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

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 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

GO SAINTS, GO!

Being a native from New Orleans, I am familiar with the song, "when the saints go marching in..."  Perhaps you are also familiar with the popular tune? In Nawlin’s, as we pronounce "New Orleans" we are familiar with the saints on the football field and in the hallowed field of the cemetery. 

As a boy, during this time of the year we would visit the grave sites of our relatives to paint the tombs, clear the weeds, bring flowers, candles and offer prayers.  We would also picnic on this sacred ground with poor-boy sandwiches, tasty local snacks and homemade root beer. The grand Louisiana oak trees stretched their two, three and five-hundred year old branches over our heads with canopy’s of lush foliage speckled with gray Spanish moss.

In the Christian life, we too are stretched, as we reach for the eternity that is within. The month of November reminds us to stretch, not with our arms or standing on our tippy toes, but stretch with the heart that dreams! The American Indian, Alaskan Native and Black Catholic communities offer us a glimpse of this "spiritual-stretch-of-the-heart" through their traditions, stories and myths. 

November directs us to the saints, sinners and all people from different cultures and nations.  Creator-Grandfather speaks to us through the beauty of the sky, a stream and the majestic flight of the eagle. God, with His many faces of black, white and red frees and breaks the chains of slavery and lifts our spirits through song, music and dance.  Jesus comes to preach the Good News to the poor, the outcast and those who suffer injustice. The Savior establishes a new relationship between God and His People and calls all to His new teaching of Life and Resurrection.

If we are willing to see with another’s eyes and embrace their world, we would then experience something new and beautiful within ourselves to share with our global family.

The month of November leads us to focus on all saints and all souls, all traditions and stories, all cultures and nations, all gifts and beauty.  We do not follow a dirge of mediocrity but a richness of spirit that unfolds the revelation of God for each of us.  Yes, let us sing, "When the saints go marching in. . . We are in that number, when the saints go marching in. . . ." GO SAINTS, GO!  

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

Inspirational Travels

“I didn’t know that!” The woman did a double-take to learn that Baptism calls an individual to be an apostle, an evangelizer, a missionary.  I had just handed her our brochure promoting ministry in the Black and Native American communities.  This is my second posting on the blog. I’ve been visiting numerous Native American and African American communities. 

* I was invited by Bishop Curtis Guillory to preach at the feast day Mass of St. Katharine Drexel in the Diocese of Beaumont, TX.  Following Mass, I met with members of the Black Catholic faith community at the banquet. I was touched to receive the gift of song from the children at Mother of Mercy School and to receive warm greetings from people across the Diocese. 

 
* In Little Rock, AR I participated in an insightful  retreat for Black Catholic Leaders at Subicaco Benedictine Abbey as well as visited the children at St. Peter the Apostle School and St Augustine Child Care Center.
 

 * From the South I moved West to participate in the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, Anaheim, CA. In partnership with the Josephites and the Archdiocesan Black Catholic Evangelization Center, our Mission Office staffed a booth. It was exciting to share with people the ministry of the Black and Indian Mission Office following the theme of the Congress, Hold Firm…Trust. Many were surprised to learn that we have been in existence since 1874. As I finished my presentations, I handed the listeners 2 of our flyers with the challenge, “ Be an apostle of good news, give a flyer to a friend.”
 
* On an upper level of the Convention Center  there were tables – the length of two city blocks  -  highlighting the various multi-cultural ministries of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. I’m proud to say the L. A. Kateri Circle was well represented in a beautiful display. Spending time with the Native American women and men there, I learned they had given out over 2,000 prayer cards of Blessed Kateri.

Until next time, may YOU seek ways to be a missionary for Jesus among your family and friends.  Go on… “Be an apostle of the Good News, share this blog with a friend.”

Lenten blessings.