St. Augustine Indian Mission
The History of St. Augustine Indian Mission
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~The Founding of St. Augustine School~
In the early 1900's, the Winnebago Tribe in the State of Nebraska heard about the
work that Mother Katharine Drexel (foundress of the Blessed Sacrament Sisters) was
doing with many of the tribes in the United States. With a group of lawyers from
Walthill, Nebraska, working on their behalf, she was contacted about the possibility of
educating the young Native Americans in Northeast Nebraska. Since Native
Americans were not considered American citizens until 1924, they didn't have to be
educated. The young men were sent away to boarding schools at young ages; in this
manner any "warrior" mentality would not be instilled into their mind set. They returned
to their tribes educated, but ignorant of their culture. The young women were unable to
speak English or interact with greater society.
Mother Drexel came to Winnebago, Nebraska, in the year 1908; her order founded
the St. Augustine Indian Mission.
On March 3, 1955, Mother Katharine Drexel, the sister who began our school, was
called home to God. A holy woman who gave constantly, Mother Katharine Drexel
was beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 20, 1988. Mother Katharine Drexel
was officially canonized a saint by the church on October 1, 2000. We believe that
this saint who founded our humble school prays and intercedes for us, our needs and
the needs of our benefactors daily in heaven with our loving Father.
~The Mission under Fr. Griese, Fr. Hulsman, and Fr. Price~
The school Mother Drexel founded taught the girls of the Omaha and Winnebago Reservations. Fr. John Griese, a
Missionary from Germany, had arrived in 1908 and worked with Mother Drexel and her sisters in the spiritual
formation of the children. The large wooden structure that was built to house the girls was nestled among the woods
with the sister's convent. These served as the educational development of many students for over forty years.
In 1942, Fr. Frank Hulsman was selected to become director of the Mission, with Fr. Griese staying on as pastor and
spiritual leader. Shortly after his arrival, the Blessed Sacrament Sisters made it known that they would not be able to
continue with all the expenses in operating the school. Fr. Frank would assume the heavy and awesome burden of
raising funds to meet the needs of the Mission. In 1944, the Sisters sold the Mission property to the Archdiocese of
Omaha and withdrew from the Mission to place personnel closer to the East. On April 14, 1945, Fr. Griese died and Fr.
Frank Hulsman became both Mission Director and Pastor.
In August of 1946, Fr. Frank was able to obtain the help of the Notre Dame Sisters from Covington, Kentucky, who
helped staff the Mission until May 1954. During this time, Fr. Frank canvassed the nation telling the story of the good
work happening at St. Augustine. Until 1945, the school complex housed only girls. Earlier boys had been accepted only
as day students. As Father Frank's vision and resources grew, new arrangements evolved. Beginning in 1951, Fr. Frank
began an aggresive program of erecting a whole new complex of buildings north of the original sight. These units
would house a growing boarding school population of almost 150 children each year. Thousands of children's lives
were touched and formed through the years.
In the fall of 1982, the boarding school became impractical and was discontinued. Fr. Frank retired from St. Augustine
in 1985 after giving generously over 43 years of his life.
He was succeeded by Fr. Francis Price in 1985. Soon, a kindergarten program was added to the curriculum.
~The Mission under Fr. Tom Bauwens~
In 1992, Fr. Tom Bauwens succeeded Fr. Whiteing as Director. Fr. Bauwen's
years saw a continuation in the vision set forth by Fr. Hulsman. Computers were
introduced into the classrooms and the playground equipment was updated as
some of it was over 50 years old.
An Educational Endowment was begun and is now a depository for benefactors
to support our school. Through all this, the children have continued to be
surrounded by the love and gentle peace of Jesus begun by St. Mother Katharine
Drexel and continued through the years.
11-8-04
Watch this page for
updates on the history of
St. Augustine's Indian
Mission.
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The Kateri Warriors were
honored for their
achievements by the
Sioux City Rotary Club
Latest News
St. Katharine Drexel
Our Foundress
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Fr. Richard Whiteing succeeded Fr. Price in 1988. Fr. Whiteing worked hard integrating in new cultural aspects to the
curriculum. Emphasis began to be based upon family systems and the need to strengthen relations within the children's
lives. Many cultural events were held to teach the children pride within their lives. A Drum & Dance Group, named in
honor of Kateri Tekakwitha, was formed and has performed nationally and internationally. The children of this drum
and dance group promise and pledge to be free from drugs and alcohol, as well as all illegal, illicit and immoral
behavior. It has been very effective as a deterrent for our children.
~The Mission under Fr. Whiteing, and the formation of the Kateri Warriors~
The Canonization of St. Katharine Drexel in Rome
In October of 2000 delegates from St. Augustine's were able
to make a pilgrimage to Rome to attend the cannonization
mass of St. Katherine Drexel, the foundress of St. Augustine
School. Thanks to the sponsorship of several special
donors some of the students of St. Augustine's and some
community members from Winnebago were able to
celebrate the canonization mass just a short distance from
his Holiness Pope John Paul II. Members of the Kateri
Warriors also performed at a special mass of thanksgivig at
St. Paul's Outside the Walls.
~The Mission under Fr. Steve Boes~
In 1997 Fr. Steve Boes succeeded Fr.
Bauwens as Director of the mission and
Pastor of St. Augustine's. In 1998 Fr.
Tom Gall began service as assistant
director of the mission and Pastor of St.
Joseph's Church in Walthill and Our
Lady of Fatima Parish in Macy.
St. Augustine's Hosts
2000 National Kateri Conference
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In August of 2000 St. Augustine's hosted a
national conference in honor of Blessed
Kateri Tekakwitha. The event is held
annualy at different locations in the United
States.
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Feathers of Honor Capital Campaign and School Renovation
In late 1998 Fr. Steve Boes began an intense Capital
Campaign program for the purpose of renovating the
school and creating a large enough endowment to keep
the school running. The inspiration for such a massive
undertaking was the understanding that students
graduating from St. Augustine Indian Mission have a much
higher success rate at graduating from high school and
college. By the Fall of 2001 enough funds had raised to
begin the renovation of St. Augustine School. Thanks to the
forward thinking and planning of Fr. Steve and the St.
Augustine Advisory Board, St. Augustine was able to create
enough space to double the number of students St.
Augustine Mission is capable of serving.
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More about the School Renovation
The actual renovation of St. Augustine's was overseen
directly by Fr. Tom Gall the Assistant Director of St.
Augustine's. After several meetings with community
members, parents, students, and teachers, final plans for
the renovation were completed. The new plans included an
updated library with new shelving and many new books. (A
special thanks to St. Vincent Depaul Parish in Kansas for
providing many of those books.) Updates also included
new classroom space, new office space, new wiring and a
new updated heating and cooling system. St. Augustine's
will continue to be a leader in educating Native American
youth thanks to these much needed renovations.
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While the actual physical renovation of the school is complete. There is still help needed from the donors of St.
Augustine's to finish paying for these updates and for creating an endowment to ensure that St. Augustine's can
continue to be able to serve the Native American youth of Nebraska.
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Fr. Dave Korth Became The New Associate Director
and Pastor of The Three Parishes
In June of 2003 Fr. Dave Korth succeeded Fr. Tom Gall
as Assistant Director of St. Augustine Indian Mission.
Fr. Dave also took over as Pastor of all three
Reservation Parishes so that Mission Director Fr.
Steve Boes could focus more fully on serving the
student of St. Augustine School.
In 2004 Fr. Dave also took over parish responsibilities
for St. Cornelius Parish in the neighboring community
of Homer.
The Kateri
Warrior Drum
and Dance
Group have
performed
nationally and
internationally
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(Fr. Steve Boes pictured Left)
(Fr. Tom Gall pictured Right)
(Fr. Tom Bauwens pictured above)
The event was attended by several thousand people dedicated to furthering the cause for Sainthood of Blessed Kateri.
The conferenc was attended by Native American People and Non-Native People as well. Participants came from all
over the United States, Canada, Europe, and other locations in the world. At the conference attendees learned how to
re-energize their spiritual lives. They also attended workshops on ministering to Native American People. A special
mass was held at St. Augustine Church in Winnebago. There were so many people in attendance that the church was
overflowing and attendees spread themselves out along the hill side to celebrate mass and listen to the word of God. It
was a very uplifting experience to participate in and bear witness to.
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4-14-05
Mission Director Fr. Steve
Boes is named as new
Director of Girls and Boys
Town.
Congratulations Fr. Steve
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