Page 33 - Spring 2019 Extension Magazine

Extension | Spring 2019 33

“Only through the grace of God,
right?”

A MEDICAL AND SPIRITUAL LEADER
At Little Flower Parish, DesRosier
When she returned leads a women’s Eucharistic study
to the Blackfeet group and chaperones youth minis-
reservation after 20
years of education, try trips.
her tribe gave “Her leadership is such that the
DesRosier her Native women of the parish love to be
American name: around her,” said Father Ed Kohler,
Medicine Victory pastor at Little Flower Parish. “Her
Woman.
love for the Lord is a light that burns
bright for Christ.”
In 2017 the Diocese of Helena
nominated DesRosier for the Lumen
Christi Award for her contributions to
the Catholic community.
“Everyone in the region knows of
Dr. Mary because of her profession-
alism, caring, and her selfless min-
istry in medicine and through Little
Flower Parish,” said Bishop George
Thomas, formerly of Helena.
Catholic Extension has also sup-
ported the Little Flower Parish com-
munity since 1973 by funding par-
ish renovations and salary subsidies
for priests and religious sisters. She
said the community has a heart for
Christ.
A COMMUNITY OF FAITH IN ACTION Despite the statistics, DesRosier “There’s a lot of pain, sorrow
A 2017 community health assess- sees her patients as living exam- and suffering, but our people are
ment by the Blackfeet Tribal Health ples of faith in action. They face still joyful and happy,” she said.
Department reported that the pov- challenges that are unimaginable to “They know where to come when
erty rate on the Blackfeet Indian Res- many with faith and humor. they need healing.”
ervation is 37 percent, compared “It’s been the hardest job I’ve Browning is a community of great
to the Montana state average of 15 ever done, but the most reward- struggle but also of great faith. As
percent. ing,” she said. “I feel like I’m min- a medical and spiritual leader, Des-
As a family medicine doctor, Des- istered to by them.” Rosier heals her people in many
Rosier is on the front lines of the opi- Ten years ago a fire destroyed ways.
oid epidemic. Her patients often DesRosier’s house. In response, the “They are not just any peo-
struggle with addiction, depression community provided her family with ple, they are my people,” she said.
and substance abuse. Liver-related replacement items for everything “When they are suffering I’m driven,
deaths and drug use and poison- they lost and needed. from my heart and soul, to help them
ing deaths are among the top five “We in our community have such however I can.”
causes of death on the reservation. a strong Christian faith,” she said.