Following the Pioneer Trail

The Community interest in the Montana missions was a heritage from January 15, 1884, when five Toledo Ursulines went west to teach (Native American) Indians. Sister M. Angelita Abair, grandniece of Sister M. Angela Abair, one of the original group of pioneers, followed the westward trail in the summer of 1990 to scenes once familiar to her great-aunt. In 1984 Sisters Mary Grace Connolly and M. Lelia Mahoney had traveled west to celebrate the centenary of the Montana Ursulines.

Sister Angelita visited the original mission at St. Labre to view the cabin in which her great-aunt and the other Ursulines lived as they began their ministry to the (Native American) Indians. “I feel I am on holy ground with the spirits of holy women, my sisters, surrounding me,” she wrote of the experience.



She also visited the St. Dennis mission in Crow Agency and helped the (Native Americans) in preparing for the celebration of the feast of Corpus Christi. She participated in the liturgy, the solemn precession and the following Pow Wow. Sister Angelita commented with awe and appreciation for the integration of Native American beliefs and customs into the liturgy. Reflecting on the sacrifices the Toledo missionaries had made during the 1880’s, she said, “The Toledo Ursulines made a difference!”