SAINT JOHN XXIII 2025 MISSION TRIP TO THE PINE RIDGE RESERVATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA 

SIGN UP INFO MEETING:  March 9th, 2025, St. Francis Room, Rectory basement, enter through courtyard, St. Nicholas after the 10:30 a.m. mass. Approximately 11:30 a.m. Contact us if you miss the meeting. See Contact page.

WHEN: July 26th, 2025 -August 4th, 2025 

WHERE:  The Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota (842 miles, 13.5 hours from Evanston, plus stops). We will make the trip in 2 days. We will stay overnight in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (573 miles, 8.5 hours from Evanston) on the way. 

COST: $325 per person for food, lodging and programming at site. Travel in rental vans is  included,  provided through fundraising. $50 non-refundable (unless you are replaced) fee due on sign up and the on line completed registration form. Sign up priority date is March 9th, 2025. If we fill there will be a wait list. Those on the wait list due to the trip filling can attend pre trip activities. Sign up is encouraged early to reserve your spot and for pre trip activities and trip planning. Balance is due May 11, 2025. Please contact us for sign up. 

WHO: This is an Adult Week. Participants must be 18 and older. Vaccinations for COVID (initial and booster) are required. If you are not vaccinated at all for COVID due to health reasons, please talk to the coordinators. 

WHAT: Examples: Possibly some light construction work (painting, carpeting etc.), sorting or giving out donations, visiting with the communities. We will also participate in activities to explore the history and the present culture, and environment of the areas we visit. Examples of organizations/people we may visit: Education: Maȟpíya Lúta (formerly Red Cloud Indian School), Oglala Lakota College and historical center, Chiapas Education; Housing/Economy: Red Cloud Renewable, Lakota Federal Union; Arts: Oglala Lakota Artspace; Health: Anpetu Luta Otipi Recovery Center; The Sacred: Badlands, Black Hills Custer State Park, (driving Needles Highway, the Wildlife Loop and stopping at Sylvan Lake), Crazy Horse Memorial, Wounded Knee Memorial, Black Elk Grave/ St. Agnes Church. 

WHY:

-We go to be a church of encounter. 

-We are on a pilgrimage to be changed, share our experience and become agents of change.

-Our understanding and empathy grow as we stand on another’s land, in their sacred space and with their community. News stories now come with faces and lives.

-Our witness becomes more direct, credible and impactful.

-In the end….we learn to love better.

IMPACT ON YOU

Join us when St. John XXIII travels far beyond our church buildings to South Dakota and you will be transformed. You will move outside of your comfort zone and see what is often unseen. You will return with a deeper understanding of and stronger sense of community with our Native sisters and brothers.