March 22, 2005
By Joe Bjordal

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, PO 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.

Episcopal News Service
Joe Bjordal is manager of News and Information for the Diocese of Minnesota. Canon Gary Gleason and Karen Olson contributed to this report.