we’re going to be doing our best... it’s going to bring a stronger element of resurgence back to our own traditional way of life.”

To hear the full interview with Gov. Luarkie, please visit voiceofthesouthwest.org/005

Left: Bishop Wall and Governor Richard Luarkie (middle) after the 315th anniversary celebration Mass.

Photo credit: Liz and Xavier Allison

Voice of the Southwest | dioceseofgallup.org

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V8’s For Vocations:

The process of educating and training a seminarian is usually a long and expensive one. To cope with the cost, many Dioceses set up endowments or scholarships, or include the tuition expenses in an annual appeal. One priest in the Diocese of Gallup has started to undertake a new method.

Fr. Matthew Keller, vocations director for the Diocese, had the idea to merge his love of classic cars with the duties of overseeing the education of the Gallup seminarians. He calls the new program “V8’s for Vocations”.

“The idea was, I’ve always liked cars. I learned how to work on them in high school – I learned how to do autobody for a year,” said Fr. Keller. “I restored my own car after high school and helped my brother-in-law paint several vehicles. So it’s always been an interest of mine, but something I had to give up as a priest.”

Then one day, some parishioners provided Fr. Keller with inspiration.

“Some friends said, ‘you should get a car and get the seminarians to help you fix it up.’ I thought, ‘Wait a minute, that’s a great idea, but let’s use it for a fundraiser.’ And so right away I talked about it with some other friends, and a high school friend of mine right away said ‘You know what, I’ve got a car for you, in an ad in Bloomfield at a reasonable price.’”

The car advertised in Bloomfield turned out to be a 1972 Chevelle Super Sport. A donor offered to buy the car, and so the first phase of the project was kickstarted. While it needs a lot of work, Fr. Keller plans to enlist the help of volunteers and seminarians to restore the Chevelle. The car will then be raffled off and all of the proceeds will be spent on tuition for Diocesan seminarians.

“Many people have expressed their desire to be part of the project and restore it – we’re talking about major restoration, I think maybe an engine swap and frame restoration.”

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Classic Car Restoration to Fund Seminarians’ Education

Fr. Keller said that he hopes to obtain all the needed parts through donations, to greater enhance the final amount of money that will be donated to the seminarians’ education.

“For a seminarian, it costs about $27,000 a year. When a guy comes in for his formation, it’s going to be anywhere from 4-8 years of formation that they need. It’s a sizable investment in their education, so this is something that will actually be an opportunity for seminarians to participate in.”

The Chevelle was a fortunate find. According to Fr. Keller, many Super Sports were originally made, but most have already been restored, wrecked, or stripped for parts. The car Fr. Keller now has was never restored and has a big-block motor.

“The cars like this one are very desirable collector cars, and so in the first week I’ve had it, two people have offered to buy it from me.

But only for a little more than the purchase

price which is not what we’re after. When it’s done, I’m certain we can get more money raffling it than selling it outright, and every bit of it will be donated money – everything beyond the purchase price will be money that will help the seminarians go to school.”

Fr. Keller hopes that in years to come his “V8’s for Vocations” program will continue with a car being restored and raffled every couple of years. Even though the project itself is in the beginning stages and will be quite labor intensive, the excitement of friends, parishioners and seminarians has already gotten this project past the starting line.

If you would like to help with the V8’s for Vocations project, you can contact Fr. Keller at 505-722-6644.

To learn more about the project, visit the V8’s for Vocations Facebook page

The Chevelle obtained by the V8’s for Vocations program.

Sr. Elizabeth Racko (center) visits with volunteers at a jail ministry booth.

“For I was in prison, and you

By Sr. Elizabeth Racko, DC visited me” My detention and prison ministry began in Tuba City, Arizona on the Reservation around 1998, but my participation in detention and prison ministry in the city of Gallup formally began September 2011.

I visit at the Gallup-McKinley County Adult Detention Center with other volunteers where each Sunday there is a Catholic Prayer service, attended by Catholics, Non-Catholics, Native Americans, Hispanic and Anglos. The average attendance is 10. Six volunteers form in two teams of three, and we give a one hour prayer and scripture reflection service. Through donations, we are able to distribute holy cards and devotional pamphlets, and we use a guide sheet and church booklets for our services, so it is very easy for the inmates to follow along with the volunteers.

Because I am a Spiritual Director, I am also able to visit one-on-one with inmates from the jail who so desire a spiritual conversation. I go once a week to meet with these inmates. It is a time of special sharing.

A jail is where a person is incarcerated while they are awaiting their sentencing for a crime. For a minor offense a person

could be incarcerated for two or less years in a jail, or detention center, but for a more serious offense and longer incarceration, the person is housed in a prison. There are three prisons nearby two in Grants and one in Milan.

For one year I have been going every week with a volunteer from Gallup to the New Mexico Women’s Correctional Center in Grants. We offer a Catholic Communion Service in Absence of a Priest. Recently two other volunteers from Grants have joined this service.

Father Alberto Avella and Deacon Larry Chavez from Saint Teresa’s Church in Grants visit every week at the men’s prison there.

Every first and third Sunday of the month at the Cibola County Correctional Center - a prison in Milan for men awaiting deportation - Brother Chris Kirstien, OFM and I conduct a Bible study in Spanish. The average attendance is seven. The men at this prison have Catholic Mass twice a month offered by Father Mike Vigil.

Brother Kirstien, Steve Hays, and two other volunteers and I have also been coming from Albuquerque to be at the Mass. The average attendance is 40. It

is permitted that I serve alone if Brother cannot come there at Milan because the chaplain is always in the room for the services and bible study. Another volunteer, Catarino Hernandez, goes every Sunday to say the rosary with the men.

From Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Fort Defiance, Brother Michael Haag and two Mercy Corps Volunteers visit in the local jail. Also from that parish, Geraldine Wauneka and Francis Barney coordinate 25 parishioners who prepare and deliver a Thanksgiving meal for the jail inmates.

The letter writing to inmates occupies the major part of my work days, Monday through Friday. It is called the Spiritual Correspondence Program, or commonly called the Penpal Project.

The average number of letters coming in per month is 94; the average number of letters sent out is 76. There are currently 536 inmates in my records, but they do not write every month. Although I have three secretaries (Arlene Sandoval, Beverly Abeita, and Linda Hally) who volunteer three to six hours a week, we cannot keep up with all the letters. There is also one volunteer who only works at home, Judy Detorie, who looks up Internet answers for questions that inmates have.

Another volunteer, Ethel Kayate, collects religious booklets for use in the ministry, and Roberta Tice, does little tasks at her home, such as taking the staples out of the small religious booklets. Emma Mace had been a faithful secretary for three months and has had to take a leave of absence for a while. I am always looking for more volunteers in the office and to other volunteers to become spiritual correspondents with the inmates.

My presence in the Diocese of Gallup is completely supported by my community, the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. Through a grant from them, the letter-writing part of the ministry is supported. My office space in the Catholic Indian Center building is provided as a service in kind for my participation in the Breakfast Program there. The Bishop’s Appeal guaranteed the detention and prison ministry a grant of $2000 to help pay for the church booklets and transportation to and from Grants and Milan.

For more info on prison ministry, or to find out how you can help, call Catholic Charities of Gallup at 505-722- 0999 Voice of the Southwest | dioceseofgallup.org

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Saints for Today:

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

By Dr. Jean Lee

Cosmas and Damian, Twin Doctors and Martyrs (late 3rd c.)

Nothing is known of their lives except that they suffered martyrdom in Syria during the persecution of Diocletian. A church erected on the site of their burial place was enlarged

by Emperor Justinian. Devotion to the two saints spread rapidly in both East and West. A famous basilica was erected in their honor in Constantinople. Their names were placed in the canon of the Mass, probably in the sixth century.

Legend says that they were twin brothers born in Arabia, who became skilled doctors.

They were among those who are venerated in the East as the “moneyless ones” because they did not charge a fee for their services.

Extremely numerous cures of healing were claimed at their intercession. It was impossible that such prominent persons would escape unnoticed in time of Christian persecution: They were arrested and beheaded.

The significance of this feast is found in the advice given in the Old Testament, Book of Sirach: “Hold the physician in honor, for he is essential to you, and God it was who established his profession. From God the doctor has his wisdom… His knowledge makes the doctor distinguished, and gives him access to those in authority… He endows men with

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the knowledge to glory in his mighty works, through which the doctor eases pain and the druggist prepares his medicines… Then give the doctor his place lest he leave; for you need him too. There are times that give him an advantage, and he too beseeches God that his diagnosis may be correct and his treatment will bring about a cure” (Si 38:1-14).

The dedicated care of the sick by Sts. Cosmas and Damian was a reflection of God’s divine providence. They were motivated primarily by Christian charity and compassion for the sick and suffering. St. Gregory of Tours said that these two physicians cured as many people by their prayers as they did by their medical knowledge, and now in heaven they still cure the sick miraculously. They are the patron saints of doctors; their acts recount their skill in healing both men and animals.

These stories appealed to artists over the centuries, who depicted not only individual portraits but also whole cycles of their lives.

“Their deaths reveal your power shining through our human weakness. You choose the weak and make them strong in bearing witness to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Sacramentary, Preface for Martyrs).

BIBLIOGRAPHY Farmer, David. “Oxford Dictionary of Saints.” New York: Oxford University Press, 2011.

Foley, Leonard, O.F.M., and Pat McCloskey, O.F.M. “Saint of the Day.” Cincinnati: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2009.

Lodi, Enzo. “Saints of the Roman Calendar.” New York: Alba House, 1992.

Jean M. Lee, M.A., D.Min., is a licensed behavioral health and substance abuse counselor, founding a nonprofit, state-licensed behavior health counseling agency and Christian gift/book store. Volunteer work includes: Jail ministry, Legion of Mary membership, door-to-door evangelization, and writing a weekly newspaper column titled “Faith and Inspiration: Encyclopedia of Saints for Today.”

A Catholic revert after 32 years away from the Church, she is devout in the Catholic faith, loves the saints, and lives a deeper spiritual/ religious and more joyful life since returning to the Church.

scious experience and instead pursue chemically-altered states of mind or drug-induced pseudo-experiences.

Any time we act in such a way that we treat something objectively good as if it were an evil by acting directly against it, we act in a disordered and immoral manner.

The decision to pursue inebriation and drunkenness, similarly, is a choice directed against the good of our human conscious experience that raises serious moral concerns.

Responsible use of alcohol, drugs

Making Sense Out of Bioethics:

Clearing The Air Around Marijuana Use

With Fr. Tad Pacholczyk

A June 2014 article in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), written by researchers from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institutes of Health, points out that marijuana is not the harmless drug that many imagine.

Rather, it is associated with “substantial adverse effects, some of which have been determined with a high level of confidence.”

Negative outcomes These negative outcomes include the risk of addiction, symptoms of chronic bronchitis, an elevated incidence of fatal and non-fatal motor vehicle accidents, and diminished lifetime achievement and school performance in cases of long-term use, especially beginning in adolescence.

We can add that the decision to use a drug recreationally for the purposes of dissociating ourselves from reality through induced euphoria raises significant moral concerns, and like all unethical human choices, it can be expected to correlate with significant adverse ramifications.

Part of the unethical character of drug abuse flows from the fact that we are treating something good, namely our personal, conscious experience, as if it were an evil to be avoided. Recreational drug users seek to escape or otherwise suppress their lived con-

The responsible enjoyment of alcohol, meanwhile, presupposes that a moderate use of the fruit of the vine can aid us in the pursuit of certain aspects of friendship and interaction by stimulating conversation with others and by diminishing the hesitations that people may have when they interact with each other.

The moderate use of alcohol also appears to offer positive physiological effects on health. The notion of the “responsible enjoyment of marijuana and other mind-altering drugs,” meanwhile, is a dubious concept, given that the more powerful and varied neurological effects of these substances readily take us across a line into alternate states of mind, detachment from reality, “getting stoned,” etc.

Whenever we look at alcohol, marijuana, or other more powerful drugs, additional moral concerns arise due to the risk of addiction, which threatens authentic freedom and constitutes a serious form of human bondage.

Alcohol, of course, poses a significant risk of addiction for some people, and the responsible use of alcohol may become nearly impossible for them, necessitating complete abstinence to maintain their freedom.

Addictive potential of marijuana Marijuana, despite some contentious debates about the matter, similarly has a significant addictive potential, as noted in the NEJM article: “Approximately nine percent of those who experiment with marijuana will become addicted . . . The number goes up to about one in six among those who start using marijuana as teenagers and to 25 to 50 percent among those who smoke marijuana daily.

“According to the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 2.7

million people 12 years of age and older met the DSM-IV criteria for dependence on marijuana, and 5.1 million people met the criteria for dependence on any illicit drug (8.6 million met the criteria for dependence on alcohol) . . . Indeed, early and regular marijuana use predicts an increased risk of marijuana addiction, which in turn predicts an increased risk of the use of other illicit drugs.”

The NEJM article also notes that adults who smoke marijuana regularly during adolescence have decreased neural connectivity (abnormal brain development and fewer fibers) in specific brain regions. Although some experts have disputed a cause-effect relationship for this phenomenon, studies of brain development in animals strongly suggest a causal effect.

The authors surmise that the effects of marijuana on brain development may help to explain the association between frequent marijuana use among adolescents and significant declines in IQ, as well as poor academic performance and an increased risk of dropping out of school.

These deleterious effects speak to us of the fundamentally unethical character of inhaling, injecting, or otherwise ingesting harmful chemical substances into our bodies.

Doubts about legalization The litany of marijuana’s adverse health effects raises major doubts about the wisdom of promoting its legalization for recreational purposes.

The authors note that the health effects of a drug (whether legal or illegal) are related to its “availability and social acceptability.”

They conclude, “in this respect, legal drugs (alcohol and tobacco) offer a sobering perspective, accounting for the greatest burden of disease associated with drugs not because they are more dangerous than illegal drugs but because their legal status allows for more widespread exposure,” leading to more abuse and more harmful effects.

It’s critical for us to acknowledge these negative effects rather than seeking, like drug addicts, to dissociate ourselves from this reality.

Fr. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, Mass., and serves as the director of education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia.

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Southwest

PO Box 1338, Gallup NM 87305-1338

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Voice of the Southwest | dioceseofgallup.org