The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth

"Everywhere I looked, I saw a lot of need."

Sandy Shockley of St. Mary’s, Hamilton, attended the Niobrara Convocation in South Dakota in mid-June. Bishop Wallis Ohl and his wife Sheila had planned to also attend, but storm damage to their home in Oklahoma required their attention. So Shockley was on her own, a situation to which she adapted in no time.

Bp. John Tarrant,
wife Pat and daughter Jessica

"The country in the Black Hills is gorgeous. I arrived there on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon and was the first guest to register. I met a lot of wonderful folks, including the bishop of South Dakota, John Tarrant, his wife Pat, and their daughter Jessica. I also met the Venerable Paul Sneve, archdeacon at St. Matthews in Rapid City, and the women from the ECW of the Black Hills Deanery," Shockley said.

"Bishop Tarrant assured me there is a great deal of mission and outreach needed in the diocese. I met the wife of the priest representing the Diocese of East Tennessee and it is my thought that since we are both companion dioceses to South Dakota we might jointly do some mission work together. More hands make the work lighter," she said.

"Everywhere I looked I saw a lot of need. I did not realize there was so much discrimination still going on. They are working very hard to save as many Native American young people as they can. I hope we can be a big part of that effort," Shockley said.

Battered sign

One of the first things Shockley noticed when she arrived was that the sign at the entrance to Thunderhead Camp is in really bad shape. When she remarked on that to Tom Lutes, supervisor of facilities and maintenance, he replied that it was on a long list of things that needed to be done with very little money.

"Well, those of you who know me know what I did then. I promised a new sign. So I am asking for contributions, and what isn’t used for the sign will be sent to the Diocese of South Dakota for other needed work."

Shockley presented all the women with Guardian Angel necklaces as gifts from the Diocese of Fort Worth. She also helped set up chairs in the large tent used for worship services and meetings. The weather had turned cold (41 degrees), windy and rainy, presenting a challenge for Shockley’s wardrobe, which was more suited to Texas heat.

Ordination of Patricia Whitehorse Carda

But she persevered, attending the opening worship which was in the Dakota language, and all the meetings. She also was present at the Sunday ordination of Patricia Whitehorse Carda to the priesthood, and at an auction of quilts to raise money for the mission.

"I was presented with a beautiful quilt in a Star pattern as a gift from the ladies," Shockley said. She plans to have a table at diocesan convention with information about the Diocese of South Dakota and will offer the quilt for sale at a silent auction as a fund raiser.

She also met Brother John from Taize in France. He and the Rev. Rita Powell, the coordinator for youth and young adult ministries for the diocese, are working to put together a Taize event next summer in South Dakota. The Rev. Powell took a group of young people to the Episcopal Youth Event in Minneapolis after the Niobrara Convocation ended.

"I gave Rita all the Guardian Angel necklaces and Transformation Crosses that I had left to give as gifts to the young people and included a note saying they were from the people of the Fort Worth Diocese," Shockley said.

Next year’s convocation will be in the southern part of North Dakota on the Missouri River near Fort Yates.

"I would love to see a wagon train of motor homes and travel trailers arrive there from Fort Worth. We have a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the health of some of the missions on the reservations," she said.

IF YOU GIVE, please make the checks out to the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth with "Thunderhead Camp, SD" in the memo line. Mail the checks to the diocesan offices at 3550 Southwest Loop 820, Fort Worth, TX 76133.

View photographs of this year's Niobrara Convocation and others pertinent to the Lakota/Dakota people. >>

Read about the Niobrara history. >>

Niobrara - 2011