Dear Friends
Autumn greetings from all at St. Anthony’s.
Yes indeed, Fall is almost upon us once more. Perhaps it’s just my Celtic nature but I still get lost in wonder as the trees change color and begin to radiate an aura of gold to their every shadow. The environment is a timely reminder that school life moves forward apace, always looking to new and exciting moments in the lives of our young students.
Since I last wrote, two ever-popular events have taken place. The first of which has been the cross-country races among local schools. To be honest, during training it was quite dangerous to cross our parking lot. I would be thoughtfully wandering across the yard and need to step quickly to the side as a line of runners would surge from warm up sessions in the gym with flying feet heading round the church and school buildings timing the measured mile. When our students set their minds to a task, nothing, not even their aging pastor, will stand in their way. (Still they are never slow to say ‘sorry Fr. Pat’.)
In each event, our students equipped themselves well, taking their places among the winners. Several of our local Zuni courses are very demanding leaving us anxious to make sure all finish the course safely. One student, this year, was absent from the finishing line causing search parties to be sent out. Thankfully, she had decided to wisely stop and let leg muscles relax before completing the course. (Our students learn wisdom as well as academic lessons.)
The camaraderie among the competitors is a joy to see as our students congratulate their fellows from other schools and it gives me the opportunity of meeting up with the teachers and another local pastor. The events are as much about fellowship as competition. (A lesson our world could take to heart.)
One of the most important events on our school calendar is Native American Day, when students celebrate who they are, their culture and tradition. In some ways, this year seemed better than ever.
The racetrack that had been the school gym was transformed into a dance floor and our uniformed students were transformed into tribal members adorned in magnificent regalia of cloth and feathers.
The one-day event takes a great deal of preparation. Parents and teachers gathered for six evenings to create appropriate apparel for the variety of dances. Sowing, drawing, painting and sizing consumed the school cafeteria each evening. For two weeks, the campus resounded with the beating of drums, (which always get my feet tapping). Custodians were busy moving chairs from storage to the gym and of course, teachers and drummers were immersed in perfecting the students in their steps. Always adventurous, our 6th graders wanted to try a different dance this year and magnificently presented the “Comanche Dance”. They celebrated their own as well as other Native American Cultures. We were honored by the presence this year’s Young Zuni prince and princesses who joined in many of the dances.
We have posted the day’s events . They can be seen on our ‘live stream’ site at http://stanthonyzunichurch.dyndns.
One particularly touching moment was when two former students, now both attending University of New Mexico asked to dance with the 8th graders. Their last Native American Day had been cancelled because of Covid and they felt cheated so they wanted their opportunity to celebrate and blended faultlessly with our current 8th graders in the ‘White Buffalo’ Dance.
During the performances, my attention is always distracted by looking towards the audience. The pride in the faces of parents and grandparents is obvious as they see what they hold dear in their lives being passed on to the next generation. I also noted the sense of wonder among the audience as our students prayed the “Our Father” in their own Zuni language. Over and above anything else, those moments made all the effort very much worthwhile.
I would also like to mention the return of another alumni. He graduated in my second year at St. Anthony’s. He had served four years with armed forces in Germany and was now posted to USA and came to visit. Once more, I confess an undeserved pride as our students build successful careers and good citizenship from what they have acquired in our small but powerful school.
I am also amazed at what students assimilate when you least expect it. October being the month of the Rosary, we gave every student and those attending the weekly “All School Mass” a set of rosary beads. I explained the origin of the beads and how the 1st century ‘Desert Fathers’ would promise the Lord to say a specified number of prayers often the 150 psalms. So as not to lose count and make sure they fulfilled their promises, they would ties knots in a piece of string for each prayer as a reminder. Would you believe, I later found students tying knots in pieces of string? I thought they were not listening!
I would just briefly mention another moment that made me stop, think and give thanks. Our superintendent of schools asked all our diocesan schools to make a comparison between our school results and those of other academic institutes. I was amazed at what I found in public records. Our students performed (more than) significantly better, indeed they excelled.
For me, this has been an exceptional month. I have experienced the success and loyalty of former students, the achievements of current students, but most of all the beauty and grace of our young people as they celebrate their identity and culture. I see us continuing to move forward in every way.
Thank you for making it all so wonderfully possible.
Fr. Patrick McGuire
Download October 2025 Newsletter PDF
Help Us out.
It Will Do Your Heart Good.
Make a Donation: Click Here