New Directions
in
Native American Ministry

A Workshop for Diocesan Staff and Missionary
Personnel on Trends in Native American Ministry

Window Representing the North: Sioux Spiritual Center Chapel

Presented by the Pastoral Reflection Team of the Bishops'
Ad Hoc Committee for Native American Catholics

The Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee for Native American Catholics is pleased to offer this workshop on New Directions in Native American Ministry to Roman Catholic dioceses within the United States. This workshop model and its contents has been used with great success for the past few years in the Committee sponsored, week-long Basic Directions course offered at the Sioux Spiritual Center in the diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota. This workshop is now available to dioceses at a site of their choosing.

PURPOSE
THE WORKSHOP IS DESIGNED:

• To help diocesan personnel, priests and religious, and lay ministers to reflect on their ministry with Native peoples in the light of the documents of Vatican II, the teachings of Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II, and the guidance of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
• To introduce pastoral workers to resources available to assist them in ministry with Native Americans.
• Give pastoral workers a broader context for their ministry and an understanding of the people they serve through the disciplines of theology, anthropology, history and Native American studies.

PRESENTERS

The workshop will be presented by one or more of the following experts in Pastoral Ministry with Native Americans: Rev. John Hatcher, SJ, Director of the Office of Inculturation of the Diocese of Rapid City, Rev. Raymond Bucko, S.J., Professor of anthropology at Creighton University, and Sister Kateri Mitchell, SSA, (Mohawk) Director of the National Tekakwitha Conference, experienced presenter in Native cultures and catechesis.

AVAILABILITY

The workshop can be offered in either a one, two, or three-day time period. Sessions can be offered on continuous days or can be spread out over a period of months. Workshops can usually be arranged to accommodate most diocesan schedules and budgets.

COSTS

All costs related to this workshop will be borne by the host diocese. Costs includes handouts and text, presenters' travel and accommodation, and a suggested stipend of $50.00 per presentation.

FOLLOW UP

The presenters, who all serve as consultants to the Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Native American Catholics, are available upon request for ongoing consultation with dioceses.




Painted Buffalo Robe: Sioux Spiritual Center Chapel

Workshop Content

The following list presents the topics and contents of the fourteen individual sessions that can be a part of each workshop. The specific topics for each individual workshop will be determined by the needs of each individual diocese. The format of the presentations would be lectures, with questions and answers. Sessions are designed to encourage conversation among diocesan ministers, ongoing study, and dialogue with the people to whom they minister.

I. Theology of Mission: Grounds contemporary missionary activity in the Sacred Scriptures, communicates the reason for evangelization today, and explores the method of evangelization in the early Church.

II. History of Relations between Native and Non-Native Americans: Provides an historical context of Native American and non-Native interaction, helping us to understand Native American peoples and their relationships to the rest of the country. This session also introduces the importance of the inculturation process.

III. Religion and Culture: Looks at religion and culture through the lenses of social science and theology to see the interrelationship between them. Suggests how theology and inculturation might fruitfully interface with anthropology.

IV. Inculturation I: Explores the basic notion of inculturation; gives a setting for and discusses the first principles of inculturation: the baptized community and leadership, ordained and non-ordained leaders, as well as principles of leadership formation.

V. Evolutionary Views of the Views of the World: Highlights the nineteenth century view of cultural evolution and how it affects mission policy up to the present day. Models will be offered as correctives to this viewpoint and as essential elements to the dialogical inculturation process.

VI. A Theology of Culture: Discusses the importance of culture as a unique gift to the Church; explores ways of identifying cultural symbols to be used in the Church; and reinforces the necessary cautions and limitations found in using cultural symbols.

VII. Cultural Considerations for Mission: Presents how missionaries learn about another culture and how they adapt to different cultural customs and contexts; it stresses the importance of being a solid member of one's own culture before engaging another culture.

VIII. Missionaries and Missions: Considers the attitudes needed to work in different cultural and geographical circumstances; addresses the need for screening of missionary personal, methods of screening, and the appropriate formation needed by those who work with Native Peoples.

IX. Resources for Missionary Personnel:
This workshop reviews the following documents and initiatives:

• the data gathered from the national survey on Native American Catholics; ·
• the consultation process and results of the study on Religion Among Native Americans compiled by the Diocese of Rapid City, SD
• the work of the Rapid City Inculturation Task Force;
• principles for forming and preparation of an inculturation task force.
• the Rapid City Inculturation Documents;
• culturally relevant retreats: Canku Wakan (inculturated form of Cursillo) and inculturated recovery retreats.

X. Native Catechesis: Considers the distinctive learning styles of Native peoples and the appropriate catechetical methods that respect these styles. Workshop also examines the importance of preparing Native catechists.

XI. Native Style of Ministry: Examines the variety of distinctive leadership patterns in Native communities and how this affects Church ministry

XII. Native Styles of Healing: Healing, both physical and spiritual, is essential to a wide variety of Native rituals and practices. This session explores Native healing and its relationship to the Christian ministry of healing.

XIII. Native Symbols: Symbols are very important in Native culture. This session will examine the nature of these symbols, the importance of respecting these symbols, and the process whereby specific native symbols might be incorporated into larger Christian worship.

XIV. Native Reacquisition of Culture: Despite predictions of its dissolution, Native culture has both revived and become more visible in the 21st century. This session examines the historical reasons for this revival and suggests how the Church might respectfully support these transformations.

Dioceses wishing to schedule this workshop should contact:
Rev. John Hatcher, S.J. (605-343-3541) or hatcher@jesuits.net

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Department of Education, Catechesis and Inculturation Division
3211 4th Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20017-1194

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Created: November 16, 2003 Updated: November 19, 2003