West River towns on and off the Native American Reservations live side by side. Yet are reservation neighbors aware of programs available in the vicinity? From 1886 to 2025 there have been many occasions for spiritual and educational growth at St. Francis Mission on the Rosebud Reservation. Clergy and mission staff made a presentation recently at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rapid City. Director of Advancement, Caroline DeCory said, “I, and our Chief Operating Officer, Harold Compton, hosted a parish social and would love to present this at other parishes — we are willing to travel!”

Fr. Edmund Yainao, SJ, pastor of the Rosebud Reservation parishes, concelebrated two of the weekend Masses, gave the homilies, and spoke at the social.

The presentation includes a short video giving cultural history and opportunities available at the mission today. Personnel from St. Francis accompany the film and can answer questions.

Highlights include Sapa Un, a Jesuit Nativity School serving kindergarten through eighth grades; the Buechel Memorial Lakota Museum with the single largest collection of Lakota artifacts; the White River Recovery Center for chemical dependency; and other ways they unite Lakota spirituality and Catholic teaching to bring God’s love to light.

For more information or schedule a presentation call DeCory at 605-747-2361.