Getting Down to Business

Under the capable leadership of Mother Superior Mary Evangelist, the small but dedicated community of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament began to prepare the various rooms as soon as the workmen would finish up on a section of the massive three- story building. Once the roof was completed, interior walls still needed to be constructed and plastered, floors needed to be finished and cabinets installed.

By mid-November, six rooms on the lower floor were occupied by the nuns on a temporary basis until the second-floor convent could be completed.

Several times a week, large freight wagons would deliver a multitude of equipment and furnishings for the kitchen, bakery, pantries and store- rooms, the dining hall, and the laundry room.

Their first day of leisure was Thanksgiving Day. After Mass and a dinner fit for the occasion, the nuns were sitting in their community room, stuffing pillows for the children's use, when word came that some Navajos had arrived with children for the school.

This came as a bit of a surprise, since, at Mother Katharine's direction, word had been spread that the school would officially open on the Feast of St. Francis Xavier -- December 3.

When they answered the door they found the famous old silversmith, Peshlakai, and members of his family, with three small girls, one almost a baby, the other two about 10 or 12 years of age. The baby, who was very weak and suffering from pneumonia, was named Catharine Tegawitha (she died at St. Michael in January, 1903). The older two girls were named Mary and Margaret (Peshlakai.

The first students had arrived.

Back in mid-October, Fr. Anselm, Frank Walker and Charley Mitchell had visited a number of Navajo communities and trading posts throughout Northwestern New Mexico to discuss the enrollment of Navajo youngsters into St. Michael. Most of the discussions had brought positive responses. There was a bit of historic irony in this trip.

Exactly ten years earlier, in the fall of 1892, the Navajo Agent Dana Shipley had gone into the same area of the Lukachukai/ Carrizo Mountains, accompanied by a contingent of Navajo police, and demanded that the local families send at least 25 children to the boarding school at Ft. Defiance. The Navajos resented this forceful tactic, and soon over fifty angry, mounted warriors, under the leadership of Black Horse, had Shipley and his contingent besieged inside the Round Rock Trading Post. One of the Indian police managed to mount his horse and escape, and 25 miles later, found a cavalry patrol near Tsaile.

Lt. Brown and his troopers rode into Round Rock early the next morning and negotiated with Black Horse for the release of Agent Shipley. Shipley had to promise never to use force again while soliciting pupils for the government school.

Now, in 1902, this same Black Horse stood at the side of Fr. Anselm, and encouraged his people from the Red Rock Valley area to send their children to St. Michael.

Right after Thanksgiving, Fr. Anselm and Frank Walker again headed north toward Red Rock Valley. This time they rode in a big farm wagon which had been purchased by Mother Katharine for the school's use. The wagon was loaded with hay, blankets and provisions for the pupils they hoped to get for the school.

Cold weather and snow hampered their progress, but they arrived at Red Rock on Nov. 28, where over fifty Navajos and their children, had already gathered. Two sheep were butchered, and after dinner Fr. Anselm, again with the support of Black Horse, explained the purpose of the new school: moral, religious and industrial training that would develop worthy and brave young men and women for the Navajo people.

Fr. Anselm closed the council with a Mass offered for God's blessing on his quest -and for good weather on the return trip (well, the quest was successful, but the weather was awful!).

The next morning 21 youngsters, wrapped in blankets, rode off in the farm wagon, while a mixed group of 20 adults (mostly parents) followed behind. The weather was extremely cold, but they made it to Joe Wilkin's store at Sa-nos-tee near Bennett Peak where they spent the night. The next day they continued south to the trading post at Two Grey Hills, where Lynn Wetherill kindly put up all 43 people for the night.

The following day, December 3, 1902, on the Feast Day of St. Francis Xavier, the wishes of Mother Katharine Drexel were carried out. St. Michael School was solemnly opened with a High Mass sung by Fr. Berard Haile, OFM, the chaplain.

In attendance were several neighbors, government officials from Ft. Defiance, Fr. Anselm, Fr. Leopold and Bro. Simeon, the 20 Red Rock parents, a handful of construction workers, some Tribal leaders, 24 excited (and probably a little apprehensive as well) students and nine very tired, but joyful Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament -- Mother Superior Mary Evangelist, Sister M. Angela, Sister M. Agatha, Sister Mary of the Annunciation, Sister M. Ambrose, Sister M. Inez, Sister M. Gertrude, Sister M.Theresa, and Sister M. Josephine.