Good evening District 27. Today I had the pleasure of attending the anniversary mass of the cause for canonization of Nicholas Black Elk, Servant of God. This year the mass was held at Maȟpíya Lúta (Red Cloud Indian School) north of Pine Ridge. The Jesuit priests from Holy Rosary Mission were on hand to concelebrate the mass with the Rapid City Diocesan Administrator Fr. Dan Juelfs. After the mass, a lunch was held on the grounds of Holy Rosary Mission. This was my second year attending the anniversary mass of Nicholas Black Elk. Deacon Bill White, the diocesan postulator for Black Elk’s cause, provided those in attendance with a brief update on the cause for canonization. He said the cause for canonization is moving slowly due to the backlog of the number of causes for canonization of various holy men and women that are submitted each year to the Vatican’s prefect of the dicastery, but Deacon Bill said is confident that the Pope Francis after close examination by the dicastery will declare Black Elk “Venerable” – another step closer to declaring Nicholas Black Elk a saint.
Nick, as he was commonly known, lived in the Manderson area of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He was baptized into the Catholic faith on December 6, 1904, the Feast of Saint Nicholas. He is an example of a man of Lakota heritage living a virtuous and holy life at the precipice of the modern era who led an authentic Christian life. His cause for canonization should not be overlooked. He is credited with leading 400 Lakota people to the Catholic faith. Nicholas Black Elk was a man of great humility and had a love for God and neighbor. To learn more about Nicholas Black Elk and his cause for canonization, click on the following link: https://www.rapidcitydiocese.org/black-elk-home/
In closing, Nicholas Black Elk serves as role model for all men and women seeking a life of holiness. Nick and I share something in common: We are both trained catechists who have shared our faith and love for God to those that we encounter each and every day. For many years, I have had the privilege of teaching and passing down the Catholic faith to many 5th, 6th, and 7th graders from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart here in Martin. I have also had the privilege of taking communion to the residents at the Bennett County Nursing Home prior to its closure in October 2023. Nick continues to inspire me to be a better man each day. It is my great hope that Nick will be remembered in the future perhaps as the patron saint of catechists and lay ecclesial ministers. Nicholas Black Elk, Servant of God, Pray for us. God bless.
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