JUBILARIANS ALL! - Holy Name Province

Every surface has something on it. On the
corner of a cabinet is a stack of five straw
hats that Father Tom has worn over the years
for sun protection. He gave a sixth hat, a gift
years ago from Bishop Moreno, to a visitor
who didn’t have one.
The rectory is cooled by two small wall air
conditioners and is heated by an ancient
wood stove that is by the front door. A PC
tower in front of the stove makes quite a contrast
of technologies.
The community of Sacred Heart is celebrating
its feast day on Saturday, a day after the
Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. Traditionally,
the people celebrate the feast day with a
Mass, procession and a big fiesta. This feast
day, the people have the joy of their traditional
gathering and also the sadness of saying
farewell to Father Tom.
For this special occasion, the people have
erected a big tent, brought all the way from
Tucson, and they have prepared huge pots of
chili, menudo and beans on grills fueled by
mesquite. The sweet pungency of the burning
mesquite and the wafts of smells arising
from the bubbling pots of food are a treat for
the nose!
Father Tom does a few last minute ministries
before the Mass begins: the “ministry” of
moving chairs and the ministry of preparing
the parents of little Kayla, who is going
to be baptized during the Mass. Father Tom
opens what he calls his “suitcase sacristy”
and props it open with a smooth stick that
has served this purpose many, many times.
He removes the implements and cloths for
the Mass, including the beautifully woven
baskets that are so culturally important to the
Tohono O’odham.
Father Tom is not sure how many suitcases
he has gone through over the years;
maybe this suitcase is the third or fourth to
serve as his sacristy. The suitcase is an essential
tool of his ministry. Each week, he
drives hundreds of miles to isolated villages
to say Mass, to administer sacraments and,
for what he says has been the hardest part
of his 26 years of ministry on the Nation, to
comfort grieving families and to bury their
dead. The number of funerals
he has presided at reflects the
toll in the Nation from health
problems such as diabetes and
substance abuse.
27
Hundreds of miles each
week for 26 years: more than
200,000 miles in his first
pickup; more than 200,000
miles in his second pickup;