Black Elk Peak Mass/Pilgrimage

“The pilgrim travels to a location of spiritual significance, stepping outside of themselves in order to encounter God in places where He has revealed himself,” said Father Brad Held, SJ. “God revealed himself to Nicholas Black Elk on Black Elk Peak in a vision, so we pilgrimage there to continue to pray for the canonization of Nicholas Black Elk.” 

On June 29, 50 pilgrims attended the annual Black Elk Mass and Pilgrimage in Black Elk Wilderness area near Custer. Mass was celebrated near Sylvan Lake, Custer State Park, at the base of the hiking trail that leads to Black Elk Peak.  

“It’s something we look forward to every year,” said Ramon Bear Runner, a parishioner of Sacred Heart Pine Ridge, a pilgrimage participant. “It’s a recognition of Black Elk.”

Mass was celebrated by Father Joe Daoust, SJ, Pine Ridge, who spoke about the reason that Black Elk is considered a Holy Man among his people “He found Christianity brought that ability to handle the dire situation that his people were in, but he also retained all of the essential Lakota rituals,” Father Daoust explained in his homily. “He was both Lakota and Catholic just as Paul was both Jewish and Gentile. And down through the Church, as it’s come in touch with cultures, it takes what God is revealing in the sense through the other culture. Not as something that cancels what went before it but enriches it.” 

Concelebrants for the Mass included priests Fr. Ed Yainao serving at St. Francis Mission and Fr. Brad Held, SJ – serving at Holy Rosary Mission; and Brian Tabor, SJ, Archdiocese of Chicago. Deacons Bill White, Porcupine; Tim Minihan, Lead/Deadwood; and David Halter and Philip Carlson, Diocese of Sioux Falls, assisted at the Mass.

Following Mass, a group carried a large wooden cross during the 7.5-mile journey. Along the way the group prayed the Stations of the Cross —  seven stops on the way up and seven on the way down. 

The idea for the Mass and pilgrimage came to Deacon Philip Carlson, Diocese of Sioux Falls, while watching “Walking the Good Red Road.” The documentary explains that a young Black Elk received a vision of a Tree of Life being on the very same peak. The cross, made from wood from a barn constructed in the early 1900s near the town of Rosholt, on the farm his family grew up on. The barn was deconstructed in 2012 by another KC member who specialized in building things with reclaimed barnwood. 

“I envisioned, not knowing how or when, getting that cross to the top of Black Elk peak,” he explained. “Initial phone conversations in spring of 2021 with Deacon Steve McLaughlin, Lower Brule and Deacon Bill White, Pine Ridge, began the relationships that have led to what is now our annual pilgrimage to Black Elk Peak.” 

“The Church doesn’t make saints, rather the Church recognizes the saints that God has made. So we pray that God would make clear to the Church that Nicholas Black Elk is a saint in heaven and is someone who we should imitate in our living a Christian life,” said Father Held.