American Indian Catholic Outreach leads first evangelization retreat

GUTHRIE – Everyone gathered on the large porch to form a circle. After some introduction, everyone turned to the east where the morning sun bounces off of Guthrie Lake and peeps through the trees. The aroma of sage and cedar drifted upward along with prayers recited in both English and Cherokee. Different prayers were said as participants turned toward each of the “Four Directions:” east, south, west and north.
 
“We were thanking the creator for everything He has given us, and asking Him to be with everyone here,” said Deacon Roy Callison, a member of the Cherokee Nation and coordinator of the American Indian Catholic Outreach for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.
 
Being Catholic and American Indian was one of the core discussions at the evangelization retreat on March 18 at Our Lady of the Lake Retreat House in Guthrie. The first speaker was Father Michael Carson, assistant director of Native American Affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C. Some of the topics he covered were multicultural ministry, spiritual chaos and evangelization.
 
“Evangelization means bringing the good news of Jesus … and seeking to convert individuals and society by the divine power of the Gospel,” said Carson, who is Choctaw. “It does not mean culture superiority. … It certainly doesn’t mean culture unification, like a melting pot, no. It means we may have many cultures.”
 
He said evangelization goes both ways because when someone goes out to evangelize they are not only transforming others’ lives, but they are converting and transforming their own lives; making themselves a better Catholic, a better Christian.
 
Carson said God likes spiritual chaos, so when things appear to be fine, there is probably something wrong. He likes to share this idea with teachers at his parish.
 
“The boarding school period was the worst time for Native Americans in the Catholic Church ... and things were going well for the people running the schools. No complaints, no calls to bishops, but then that’s the greatest problem in our history for working with Native Americans,” Carson said.
 
“So when things are going well, there should be some red flags. We should be doing something differently. We should be entering into that spiritual chaos and realizing that Christ wants us to be uncomfortable; trying to work on doing something different.”
 
He said the truth about the Catholic Church and American Indians also includes “really good parts.” Knowing the history and learning about tribal cultures is important in the evangelization of American Indians, he said.
 
He also spoke about bigotry and racism in some school curriculums, the Washington, D.C. NFL team name, and stereotypical portrayals of American Indians in media. He said Catholics should make sure Christ’s message is what’s being proclaimed, and “Do not apologize for your evangelization.”
 
One young American Indian woman who is known for her devotion to God is Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. Her story was shared by Sister Kateri Mitchell, S.S.A., executive director of the Tekakwitha conference.
 
“Way back in the 1600s, a young woman who did not even know what the word evangelization meant, had within her heart the love of a God who she came to know,” said Sister Kateri, a Mohawk. “She had the wisdom of the spirit, of the Creator who made her, who brought her to life. She was very comfortable with who she was. ... She was strong.”
 
Sister Kateri took a relic of Saint Kateri to the Mass celebrated that day in the Saint Katharine Drexel Chapel across the gravel parking lot from the retreat house.
 
The approximately 30 attendees ate a traditional American Indian meal after Mass and visited before the afternoon speakers began. Not everyone in attendance was American Indian nor did everyone live in Oklahoma.
 
“We drove up from Houston because we don’t have anything like this with Native Americans that are practicing Catholics,” said Tammy Baldauff, who is Osage, Sac and Fox, and Shawnee. “I’m very pleased. I’ve never heard Sister Kateri speak before, and I am very inspired by her to start a Kateri circle in the Houston area.”
 
The afternoon speakers were Dominican Sister of Hope Mary Ann Cirillo, O.P., and Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B., from Saint Gregory’s Abbey.
 
Sister Mary Ann spoke about her work with Las-Casas among the Cheyenne and Arapaho people in Canton. She said years ago the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City made a video, “Spirit in the Wind,” about work with the tribes. Abbot Lawrence provided the history of when Benedictine Monks came to Oklahoma and began working with American Indian communities. Their work continues today.
 
“We recently met with President (Michael) Scaperlanda at Saint Gregory’s University and we mentioned how we’d love to have a Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Spiritual Center, and he said, ‘Come to Saint Gregory’s.’ He’s already given us a space,” Deacon Callison said. “Through the prayers of Saint Kateri, we can reach out to students, plus we’ll have a central location.”
 
Each year, a Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Honor Dance is held at Saint Gregory’s Abbey. This year’s dance will be July 8.
 
Deacon Callison said AICO has “been a blessing, and the archbishop is so supportive. He is really doing everything he can to help us and we’re really appreciative of that.”
 
The Office of American Indian Catholic Outreach began in May 2014 in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City for the support, education and evangelization of Oklahoma’s American Indian Catholics. For more information, contact Deacon Roy Callison at (918) 822-3255 or rcallison@archokc.org.
 
Dana Attocknie is managing editor of the Sooner Catholic .

Photo: Deacon Roy Callison and his wife Susan finish leading the “Prayer in the Four Directions” at the March 18 evangelization retreat in Guthrie. Photos Dana Attocknie.