The Sacred Heart of Jesus

 June is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. As a pastor some years ago, I'd enthrone the image of the Sacred Heart in the homes of my parishioners.  What a comfort this brought to many!

We are mindful in the Scriptures of the gentleness of Jesus and how he opened his own human and sacred heart to all who would trust him. Let us turn to him at this moment to receive his love, forgiveness and peace.

Today, let us consider the importance of opening our own hearts to our Native American and African American sisters and brothers - and all we meet!

We collaborate with diocesan efforts that have a positive impact on the work of evangelization. How? By supporting or establishing a particular work, program or project.  Please partner with us to keep our struggling mission schools open, to support religious education programs with Bibles and workbooks, to train catechists, to provide the comforting presence of a priest, religious sister or brother; these are a few of the daily challenges.

• Click Here to partner with the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions.

• Click Here to partner with the Catholic Negro American Mission Board. 

• Click Here to partner with the Black and Indian Mission Collection. 

Thank you for your consideration of support. Be assured of my prayers for you and your loved ones. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus abundantly bless all your good works!

 Father Paysse
 Executive Director

May is the Month of Mary

The month of May is the month of Mary, the Mother of Jesus and of the Church. We are invited by Jesus to take the hand of Mary to guide us closer and closer to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Each one of us are special daughters and sons to Mary. And because we are daughters and sons, we are family! Belonging to the family of Christ, the Church invites us to open our hearts and minds to all peoples and cultures. 

It is no different with the Native American, Alaskan Native and African American communities. We are challenged to learn more about these cultures and to welcome their spiritual gifts.

As we observe the blooming of tress, shrubs and flowers during this time of the year, we must see the beauty of God trying to take root in our hearts daily. We need to bloom a life of love, service and joy like Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our Mother too!

 Fr. Wayne C. Paysse

Happy Lenten!

Dear Mission Family,

During this month of March we are occupied with many thoughts and prayers for Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI and are joining our prayers with the global church as the Cardinals prepare to elect a new Pope. 

We are also in the midst of the 2013 Lenten Season when Christ invites us to make a spiritual journey with him these forty days using the three spiritual pillars of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.  I am sure many of you have traditionally given up for the Lenten Season candy, extra dessert, and popcorn.  May I suggest and encourage all of us regardless of our Lenten sacrifice to have greater recourse towards prayer and works of charity within our families, workplace, and the marketplace

Please keep our Native American/Alaskan Natives and African American communities in your prayers.  Let us affirm our brothers and sisters who have enriched the Church with their gift of their cultures.

Finally may I also invite each of us to concentrate on a virtue, i.e., love, patience, and mercy that we wish to more freely engage in our daily lives.  No doubt we will grow in the life of holiness and possess greater peace now and for eternity. 

Happy Lenten Trails!

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Reverend W. Carroll Paysse

Executive Director

A Special Congratulations to Archbishop Chaput!

Dear Mission Family,

I was inspired during our recent Tekakwitha Conference in Tucson because we have a wonderful family spirit and the news of Archbishop Chaput being appointed Archbishop of Philadelphia brought a special joy to the Conference.

Together as baptized Christians we continue to build the Kingdom of God on earth daily with our acts of kindness, love, thoughtfulness, humility and many little sacrifices. Please join me- heart to heart- in prayer for continued blessings on our Native American and African American communities throughout the USA.

Never tire in praying daily for the quick canonization of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha......bless you!

Fr. Paysse

The Feast of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha

Hello Mission Friend,

On July 14, we celebrated the feast of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, known as the “Lily of the Mohawks”, and is the first Native American to be declared “Blessed “by the Catholic Church in1980.

Blessed Kateri died in 1680 at Caughnawaga, Quebec, at the age of twenty-four.  To learn more about Blessed Kateri visit our website, www.blackandmission.org and be sure to request a free holy card of Kateri with the Canonization Prayer.

Please tell your family and friends about Blessed Kateri and invite them to become mission partners with us.

Summer blessings,

Fr. Wayne Paysse

2011, AND THE MISSION CONTINUES. . .

Hello, my name is Father Wayne Paysse and I am the Executive Director of the Black and Indian Mission Office in Washington, D.C.  The office is made up of three separate organizations of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States.  They are: The Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, established in 1874;  The Black and Indian Mission Collection, established in 1884 and  The Catholic Negro-American Mission Board, established in 1907.  Sometimes in speaking of the office as a whole, we use the term, Black and Indian Mission Office – which is inclusive of all three organizations.

The ministry of the office is to encourage the ongoing diocesan evangelization efforts within the American Indian/indigenous and the African American communities.  We support Black and Indian parishes, missions,  religious education programs, Catholic mission schools, urban ministry, evangelization programs for African Americans and Native Americans and missionaries in these communities.  

I am so pleased that you have joined us as we begin this new cyber adventure of evangelization. The hope is to reach across miles, touch hearts, raise consciousness and stretch to reach down deep within as disciples, friends and missionaries.  I hope we generate a strong sense of faith community in the weeks and months ahead as I share with you my mission travels across the U.S.A. Sometimes you will accompany me to Indian reservations, parishes, urban centers, Alaskan villages and African American and Indian schools.  

The prayerful and financial support of our friends bring people together to worship God in community and to "be there" for one another with their God-given gifts that baptism calls each and every person to discipleship.  Also, by virtue of our baptism, we are missionaries beginning within our families, parishes  and schools.  We worship, serve and love God and community through our religious family, the Roman Catholic Church.  Because Jesus was the first missionary sent from heaven, we follow His example and bear witness to His love.

 

Please be a herald of good news. Help me to spread the word about the Black and Indian Mission Office!  It is 2011 and the Mission continues. . . so come along we'd love to share the experience of the journey with you!