The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-06-07
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kS1SEZSSl:lAMIs MISSION ElEhpsA

among them as conditions permitted.
Among these may be mentioned the
Jesuit Fathers Ignatius Giugnas and
Nicholas de Conner 11271733). 1t
was not, however, until 1S41 that
work of a permanent character was
begun among the Eastern Sioux by
Father Augustine RavOuX who trans
lated into their tongue a prayer book
and hymns and extended his minis
trations to the different bands as far
as the Big Bend on the Missouri.
In 1897, Father Christian Hoecken,
S. J., visited the Dakota along the
Lower Missouri. He died of the
cholera while on Il trip TO their coun-
try in company with Father DeSmet,
in 1851. He was then on his way to
establish a mission among the HANK
towan and Titowan (Teton).
Father DeSmet.
The most noted and beloved mis-
sionary to interest himself in their
welfare was Father P. ]. DeSmet, S.
J., who first met the Dakota people
at the mouth of the Vermillion river,
in 1889. In September Of the year fol
lowing, he passed through their coun'
try while returning from the Rocky
Mountains. From this time, until his
death in 1873, Father DeSmet fire.
quently visited the bands along the
Missouri, instructing them and hap
| thing thousands of their children be
sides many adult. Because of theiI
| unwavering confidence in him he was
| frequently retained by the United
States government as peace envoy tc
| them and in that capacity rendered
| invaluable aid in diverting them from
the war-path. His trip at the age Of
sixty-eight years; in 1868, to a large
encampment of the hOstileS at the
mouth of Powder river, reads like {
chapter from the crusades. 1t was {
long cherished wish of Father DeSme
| to establish permanent mission cen
tiers among the Dakota. On this sub
| ject he was often and pleadingly ap
preached by Padaniapapi, the grea
Yankton chief, as we'll as by hosts o
other influential men of the tribe.
Bishop Marty.
However, the task of founding
these missions was inevitably de
ferred until some time after his death
when the mantle of his apostolic yea
fell on the shoulders of the late Ri
Rev. Martin Marty, o. S. B.
Bishop Marty, working in conjunc
ton with the Bureau of Catholic In
dian Missions, left a record of heroi
self-immolatiOn that has rarely beel
equaled. 1t was through his untirin
efforts that missions on the Fort Tot
ten, Standing Rock, Pine Ridge, Rose
bud. Grow Creek, Cheyenne River an
Sisseton reservations were estat
lished. Schools were opened unde
the supervision of the Bureau on tn
Rosebud, Pine Ridge and Grow Cree
Quoted by the government. Thes
schools of the bureau are still mair
tanned in a most efficient manner
The Jesuit Fathers have charge G
the missions on the Rosebud and Pin
Ridge reservations, South Dakota, an
the Santee reservation, Nebraska
Those on the Cheyenne River resel
walton are in charge of secular priest
of the Diocese of Lead. The Benz
dictine Fathers care for the mission
on the Fort Totten, Standing Rocl
Sisseton, Grow Creek, Lower Brul
|
South Dakota, and on the Fort Pee
reservation, Montana.
The Sisters engaged in educations
and mission work among the Siou
are the Sisters of Charity (the Ora
Nuns of MontreaD, the Benedictine'
and the Sisters of st. Francis, {
Stella Niagara, New York.