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

Together, Let Us Partner As Evangelizers

Dear friends and Partners in Mission,

I had the opportunity to participate in the 2011 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California March 17-20. Wish you could have been there with me! It was a graced time because of a unique collaboration with the African American Catholic Center for Evangelization in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.  In attendance were Mr. Andy Shaw, Director of the African American Catholic Center for Evangelization, Father John Harfmann, S.S.J  a member of the Josephite Community and over 30,000 participants.

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 I had several delightful visits with members of the Kateri Circle of the City of the Angeles at their ministry table. I was pleased and proud to see the Native American Community as they invited curious individuals to learn about Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, known as the ‘Lily of the Mohawks”  and to share materials of invitation and promotion of Native American Ministry.

During these days, with the assistance of Sister Judy Gomila, M.S.C., we evangelized and promoted the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions and the Catholic Negro American Mission Board.  Lots of handshakes, smiles and engaging conversations enlightened many, many individuals about our venerable apostolate among American Indians and African Americans.  And I learned a thing or two . . . Some asked, “How can I learn more about ministry among Native Americans and African Americans” and some expressed with a sense of pride,  “ I am a Native American, or my friend is an Indian.” I also heard, “I do not know how to evangelize, in fact, I am not sure what the word really means, can you help me?”

My friends, our baptism in Jesus Christ calls each and every person to be a missionary, beginning with our family, community and in the market place.  All one needs to evangelize is a willing heart and a desire to share the Good News of Jesus in a loving and gentle way.  To evangelize is to share the story of Jesus and his teaching.   

Please take a moment or two to view the photos. Together, let us partner as evangelizers, yes, “you.”  I know you can do it! I am counting on you to continue to pray daily and to encourage others to pray.  Invite your family and friends to visit our website, www.blackandindianmission.org . 

Allow the grace of the Holy Spirit to guide your heart in all things. Kindly help me to raise consciousness about ministry in the Native American and African American Communities.  Looking forward to our next visit! 

Bless you!

EASTER GREETINGS!

Dear Partner in Mission,

Recently, I recalled a sugar egg I had as a child, not for eating but with a charming little spring scene inside. A few days later I happened to be in the photo center at the drugstore. I noted they had used family photographs inside one of those see-through eggs and people were part of that sweet scene! Indeed, Easter is filled with surprises!

Spiritually that image holds a lot of meaning. Remember there are 50 days to the Easter Season – extending from Easter Sunday (April 24, 2011) and ending on Pentecost (June 12, 2011). Not only do we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord but also our individual call to new life in Christ. The Easter Season affords us the opportunity to see through new eyes, to take a fresh perspective, to be hope-filled and to live our faith with renewed heart and zeal for the mission.

At the Black and Indian Mission Office we seek to support the bishops of the United States in their Diocesan efforts for evangelization among African American and Native American people. We offer those parish communities and Catholic schools new lenses to deepen their spirituality even as they remain faithful to their culture. “All things work together unto good.” Rom 8:28

Thank you for your interest , prayerful support and financial offerings that are the foundation of this ministry. It is my sincerest desire that this web-site, and our various other means of communication, will give you a “see-through egg experience” of how the Good News of Christ is lived on reservations and in rural and urban areas of the country. You just might be surprised. Yes, ours is an egg-citing ministry of the Church! Alleluia!

In the Risen Christ,
Reverend Wayne C. Paysse
Executive Director


P.S. Please visit our website for information on our upcoming Pilgrimages www.blackandindianmission.org.

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.

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!