Message #18 from Father Liebler, Helen Sturges, Brother Juniper, and Joan Eskell dated December 1974;
Subject
Indians of North America; Indians of North America—History; Indians of North America—Religion; Religion; Missionaries; St. Christopher's Mission (Bluff, Utah); Health; Children; Newsletters;
Place names
Bluff (Utah); San Juan County (Utah); Utah;
Keyword
Navajo; Navajo Indians; Navajo Indians -- History; Father Liebler; Brother Juniper; Liebler, Harold Baxter 1889-1982; Missionaries; Religion; St. Christopher's Mission; St. Mary's of the Moonlight Chapel; Photograph;
Tribe
Navajo;
Description
This letter provides a description of celebrations for the 60th anniversary of Father Liebler's ordination, thanks the readers for their donations of Betty Crocker coupons, and wishes its subscribers a Merry Christmas;
Publisher
Digitized by: Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library;
Date.original
1974-12;
Type
Text;
Format
application/pdf;
Source
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives;
Language
eng;
Coverage
Bluff (Utah); San Juan County (Utah);
Rights
Reproduction for publication, exhibition, web display or commercial use is only permissible with the consent of the USU Library Western and Mormon Americana curator, phone (435) 797-2661;
Holding Location
Utah State University, Special Collections and Archives;
J:e ssafe ff 12 December 1974
f r om
1<' ather Liebler
Helen Sturges
Brother Juniper
Joan .6. ~skell
at
HAT ROCK VALlEY
P.B.THl!;AT CGNl'EH.
P. o. Box 5
}lonument Valley, UT 84536
Tel: 801-727-3281
* * * * * • * * * * * * * *
:t-lessages nos. 1-17 were issued
semi-annually since
September, 1966. Many of
the back numbers are still
available. Just ask.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
In the last few issues of
our Messages we have referred
to the observance of the
60th anniversary of Father
Liebler's ordination to the
priesthood; the day finally arrived, and here is the promised report. As foretold in our
last Message, the function began with concelebrated High Mass at 5:30 p.m. on the 3rd of
October; the Bishop concelebrated, contrary to custom, as he wanted Father to be principal
celebrant. The picture above shows the clergy who participated: L to R: Canon Howlett,
Fr Scott, Fr Canion, Fr Liebler, the Bishop, Dean Anderson, Fr Hannifin, Fr Winder,
Fr Burk. Father Liebler used the chalice which had been given to him at his ordination,
and which survived the fire which destroyed the Iv1i s sion Church at Bluff in 1974. And he
wore a replica of the chasuble which had been put on him at ordination. Needless to say,
the pews were not adequate to hold the congregation - over 200 - and we were and are
grateful to our neighbors the 7th-Day Adventists for the loan of folding chairs. We cannot
list the many who helped to make the occasion a success but, at the risk of leaving
some out, we must mention the Jackson Clarks of Durango who brought cases of pop and transported
the delicious 3-tiered cake, a gift from Vita Kist Bakers in Cortez; Bailey and
Doris Thompson, who put in a full day preparing the chili for the Navajo tacos; Bob Schumann
and his boys who swept and waxed the church floor; the Navajo ladies who produced
mounds of mouth-watering fry bread; other neighbors who lent tools and elbow-grease; and
let's not forget that the clergy travelled a total of more than 10,000 miles, fuel crisis
or no fuel crisis, to get herel The only one to arrive by plane was our good friend Victor
Goodwin, of Vic's Photos in Cortez, whose lightning flashes during the service were
promises of beautiful pictures to come. (All the photos in this Message, except the large
one of the dancers, are reproductions of color photos Vic took). He flew through thunder
and lightning on his way home after the servicel And, for the record distancewise (forgive
thatl), the prize goes to Betty Trumble of Riverside, Connecticut, whose presence
here was a joy to everyone. The dancers, shown on the next page, deserve more than a
thank-you - their organiser and trainer, Mrs Betty Vijil, was one of the students in our
first school at Bluff. Ee]en was deservingly proud of them and of her.
Brother Juniper reports on the subject of Betty Crocker Coupons: We thank all you
who sent them, and we are happy to announce that our CB radios are installed in our cars
and also in the sacristy, thus allowing for house/vehicies and house/church communication.
We also thank the periodicals which printed our need for the coupons, which also resulted
