More than 30 people from the Diocese trekked to the Bay Area for the annual national gathering of Catholics in Native American ministry. With the conference held in California, about twice the number of people that typically attend from the Diocese were able to go, said Father Earl Henley, MSC, Director of the Office of Native American Ministry. The Diocesan group also included deacons, religious sisters, lay people and Bishop Gerald Barnes.
Members of the diocesan delegation played prominent roles in the conference. Fr. Henley led a Reconciliation and Healing Service during the Conference, Deacons Manny Robles and Andrew Orozco gave talks and served at some Masses; Michael Madrigal, Marcus Briggs-Cloud, Vince Redhouse and Mercy Robles performed Native American rituals and music as part of the liturgies; and Kathy Piquet, Principal of St. Joseph School at the Soboba Reservation, directed the program for 94 children and youth who attended.
“We opened some eyes,” Fr. Henley said. “They got to know us, who we are.”
The theme of the Conference was “The Bridge Between Our Faith and Our Traditions.” Keynote and workshop topics included Mercy, Sacred Friendship, Survival of California’s Indigenous languages, Study and Indian Memorial of the California Missions, and the Cause of Canonization of the Maytrs La Florida.
Sister Deanna Rose Von Bargen, RSCJ, who has ministered on the Soboba Reservation for the past nine years, said she especially liked the theme of the keynote talks by Father Patrick Twohy and Father Jim Nisbet that bookended the conference. Fr. Nisbet’s address “The Eye of the Buffalo” sounded a note of hope, Sr. Von Bargen said.
“The buffalo always looks to where it’s going, not where it’s been,” she said, explaining the analogy of Fr. Nisbet’s title. “He talked about the whole idea of leaving hurts behind.”
Others were struck by the note of reconciliation in remarks made by Auxiliary Bishop Edward Clark of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles regarding the Church’s past treatment of Native Americans.
“It was a heartfelt apology. No excuses,” said Deacon Orozco, a Native American who ministers at St. Patrick Parish in Moreno Valley. “I can take that out to share with others because that’s what a lot of Native people have been searching for.”
Meanwhile, the youth, under the guidance of Piquet, engaged in music, arts and crafts, faith sharing and prayer activities that reflected the Native American culture. Music is more fully integrated into prayer in the Native American culture, Piquet said, as well as physical movement.
“It was very exciting to see how [the youth] took on the role of Native American Catholics,” she said. “Everybody came away from it feeling connected and very peaceful.”
Deacon Orozco addressed the youth about discerning what God is calling them to in their life as Native Americans, as Catholics and in their professional pursuits.
The Diocesan delegation that attended the Kateri Tekakwitha Conference was Marilyn Rogers, Irene Martinez, Pamela Miranda, Julian Miranda, Giovani Liera, Rudy Sanchez, Joyce Placencia, Marian Chacon, Henry and Mary Gonzalez, Deacon Manny and Mercy Robles, Sister Deanna Rose Von Bargen, RSCJ, Sister Marianna Torrano, RSCJ, Rosalee Palacis, Gabriel Juarez, Marco Juarez, Noah Juarez, Manny Juarez, Maya Juarez, Lela Juarez, Elizabeth Sandoval, Jesus Gutierrez, Mary Sandoval, Kathy Piquet, Michael Madrigal, Russell Gilmore, Deacon Andrew and Rosanne Orosco, Sylvia Arsate, Fr. Earl Henley and Bishop Gerald Barnes.