Still Walking in Her Footsteps

The beginning of March has two notable occasions:  Nebraska's Birthday/Statehood Day is on March 1.  Two days later on March 3 is the Feast of St. Mother Katharine Drexel, who founded St. Augustine Mission in Winnebago, NE. 

This mission was one of many institutions she helped start because of her heart to serve the needs of African Americans and Native Americans.

Among the most profound experiences of my life was going on a service trip to that mission during the Spring Break of my final year at ValpU.  It was the opportunity of a lifetime to walk in the footsteps of St. Katharine Drexel and help support the work of the mission.

Since I have had my own vehicle, I've had opportunities to return and reconnect with St. Augustine Mission.  March 2024 provided a great opportunity to walk again in the footsteps of St. Katharine Drexel on her Feast Day, which was on a Sunday this year, just as it was 11 years ago when I first went there.

Walking in St. Katharine's footsteps on the morning of Sunday, March 3, 2013, my group and I head to Mass at the St. Augustine Church.

Walking in the footsteps of St. Katharine at St. Augustine on the morning of March 3, 2024, on the way to Mass

I departed shortly before 11 AM on Friday, March 1, 2024, eager to get on the road and head west since I planned to arrive later that day in Nebraska on its Statehood Day.  (Please note that all times in this post are in CST.  And all photos are mine, unless otherwise stated.)

About an hour later, shortly after getting on I-80 westbound, my route for much of the drive, I saw a sign for Naf Naf Grill.  Figuring there would be good options for meatless Lenten Friday lunch there, unlike most other places along the interstates, I quickly changed my plan to have breakfast for lunch at Cracker Barrel and exited, heading straight for the Naf Naf Grill in the Love's Truck Stop near Morris--please see photo directly below.  I enjoyed the falafel pita wrap.

My falafel wrap

By 1 PM, I was back on I-80.  A couple of hours later, I reached Iowa, and I soon made a quick stop at the Iowa 80 Truck Stop to get some pins from their wonderful gift shop.  I did my best to tune in to Relevant Radio after that stop to join the daily Divine Mercy Chaplet prayer that airs Monday through Friday live from 3:00-3:30.

Upon reaching Des Moines, I followed the I-235 route and got a splendid view of the Iowa State Capitol awash in the late afternoon sun.  And I saw a spectacular sunset as I continued through western Iowa as the golden orange sphere of the sun dipped toward the top of the rolling hills.

The sunset

It was after 7 PM when I crossed the Missouri River into Nebraska.  When I reached Winnebago, I kept heading north to South Sioux City where I got dinner at the Crystal Cafe:  I had French toast, which is featured in the photo below.  

Then I headed back south, and by 9:30, I pulled up at the St. Augustine rectory where I greeted Father Mark and celebrated Nebraska by opening a Kool-Aid to drink before settling down for the night.

Father Mark took this photo of me as I pose with Kool-Aid.

The next morning, Saturday, March 2, I was on my way by 8:30 or so for a day that would take me all around eastern Nebraska.

After driving for a little more than an hour through eastern Nebraska fields, I arrived at the Immaculata Monastery and Spirituality Center in Norfolk right about 10 AM, in time for the start of a Day of Prayer.  It's a motherhouse for Benedictine sisters.  A few days before my trip, I got an e-mail from them with an invitation to attend this Day of Prayer.  It was led by Sisters Hilda and Michael Mary.  They offered some reflections on prayer and how to live a quiet life, including the idea of benevolent glancing.  We then had time to reflect on a small display at our spaces at the table and then about half an hour of quiet prayer in the building.  I ended up over in the chapel.

The adoration chapel

I was drawn to this image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The table top display

We returned to our meeting room to reflect on our prayer time, and then went to the Chapel and joined the sisters for the midday prayer.  Afterward, we gathered back in our room for lunch, which featured sloppy jo sandwiches, as is shown in the photo below.  It was a great time to continue the fellowship in our wonderful group.

By 1:30, I was on the way southeastward toward Omaha, largely driving US Route 275.  I drove through fields, like in the photo below, and periodically entered a town.  

Around 3:15, I stopped at a Love's Truck Stop, and I discovered some wonderful postcards there that I bought to send.

By 4 PM, I had arrived at St. Peter and Paul Church in south Omaha.  I made a point to visit and pray for Cardinal Cupich, since he would turn 75 later in the month on March 19, and he attended this church while growing up.

The sanctuary of St. Peter and Paul Church

Following a quick stop at the South Omaha Library, I went to Sacred Heart Church on the North Side of Omaha to attend Mass celebrated by Father Dave.  I was so pleased to see his flute-playing as we spent time reflecting on a question he posed before Mass started, about how we've seen God's grace in our lives--I think that was the gist of it, and I recall it was related to the story of the woman at the well in John 4.

Toward the end of Mass, at announcement time, Father Dave specifically singled me out and asked me to stand as he introduced me to the congregation and told the back story of how we met at St. Augustine Mission.  I was glad for his sense of hospitality in introducing me to the congregation.  It was nice afterward to chat with him.

A fellow parishioner took this photo of me on Father Dave's iPhone following Mass.

Rounding the top of the sanctuary, it reads, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son."

Looking toward the altar inside Sacred Heart Parish

Father Dave's flute

The evening was so pleasant out as I gazed west at the sunset.  

Outside Sacred Heart Parish in the light of the sunset, shown above and below

Before leaving Omaha, I made it my business to enjoy a Nebraska specialty, a Runza sandwich, featured in the photo below.

I was majorly delayed getting back because Avila's back right tire blew out.  I was grateful for an Iowa state patrol officer who did her best to help me, and then for an auto repair person who arrived after a long wait, during which Roy kept me company and I admired the night sky full of stars in western Iowa.

The next morning, Father Mark offered to take me out to breakfast at the Crystal Cafe while Avila got a new tire.  I enjoyed a pancake with a piece of ham and an English muffin, shown in the photo directly below.  It was great catching up with Father Mark.  The tire work was done just as we were about ready to get up from our table.

I rested before 11 AM Mass.  It was a full crowd because a group was there that weekend for a Hispanic retreat.  St. Katharine's photo was featured prominently near the front of the church.  Father Mark noted at the end of Mass that only God could bring together a crowd like the one present.  He specifically mentioned the Hispanic group--and even gave a short homily in English and Spanish.  He also singled me out as someone who came from Illinois.  During Mass, I thought back to how special it was to be there for her Feast Day 11 years ago, which powerfully set the tone for our week of service.  At the end of Mass, it was profound to pray the prayer for the canonization of Servant of God Nicholas Black Elk, a Lakota man who served as a catechist.

Display for St. Mother Katharine Drexel inside the St. Augustine sanctuary

During the afternoon, I had a light lunch, rested, and took a short drive to Rosalie to reconnect with the profound experience of the sweat lodge ceremony in the backyard of Nathan's house.  He came out front at one point while I walked along the street and I chatted with him briefly.

Road into Rosalie

At 6 PM, I was back at the St. Augustine Church for the weekly Ecumenical Lenten Prayer liturgy, bringing together congregations from the various churches in eastern Thurston County.  Father Mark used a penance/examination of conscience liturgy for our time of prayer.  In his message, he reflected on how we're sinners in need of God's grace, and God seeks after us to restore us.  Afterward, we went to the lower level of the church to enjoy fellowship over a large variety of desserts, as is shown in the photo below.

Around 8 PM, I returned to the rectory to have a light dinner and then settle down for the night.  I also made a point to admire the vast array of stars in the night sky.

I was up early the next morning to attend 6:30 Mass, celebrated by Father Mark Bridgman, the associate priest, joining the Benedictine sisters.  

The St. Augustine Church in the early morning light on Monday

Then I returned to the rectory for breakfast and one final chat with Father Mark before I got everything together in Avila and began my journey back east.

I stopped to mail some postcards at the post office in downtown Winnebago, and then made another stop at the Earth Lodge Scenic Overlook to admire the view of the Missouri River before crossing it into Iowa. 

Looking toward the Missouri River

Path toward the Earth Lodge Observation shelter

Along I-29, I stopped at rest stops to get photos of the Loess Hills, and then again along I-880, where I also could see the Omaha skyline in the distance.

Looking east along I-880

Looking toward the northeast near I-880, with the rolling hills going into the background

The skyline of Omaha is in the distance

Upon reaching the Des Moines Metro Area shortly after noon, I stopped in Clive for lunch at Cracker Barrel.  Because I had signed up recently for the Pegs Reward program, I got beignets as a welcome treat.

I got the hamburger steak as my entree with mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli, and biscuits. The beignets are to the left.

It was a fine time enjoying the views of the wide open Iowa fields as I continued east, while finishing an audiobook about Andy Griffith and Don Knotts that I had been playing throughout my trip.  Conditions were clear when I entered Illinois, and remained so as I neared the outskirts of Chicagoland, even with storms nearby.  Soon after getting off I-55, I stopped at Novi's in Berwyn to get an Italian style beef sandwich to celebrate the City Charter of Chicago on March 4, 1837, which I had for dinner when I arrived back at homebase.

Final mileage upon arriving back at homebase

The one aspect of my St. Augustine Mission experience that resonates with me so deeply is connectedness, which is an integral part of Native American spirituality, and Roman Catholic spirituality, too.  We are connected with all the holy men and women of faith who strove to be faithful to God in their lives, and now intercede for us in the realm beyond this earth.  The Native Americans acknowledge a sense of connectedness with the seven generations before and after them.

Being at St. Augustine for a week of service inspired me in faith in conjunction with my participation in the community of St. Teresa's during college.  I've carried the impact of renewed zeal for faith throughout my post-college years.  As I continue seeking to live with purpose, going back to St. Augustine reacquaints me with the strong sense of purpose I gained there, and I rekindle it in my life at present.

Each visit back has been an opportunity to reconnect with some aspect of the original experience.  This trip was a chance to reconnect with my experience at St. Augustine and St. Mother Katharine Drexel.  She has an incredible life story, and motivated by her heart to meet the needs of others, she sought to put faith into action.  It was fitting to have this trip during Lent, a time when we focus more deeply on our relationship with God and how we can be renewed in it and this trip was truly steeped in a sense of spirituality, especially with all the faith activities I did, visiting various churches and the day of prayer at the Benedictine motherhouse.  In light of the spirit of St. Augustine Mission, I am reminded of the importance of my mission in life to serve in the name of God as a way of life.  This way of life keeps me connected with God, His Church, and the world at large.

All my relations.

Father Mark photographed me by St. Katharine Drexel's image in the St. Augustine sanctuary on her feast day.