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 Easter!

Dear Partners in Mission, 

A pediatric nurse, before listening to the children’s chests, would plug the stethoscope into their ears and let them listen to their own hearts. Their eyes would always light up in amazement. But she never got a response to equal that of six-year-old Gregory’s.

She tucked the sleek stethoscope in his ears and placed the smooth disk over his heart. “Listen,” she said, “What do you suppose that is?”  He drew his eyebrows together in a puzzled line and looked up as if lost in the drum beat of the strange lub-dub, lub-dub deep in his chest. Then his face broke out in a marvelous, gap tooth smile. “Is that Jesus?”

This Easter season, having just celebrated the Holiest of Weeks with its beautiful images and faith rituals: waving palms, institution of the Eucharist, washing feet, Way of the Cross, kissing the crucifix, new fire, blessed water, Baptisms, renewing the promises, and more…we embrace Paschal Mystery. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…”  John 3:16

Here at the Black and Indian Mission Office we seek to support our mission parishes, Catholic schools and parish religious education programs that raise awareness to the Good News of Jesus Christ. Look for their stories of on-going evangelization on our website. Consider joining the at home pilgrimage sponsored by the Catholic Negro-American Mission Board September 20-24, 2012,  to honor the legacy Fr. Augustus Tolton, the first black priest ordained for the United States (Those flyers are forth-coming.).  Participate in the canonization festivities of the first American born, Native saint, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, October 18-24, 2012, in Rome as orchestrated by the Bureau of Catholic Indian Mission. (Click here for the Special Events page) Info on both of these outstanding witnesses to Christ can be found at Profiles in Faith on this web-site.

Make time this Easter Season to listen, figuratively, to the rhythm of your own heartbeat. With springtime freshness, sing out Alleluia in praise and thanksgiving for the miracle of Easter Resurrection and be prepared to see and hear Jesus everywhere.

Peace and joy of the Risen Christ,

Reverend W. Carroll Paysse

Executive Director

A Blessed Lenten Season

Dear Mission Family, 

The Lenten season invites us to swim upstream like the salmon, taking us ever more deeply into the spiritual desert with Jesus, only to be refreshed by the baptismal waters.

This season of grace, God's very life is always in contradiction to those things and persons that keep us from being united, free and whole in prayer, joy and peace!

The scriptures give witness and testify to the beauty of God and how the Great Spirit touches each of us when we turn to Him. Bible characters such as John the Baptist and others point to the way of Jesus!

Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman is quoted as saying, "we can believe what we choose. We are answerable for what we choose to believe."

Let us ask ourselves as we quickly approach the end of the Lenten season, how can I capture deep within me the life and breath of Jesus? How might I cast my net of hope and anchor of peace? Let us go to God in prayer! It is not too late to experience a fruitful Lenten season.

 -Father Paysse

Celebrating Black History Month!

Our Lady of Africa, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Dear Mission Family,

February is Black History Month. It is a national observance for remembering important individuals and events in the history of the African diaspora.  The remembrance originated in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson. 

We are proud today to continue this legacy! We want to celebrate with our family and friends the contributions and gifts of our Black sisters and brothers.  With joy we can see how the Black Community impacts American society, Church and evangelization.

Let us in our Catholic Tradition raise consciousness and gently remind all people of every race to open their hearts to Christ and to remove racism from society and across the globe. 

Let us begin with ourselves, our attitudes and our lack of Christian charity. Let us pray to Christ to accept people as equals and coworkers in the field of evangelization. Allow the Spirit to fill us with grace so our actions and words reflect the dignity of all people as created in the image and likeness of Almighty God!

Visit us at www.blackandindianmission.org to learn about the witness of Black Catholics such as Mother Lange, Pierre Toussaint and Fr. Augustus Tolton to name a few.

Please pray to end racism! Education is a start!

Please consider making a donation to the Catholic Negro American Mission Board for Black Catholic Mission Schools. Go to DONATE on the homepage and help us to keep the doors open in our Black Catholic Mission Schools.

Let us stand in solidarity with all people. Let us offer prayers for reconciliation, healing and renewed relationships throughout society.

  -Fr. Paysse

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Dear Friends in Mission,

As a young boy, the Christmas season was always a very special and holy time in the life of my home parish at Holy Guardian Angels.  We were taught by our pastor to have a great love and reverence for the Divine Christ-Child and to go often before or after Mass to make a visit to the manger.

In a real way, at that moment kneeling before the crib with Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I came to understand the importance of knowing God and all that He created in the world.  Like the angels in adoration around the baby Jesus, I too was in adoration and gave witness to his birth!

I guess because the guardian angels were our patrons in the parish and we were always reminded of their love and care for us, I took a special interest in their company and all their doings in the world. 

St. Luke, 2:8-11 tells us. “And in that region there were shepherds . . .  and an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. . . Be not afraid; for I bring you good news of a great joy . . .  for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  It seemed to me that the angels had a special mission that required a unique skill in service both to God and humanity. And I was always curious to learn more.

In a real way each of you are angels because you continue the missionary legacy of the Black andIndian Mission Office.  When I travel to our American Indian reservations or Black Catholic communities, I am mindful of the many hearts that are united in prayer and sacrifice for the missions across the United States.  I see your presence at St. Peter Indian School in Phoenix, St. Augustine school in Washington, DC, at St. Michaels Indian School in the Diocese of Gallup and St. Peter Claver in St. Petersburg, Florida.  Like the angels, you have a special skill in caring and sharing that only you can give!

Thank you for your mission collaboration during 2011. Please share our mission outreach to Native Americans and African Americans with your family and friends.  Invite them to visit us at www.blackandindianmission.org .  

May the Christ-Child bless you and your loved ones abundantly during this Christmas season and  2012 bring “good news of great joy” to our families and missions across the United States.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Father W. Paysse

Executive Director