Easter day welcomes many into Catholic Church through baptism

by Shannon Grooms

posted on May 3, 2012

Across the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, several new members were fully initiated into the Catholic Church at Easter services. They experienced the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), a special process for people who were not baptized before the age of seven. This rite comprises intensive training and spiritual formation that culminates with the celebration of the three sacraments of initiation—Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion—at the Easter Vigil.

The newest fully-initiated members of the Church are as follows:

Briannon Belt, Sacred Heart, Pine Ridge, SD

Casina Catches, Sacred Heart, Pine Ridge, SD

Wacey Cottier, Sacred Heart, Pine Ridge, SD

Jolony Dixon, Sacred Heart, Pine Ridge, SD

Maya Franks, Sacred Heart, Pine Ridge, SD

Thomas Hernandez, Sacred Heart, Pine Ridge, SD

Monet Mills, Sacred Heart, Pine Ridge, SD

Aaliyah Provost, Sacred Heart, Pine Ridge, SD

Greggory Swick, Sacred Heart, Pine Ridge, SD

Kelly McConnaughey, Our Lady of the Sioux, Oglala, SD

Mataya Livermont, Our Lady of Sorrows, Kyle, SD

Mataya Livermont, a ten-year-old girl from Kyle, SD had this to say about why she chose to join the Catholic Church: “I believe in God, and I wanted to see what religion I was.”

The reservation churches also welcomed many children to the Catholic Church on Easter Sunday through the sacrament of Baptism.

Children who were baptized on Easter were:

From Our Lady of the Sioux, Oglala, SD

Suraya Marie Kelly, Parents: Marlon Kelly and Paulina Fast Wolf

Blake Liddell Pourier, Parents: Lane Pourier and Kyleigh Blacksmith

Juriah Cruz Red Feather, Parents: Stephen Kills Small and Roberta Red Feather

From Sacred Heart, Pine Ridge, SD

Ian Black Elk, Parents: Erlund Black Elk and Michelle Two Two

Sophia Deon, Parents: Duane Hernandez and Danielle Deon

Kristine Kereaugh, Parents: Kristopher Kereaugh and Leonee Richards

Carter Mills, Parents: Corey Mills and Cassie Has No Horse

Apolla Red Shirt, Parents: Robert Red Shirt and Brooke Morrison

Cashiouse Red Shirt, Parents: Irvin and Roberta Red Shirt

Jennifer Red Shirt, Parents: Robert Red Shirt and Brooke Morrison

Sandra Red Shirt, Parents: Irvin and Roberta Red Shirt

From Our Lady of Sorrows, Kyle, SD

Naomi Lillian Cross, Parents: Eric Cross and Shilo Comeau-Cross

Blake Watkins, Parents: Delilah Watkins and Kaci Cummings

Kayden Watkins, Parents: Delilah Watkins and Kaci Cummings

Payton Weists, Parents: Sonny O’Rourke

From St. John of the Cross, Allen, SD

Leanne Bradford, Parents: Chad Bradford and Lisa Gotheridge Bradford

Chante Dubray, Parents: John and Vickie Dubray

Six infants were also welcomed into the Church through Baptism at Christ the King, Porcupine, SD.

If you are interested in learning more about any of the Catholic churches on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, call Fr. Steve Sanford at 605-867-5491 ext. 604.