Page 18 - Catholic Extension Magazine Summer2020

18 INSPIRE

Cover Story

The Church stands in
solidarity with Navajo
people ravaged by the
coronavirus

atholic Extension has
a long history of sup-
porting the Navajo Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation in the U.S., is particularly hard
reservation—which hit by COVID-19, ranking first nationally in terms of infection rates.
is geographically the
Clargest Native Amer-
ican reservation in the country, NAVAJO NATION REACHES HIGHEST INFECTION RATE IN U.S.
located mainly in the states of Ari-
zona and New Mexico.
Reports of COVID-19 on the res- distribution site for its struggling lies. With school closures, they’ve
ervation—where the living stan- families. Sister Theresa explained had to quickly invent a unique
dard often resembles the devel- that in her community, multiple form of distance learning for their
oping world—have been concern- generations live under one roof school families, since most do not
ing for weeks. Today, the rate of and many have underlying health have internet in their homes and
per capita infections among the concerns—both of which contrib- online classrooms are impossi-
Navajo reached the highest in the ute to the disease’s spread. She has ble. Instead, individualized study
entire country—another indicator seen a troubling uptick in traffic to packages are prepared each week,
of the pandemic’s disproportion- the local hospital that also serves then distributed and returned on
ate impact on the poor. outlying areas. a drive-thru system. Lessons are
Catholic Extension supports 15 About 120 miles away in Zuni, taught by teleconferencing.
poor parishes spread across Navajo NM, also on the Navajo reserva- That same teleconferencing sys-
Nation which is the size of West tion, Father Patrick McGuire, SMA, tem is used to broadcast Masses to
Virginia. The community has many serves three churches, includ- the faithful, who listen in on their
challenges even in “good times.” ing ones in Chichiltah and Ramah. telephones.
Pre-pandemic, up to 70 percent of Catholic Extension supports his Families in the area also depend
the population was unemployed. salary. on these Catholic parishes for
More than a third of the people live As pastor, he expressed that clean drinking water, a service the
below poverty and have no access being apart from his people in this parish is determined to deliver
to running water. time of social distancing is one of despite curfews and social dis-
Despite the very limited the saddest parts of his life.. The tancing regulations. They keep
resources in this area, the Church same is true for his parishioners their facilities open to the public
has not abandoned her people. who tell him that they miss being during certain hours, so that peo-
Sr. Theresa Chato is director of together. The 71-year-old reflected, ple can access potable water and
religious education at Our Lady of “The absence of the Scared bring it home.
Fatima, a parish of about 800 that Assembly allows me to appreciate Father Patrick sees his ministry
Catholic Extension supports, in the the wonder of that which I have as reminiscent of apostolic times,
heart of the Navajo reservation. taken for granted.” “when witness and word were
Though Masses are canceled, the Catholic schools have been a the means of evangelization.” He
parish is still serving as a vital food beacon of hope for Native fami- added, “each in his or her own way