wfn.org | [ENS] Red Lake tragedy prompts call for prayers,

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Red Lake tragedy prompts call for prayers, Episcopal clergy provide
pastoral
care
  
By Joe Bjordal

ENS 032205-3
  
[ENS, Source: Diocese of Minnesota] Episcopal clergy are providing
much-needed pastoral care on the Red Lake Indian Reservation after a
high
school student killed nine persons on Monday, March 20, and then took
his
own life. The Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota's ministry with the
Chippewa on
the Red Lake Reservation dates back to 1879 and the founding of the
Mission
Church of St. John in the Wilderness.

St. John's vicar, the Rev. James Speer, was returning home from a
recreational outing with his children on Monday afternoon when he was
met in
the driveway by his wife, Mary. She told him of the tragic
shooting. He
headed immediately for the reservation where he was involved in pastoral
care to victims' families and friends until the early hours of Tuesday
morning. His ministry on the Reservation continued throughout the day
Tuesday.

While none of the shooting victims is known to be from either St. John's
or
St. Antipas' Church, the other mission on the Red Lake Reservation, the
community is so closely knit that pastoral support from Speer has been
both
anticipated and greatly welcomed.

Cooperation with Roman Catholic Mission

Speer worked closely with the priest of the Roman Catholic mission on
the
Reservation -- Father Pat Sullivan of St. Mary's Church -- to provide
counseling "on the front lines" yesterday. At least seven of the
funerals
will be at the Catholic Mission and it is anticipated that Speer will
assist
with the services.

On Wednesday, March 22, Speer will be joined on the Reservation by three
other Episcopal priests: the Rev. Johnson Loud, Jr., of Church of the
Messiah, Prairie Island, who was raised on the Red Lake Reservation; the
Rev. Lynn Orville of St. Bartholomew's Church, Bemidji; and the Rev.
Lisa
White Smith of the Episcopal congregations on the near-by White Earth
Indian
Reservation.
  
Memorial Fund Established
  
The Episcopal Center in Minneapolis and the Red Lake Missions have
received
numerous telephone calls from persons throughout the Church wanting to
offer
financial or other assistance in response to this tragedy.

In an effort to provide an appropriate and effective first response
opportunity for Episcopalians in Minnesota and elsewhere, Bishop James
Jelinek has received the advice of Bishop Michael Smith of North Dakota,
who
is the former director of the Department of Indian Work in the Diocese
of
Minnesota.
  
Smith suggests that those who want to send financial assistance now,
should
send gifts to a special fund established by the Red Lake Tribal Council:
  
Red Lake Nation Memorial Fund
Red Lake Band of Chippewa
P.O. Box 574
Red Lake, MN 56671
  
"I believe this fund provides an appropriate opportunity to give
assistance
in response to this tragedy for now," said Jelinek. "We trust that this
fund
is effectively administered and will provide much needed relief for the
many
community-wide expenses associated with this tragedy."
  
He has suggested that congregations in the Diocese of Minnesota consider
designating their Easter Day offerings for this memorial fund.
   

Bishop Calls for Prayer
  
Jelinek has also called for special prayers throughout the Diocese of
Minnesota, individually and corporately in the remaining services during
Holy Week and Easter.

"I ask that we pray for the repose of the victims' souls, including the
young man who was so distraught that he was driven to commit this
terrible
act. Let us also pray for the healing of those who were shot and [are]
still
live," said Jelinek, who also called for prayers for students, teachers,
staff at the school, and their families who have been traumatized by
this
tragic event.
  
"Let us pray for them all to grow in the capacity for forgiveness so
that
their own souls may be released from this terrible event," he added.
  
Jelinek also asked that the Diocese uphold in prayer the clergy, social
workers, teachers and police, "whose normal jobs and lives have become
'a
ministry' at this time."
  

Prayers Abound
  
Telephone calls and emails have flooded the Episcopal Center in
Minneapolis
and the Red Lake Missions as people from all over the country are
expressing
their sorrow and offering prayers for the Red Lake Indian Reservation.
  
The Rev. Joan LaLiberte of St. James' Church in Callicoon, New York,
said,
"Please know that many of us outside of Minnesota are praying for you
and
for the good people of Red Lake. I pray for you and I grieve for you.
People
on the Reservation are so closely connected that the effects of this
tragedy
must be enormous."
  
Father Speer echoes that observation: "Indeed, the people of Red Lake
are
all affected in one way or another and will continue to welcome your
prayers."
  
A prayer service will be held on Tuesday night on the White Earth
Reservation, organized by the Episcopal Missions.
  
St. Edward's Episcopal Church, Duluth, which has a long history of
ministry
to and with Native Americans, has announced that a prayer service will
be
held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23.
  
-- Joe Bjordal is manager of News and Information for the Diocese of
Minnesota. Canon Gary Gleason and Karen Olson contributed to this
report.

___________________________
To SUBSCRIBE to enslist, send a blank email message, from the address
which
you wish subscribed, to: join-enslist@epicom.org

Send QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS to news@episcopalchurch.org.

The enslist is published by Episcopal News Service:
www.episcopalchurch.org/ens