Red Ribbon Project 2018-2019

By: Aiden Roh

“Jesus reminds us in the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew’s Gospel: What have we done for the least of His brethren? We are called to minister to these indigenous people who are the least of our brothers and sisters. We are called to provide them hope for a better life here on earth and to bring them the hope for life eternal. Amen.”

What is the Red Ribbon Project? During the weeks of November 26 - December 16, we will be asking the school to collect items and money for the Native American population in Gallup, New Mexico.

Flag of the Navajo Nation

Why did I choose this? This summer, a man named Deacon Todd came and talked to Christ the King during mass one Sunday. He was from the Diocese of Gallup, New Mexico. He told the church about the poverty level and third world conditions in which the Native American people in his diocese live.

Living in squalor

Stats ●  173,000 Navajo people ●  40% without running water ●  44% of Children in poverty ●  25% High school Graduation

Rate ●  Unemployment rate as high

as 50% ●  Alcohol and drug abuse rate

as high 48% ●  Third world conditions

Backstory - In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s St. Catherine Drexel came and established several schools and missions in the Gallup Diocese. In 1936, for the first time in history, an emissary from the Vatican in Rome, Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the Vatican Secretary of State, was sent to the United States. As he was flying over New Mexico and Arizona while touring the US he noticed the many tiny villages and pueblos spread out across the high desert and wondered who was bringing the Word of God and ministering to these people. He landed in Winslow, Arizona to refuel his plane. Asking around town he discovered that the native people were attended to by the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, more than 250 miles away, or from the Diocese of Tucson 275 miles away. He knew they were underserved and decided something needed to be done to bring the presence of a bishop to this area. Three years later, in 1939, Cardinal Pacelli was elected as Pope Pius XII. In December of that year Pope Pius XII established the Diocese of Gallup which provided the presence of a bishop and the Church for the Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, Acoma, Laguna and Apache tribes of the area.

MOST REVEREND JAMES S. WALL, BISHOP OF GALLUP

Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, Vatican Secretary of State - in Winslow Arizona, 1936. He would go on to become Pope Pius XII.

St. Catherine Drexel’s Order

Where is Gallup, New Mexico? It is located on the borders of Utah,

Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Culture - Beautiful Pottery

Tribal Dances

Acoma Dancers

The Concho

Woven Baskets and Traditional Dress

Navajo Sand Painting

Homes and living conditions

. Yes, people

live here.

What to Donate - Deacon Todd asked us to please donate the following:

Money Gloves and Mittens

Socks Scarves and

Winter Hats

Please bring them to school the weeks of Nov. 26 - Dec. 16.

Santa Claus and St. Nicholas Pancake

Breakfast is Saturday, Dec. 8 from 8:30 -

10:30! You can also bring money, hats, gloves, scarves or

socks to the pancake breakfast and lay them in

front of the St. Nicholas altar.

Please be generous and support this project!

Your donations as well as your prayers are greatly appreciated!