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Show #21, Page 3 rather had to go out and we can't get there." I told her that the next Sunday would be almost the same; we would save their presents and there would be a potluck dinner. So they all came, bringing presents and food, and we were able to give each family a new quilt, thanks to our Eastern friends. The f ather of the family made a spontaneous speech, congratulating the congregation on being near enough to worship t ogether every Sunday. His family all wish that they could come. Another family of 10 communicants (see picture) came down an almost impassable wagon track from N~ai Mesa - a journey of some 35 miles. Almost all the congregatio~ were communicants, not just holiday Visitors •••••• Sometimes we think of all those years when we got to Aneth School over wagon tracks, slick rock and rushing washes, for reli ~ious instruction and home Visiting every week, and for Mass every month - and we wonder if those youngsters who were only first and second grade and who went off to boarding schools in far places could possibly remember those early years. Last Holy Week a handsome young father came to see us. He said, "You don't remember . me because I was only 7 years old when Father Liebler and Helen used to teach our class every week in the old Aneth School, but I remember you folks and I remember how you always taught us about Baptism, and I remember Father Liebler baptising me, about 1958 . About two years later the Bishop came t o Montezuma Creek and I had a second ceremony. Then I boarded at Shiprock School and there I went to the Catholic Church of Christ the King - almost the same as Father Liebler' s church. Since school I have work~d on road construction jobs and we often live hundreds of miles from a church. Now I . am married to a medicine man's daughter whose camp is about 10 miles from here. Her father knew Father Liebler when he first started haVing Mass way out at Navajo Mountain (about 1944) and he sometimes attended. Mass and one time beat ~s drum as a special offering . That was over 200 miles west of Aneth. I want my wife and little son to be baptised by the same priest who baptised me." They came back 8 or 10 times to talk with the Vicar and Father Liebler and decided on baptism on Holy Saturday. Sometimes they stayed all day and helped with Easter preparations. They came early Easter eyen for the Vigil serVice, and after the ancient ceremonies of bleSSing the New Fire and the Paschal Candle , they came with real joy to the font for baptism and later to the altar to receive the Blessed Sacrament together. Brother Juniper's Two Centsl When we built the dwelling for the Hat Rock Valley Retreat Center we tried to find room for an oratory Chapel, but at that time every inch of space seemed to be spokem for, besides which we were all active "retired" senior citizens and could eaSily get to the hogan church. Now, 10 years later, the, picture has changed - the staff is no longer as spry as it was. The doctor has told Father Liebler that he must avoid climbing steps and hills; also, the winter months make the dirt trails to the church particularly hazardous to arthritic sufferers. ThiS, along with the almost tripled cost of haating the church and other considerations, convinced. us that we should have an Oratory Chapel in the house for our weekday community Mass and offices. So, with the Bishop's blessing and approval, work was begun. It was found that , by enclosing space between our front porch at the west end and the back part of the house, we would have a 10- by 12-foot room • . We asked our friend Dick Frank, of the R. L. Frank Gonstruction Co~pany in Blanding, to undertake the work, which |
