Connectedness

When I visited St. Augustine 5 years ago, I gained a sense of how Native American cultures embrace the idea of the interconnectedness of everything.

Above the altar at St. Augustine Church is a crucifix surrounded by colors that represent white, black, red, and yellow people.

Roman Catholic theology embraces this concept when it comes to the communion of saints, and how we are connected with people of faith all over the world, and those who have lived before us, who now comprise the Church in Heaven.

This idea of connectedness is something that speaks to the continued impact of my time at St. Augustine Mission in Nebraska, and it's what gave me the desire to return there for a visit of reunion and reconnection.

I had my chance to journey to St. Augustine over the course of an extended weekend at the end of last July.

On Saturday morning, July 28, I got in my vehicle Avila, and began my journey westward, most of it along I-80.  Illinois gave way to Iowa, when I crossed the Mississippi River on the US 67 Centennial Bridge--my first Mississippi crossing since my trip to the Pacific Northwest last year--which landed me in the lively riverfront/downtown district of Davenport, where there were numerous street closings due to some kind of festival.  Eventually, I got to Bettendorf to pick up my lunch, a Quad Cities-style pizza from Harris Pizza, a chain in that area.  I stopped at a rest stop to enjoy it.  Iowa is certainly superb in the rest stop facilities it offers along the roadways.  And the pizza had a nice crust, with a little bit of thickness and just a bit soft.  I got mine topped with taco toppings, as you can see in the photo below:

I continued along I-80 westward through the gently rolling landscape--Iowa is definitely not flat like Illinois.  Soon, I followed I-80 in a more southerly direction as I neared the Missouri River.  And then I was in the city of Omaha, NE, in the state of the Good Life.  My first stop was Sacred Heart Parish in northern Omaha, where Father Dave, formerly the priest at St. Augustine, is now serving as pastor (please see photo below).

I reached the church just after 5 PM Mass let out, and I went up to greet him as he greeted parishioners exiting the church.  He took me inside to show me around, and we got chatting about things going on in our lives.  He even played me some music on his flute, a skill he developed while at St. Augustine, as a serenade for me at the start of my weekend back at St. Augustine.

He then offered to take me out to eat.  We ended up at a Tex-Mex place called Romeo's in central Omaha, where we continued in good conversation catching up.  Much of our conversation helped me reflect on the spiritual state of my life, which offered me great encouragement.

Once we finished dinner, we parted ways, and I got on US 75 and made my way into South Omaha to see St. Peter and Paul Parish (please see photo below), where Cardinal Cupich went to Mass when he was growing up, before heading out of Omaha.

I spent about 2 1/2 hours in the city, more time than I had ever spent there before on previous trips when I was pretty much just passing through.  This time around, I got a better sense of the character of the city's neighborhoods, with narrow streets and lots of families having get-togethers at their homes out in the pleasant summer evening, and I even noticed a strong Hispanic presence.

I crossed the Missouri River on I-80 back into Iowa and then headed north on I-29, exiting at Onawa, where I spent the night at a Super 8 Motel, close by a Dairy Queen where I got a sweet treat before bed.

The next morning, after I had breakfast and checked out, I drove west on Iowa Route 175, which took me to a bridge across the Missouri River and back into Nebraska.  Unlike the last time I went to St. Augustine, there was no toll bride in Decatur, NE, on the other side.  I drove through Decatur to US 75 and then headed north through the hilly country along the Missouri River to Winnebago.  It was such a pleasant, peaceful drive.

I attended 10 AM Mass at St. Augustine Church.  Just like last time, there was incense used at the start.  The readings were the start of the John 6 Bread of Life discourse.  It was a wonderful way to remember how abundant God's graces are, which calls us to respond in living a life of gratitude ans service, just as I had opportunity to do 5 years ago.  After Mass, I went to greet Sarah Snake, who had spent time with our group when we came there last.

I had some plans in mind for early that afternoon, so with the time I had available, I decided to drive up to Sioux City, IA.  I stopped at an ATM, and then drove to a park that sat across the Big Sioux River from South Dakota.  I then drove a short distance north to Military Road, and at 12:24 PM CDT, I crossed the Military Road Bridge--in the photo below--over the Big Sioux River into South Dakota.

In this photo, the view is toward the southeast across the Military Road Bridge.  South Dakota is in the foreground and Iowa is toward the background.  Below is a sign at the South Dakota end of the bridge.  You can see Avila in the parking lot, behind the sign.

I parked in the lot of a casino, one of several in the immediate vicinity, and at 12:25 PM CDT, I stepped out of Avila, my first time stepping onto South Dakota ground.  I took a few steps around, and then got back in the car, and then over to I-29, and then crossed back into Iowa, and passed by the southeasternmost tip of South Dakota, between the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers, before making my way back south on US 77 into Nebraska, and from there, back to Winnebago.  I stopped in Homer on the way there to see St. Cornelius, which is part of the cluster of worship sites associated with the St. Augustine Mission.  I also stopped to look at some of the many interpretive signs along the road sharing about the history of the Native American peoples in the area, and even a heard of bison just north of St. Augustine, as you can see in the photo below.

I stopped back at St. Augustine to meet up with Father Dave, who was there to celebrate a baptism.  From there, I went to the Annual Winnebago Powwow (please see photo below), held annually to celebrate Chief Little Priest.  I spent about an hour there seeing the various dances done in traditional outfits.

I browsed the wares for sale, and ate some bison tacos, which you can see in the photo below.

I also got to meet Father Mark, the new priest at St. Augustine.  This powwow is a major event, with people even camping out at the powwow grounds over the course of multiple days when it is held.

After about an hour, I made my way west through gently rolling hills and wide open farm fields to Norfolk to the Immaculata Monastery, the motherhouse of the Benedictine Sisters, particularly to see Sister Agnes, who retired from serving in the St. Augustine office.

The Immaculata Monastery

I joined the sisters for their daily 5:30 evening prayer, as they chanted the various psalms, which was something to behold as I joined my voice with theirs.

When prayer ended, Sister Celine, who I had been in contact with about visiting Sister Agnes, greeted me, and then escorted me to a room, and placed food out on a table for me to have dinner, along with Sister Frances.  We got talking about a variety of subjects.

Then, the two of us met up with Sister Agnes, accompanied by Sister Lumen, and we went into a parlor room to chat for a little while longer.  It was amazing to hear of the wide variety of experiences the sisters have had serving in spots all over the world.

Shortly before 8 o'clock, I departed the monastery.  On my way out of Norfolk, I stopped to get pictures at the childhood home of Johnny Carson, and by a mural in downtown Norfolk, and grabbed a taste of Runza, a Nebraska chain that features a certain kind of beef sandwich.

Johnny Carson's childhood home

Johnny Carson mural, downtown Norfolk

While driving back to Winnebago, I got a great view of the sunset over the fields.

I also stopped in Rosalie, where I had the incredibly profound experience of the Sweat Lodge, and in Walthill to see St. Joseph, where we spent time doing service work.

After arriving back at St. Augustine, I settled into the rectory, and then visited with Father Mark before bed.

Getting the royal treatment: my bed at the St. Augustine Rectory

The next morning, I woke up before 7 AM to tune into KMEG Siouxland Sunrise News to see a good college friend, Lynette Grant, give the weather report.  (I actually had the chance to see the KMEG studios when driving on I-29 from South Dakota back into Iowa.)

At 8 AM, I went to the chapel in the rectory, where Father Mark celebrated Mass, with just the two of us.  It was a great opportunity to offer up special prayers for various people I hold dear, and to sense the presence of God in a totally different way with just the two of us.

We then had breakfast, and then I got packed up, and by 9:45, I had started my journey back home.

About an hour away, in Iowa, I pulled off I-29, and took a drive into the Loess Hills (pronounced "luss"), a scenic area created by deposits of loess sediment that run the length of western Iowa.  A fun fact is that the only other place in the world with loess deposits as large is in the Yellow River valley in China.  I went to the Murray Hill Scenic Overlook.  I walked up a path from the parking lot to take in the absolutely scenic views, as you can see in the pictures below.

The above three photos show views from various points as I went up the path.  You can see the Loess Hills and the farmland from which they rise.

Here is the view toward the top of the hill that had a path leading from the overlook parking lot.

I also pulled off I-80 to make a quick stop at the Danish Windmill in Elk Horn, IA, when I needed Wifi access--as you can see in this photo below.

The drive there was along a scenic byway on gently rolling hills through farm fields.

I stopped for lunch at a Taco John's in West Des Moines, my first time eating there.  I continued along I-80, as I crossed over the Mississippi back into Illinois.

I was back home in Oak Park shortly before 8 o'clock, concluding a remarkable trip.  I was delighted to fulfill my desire to reconnect with St. Augustine and its people, even in the new places where they are now.  I was floored at how on multiple occasions, I received the "royal treatment", in being fed multiple times and given a place to stay at the St. Augustine rectory.  The generous hospitality I received was incredible, and really speaks to the impact I made on that place that people would show such kindness to me.

I enjoyed the opportunity to travel through the heartland of the United States, passing through wide open fields, and feeling a different sensation in being out in the quieter rural areas.  I was pleased to finally have the chance to be in South Dakota, since I've been to every other state around it, although I intend to return there sometime for a more substantive visit to see other places there.

I also got to engage with Native American culture, seeing the interpretive signs along the roads, and most especially going to the powwow.  I had considered several different weekends for this trip before settling on the final weekend in July, and it worked out well that I could be there for that experience.

And certainly it was to be expected that I would encounter a very strong spiritual, faith-based component to this trip, which was an overarching theme throughout.  Going to St. Augustine 5 years ago was done for reasons inspired by faith, and going back to be physically present in a place I feel very connected to in spirit certainly was similarly inspired by faith.  There were so many experiences of prayer I had, each of them powerful in its own way.

They all shared in common providing a way for me to connect with God, even as I connected with those with whom I prayed, reinforcing the sense of connection, which leads me to proclaim:

"All my relations."

Father Mark got these photos of me at St. Augustine before I departed.  Above is the school--and the words on the sign are in the Ho-Chunk/Winnebago language and mean, "Welcome."  Below is the Church.  Note that I'm wearing my Nebraska Sesquicentennial shirt, an occasion I celebrated because of the impact of my time at St. Augustine.  All other photos in this blog are mine.