Crown Point, NM

Since 1982, Sisters Barb Smith and Maureen Farrar, ASC, have beenministering in Crownpoint, New Mexico, in the Diocese of Gallup, at asmall Catholic mission of approximately 70 families, most of whom areNavajo. Their primary focus has been to be present to the people,firstly by helping to meet their physical needs, so attention couldthen be given to their spiritual needs.

"One of the most exciting developments since we've been here is theestablishment of a Native American Lay Ministry training program in theparish," says Maureen. "It is designed to develop and empower layleadership and ownership of the spiritual growth in the faithcommunity," she adds. "There are four Navajo women who have chosen tooffer their gifts and talents in this program, and they will beformally commissioned sometime in the latter part of 1999. Our faithcommunity has already begun to see the vitality and life of the NativeAmerican Lay Ministry program as the women have assumed greaterresponsibility within the parish."

"A project we began with the junior and senior high school studentsnine years ago is the Desert Inn," Barb adds. "About once per month weprepare a nice meal and turn our living room into a small restaurantwith candlelight, soft music, real tablecloths and napkins, anunavailable atmosphere unless one makes a one hundred mile round tripto Gallup or Grants. The youth help set up, wait tables, and clean upafterward. Since the only places to eat out in the community are thedeli at the grocery store and the tailgate café families sell food outof small trailers or the back of their trucks, the Desert Inn has alist — it's by reservation only — of people who always come."

Services initiated and supported by the parish include: RCIA,religious education for children and adults, ministry to the sick andhomebound, Navajo scripture study, a used clothing shop, a mobileclothing bus, an emergency food box program, AA, and emergency shelterfor domestic violence victims.

Besides the part they play in the various services, the Sisters areavailable to listen to people and to participate in communityactivities, especially the Volunteer Fire Department which they helpedestablish ten years ago and remain active members. "We are often teasedthat the number for emergencies is 91-NUN," Maureen explains.

Active in diocesan affairs, Sisters Barb and Maureen also serve asco-administrators of St. Paul's Catholic Mission in Crownpoint, andfaith community sites in Lake Valley, Thoreau and Bluewater. SisterBarb is the pre-novitiate director for the U.S. Adorers.