Indians Enter American Catholic Life

PRESCOTT, ARIZONA
by Harold Butcher
THE news which reached here recently, by way of Buenos Aires, that the beatification process of a Red-Indian boy, Ceferina Namuncure, son of Cacique Manuel Nanette cura, King of the Pampas, had been opened in Rome, called attention to the fact that Indians in the Americas arc playing their part in the Catholic.
Church. Chlistianity was brought to them by the Church following the discoveries of Christopher Columbus, and, when they have been approached in a spire of understanding they have responded; this despite the fact that the work of Christianisation has not been easy. Indians, a proud people, are tint likely to be erahusiastic about a religion followed by Spaniards, their oppressors; moreover, their own religious dances, based on an intimate relationship to nature, had satisfied them for centuries.
Howeves. the work of padres who have identified theenselves with the lives of Indians. first inhabitants of the north and south American continents, does count in the long run. And the fact that an Indian boy% being considered for beatification Is sure to make an impression.
Caferirto Namuneura was born at Chimpsty, Rio Negro, on August 26, 1886; and, after being baptised and educated by the Salesians, he desired to serve as an apostle TO his people. He began his studies at Viedrna and was then taken to Rome by the Vicar Apostolic of Patagonia, wile; later became Cardinal Cagliero.
Ceferino died in Rome at the age of 19, an early age, but not too early for his virtues to be recognised.
in North America the Catholic Church is constantly working among Indians. Referring to Indian missions in the United States, Bishop Daniel J. Gerelte, of Tucemn. stated recently: " The Church has a band of 200 zealous, self-sacrificing priests and more than 500 Sisters labouring for the salvation of the Indians. They are ministerittg to the faithful descendants of the Resemen, who were won to Christ by the toil and sacrifices of the Mat:kite-tee. More than that, they, too, are gaining-in new members for the Kingdom of God. Their 400 chapels and 64 schools are to-day caring for nearly 100,000 Catholic Indians and their children."
Indians, in common with otherpeople living in the United States, have felt the effects of World War Ti. It is estimated that approximately 22,000 Indian men and women are wearing the uniform of this country; and. in addition, there may be twice that number employed in war 41(111516es or in part-time work on farms and ranches. The war has taken Indians out of their reservations, but the work of priests and religious women continues, their total number being actually slightly greater than before thc war. The four hundred chapels on the various resetrations and in Alaska arc being maintaiaed, as well as all the sixty-four Indian mission schools. Preseat attendance in the schools is 6,794.
In the diocese of Gallup, New MeXiCO, there are 55,000 Navajo Indians who live on or near a reservation of 25,000 square miles. Catholics number 10,000. Historic records tell of attempts made by the early Spanish padres to establish missions among the Navajos, but the Indians ' warlike and nomadic habits made these tuisuccessful. Only in the year 11398 did the first success come with the arrival of the Franciscan Fathers anti the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Much progress has been made since then. but there is still room for considerable development, " The whole western half of this reservation," says Bishop Bernard T. Lspelage, 0.F.M., " is still without a mission centre, and the Indians of this vast territory are as ignorant of the Catholic faith as 'the pagans of darkest Africa."
In their fascinating volume, Mis31011 Monuments Oi New Mexico, Dr. Edgar L Hewett and Dr. Reginald Fisher, both of Santa Fe, New Mexico, have described the life and work of the padres and the present status of the missions they founded. Again and again it is revealed how their faith and zeal won converts An amazing example is that of the . mission at the pueblo of Acoma, an Indian word meaning " People of the White Rock."
In addition to the Aconta church, others that have survived are the missions at the pueblos of San Juan. San Felipe, Picuris, Zia, San ldfefonso, Sandia, Taos, Cochiti, Laguna, Testique, Santa Clara. Jemez and Santa Ana. Some of these New Mexican churches are now on U.S. highways— the coaditions around them have changed greedy since they were built.-but they all breathe a conquering spirit, an ability to carry on the faith of the padres who settled among the Indians and pointed the way to Christ.