Jesuit Journeys
Winter 2007

Fr. Jones says goodbye after half a century

By Rich Winter

It was standing room only at St. Charles Church in St. Francis, S.D. on a Sunday morning in late August as hundreds of friends and loved ones came to bid farewell to Fr. Richard Jones, SJ. The Jesuit priest retired after 46 years of service and friendship given to the people of the Rosebud Reservation.

“You have made me feel very much a part of your families. Thanks for everything you have done for me,” said Fr. Jones during an emotional farewell in St. Francis.

The story of nearly 50 years of service begins in 1940 when Fr. Jones moved to St. Francis as a teacher. Jones taught sociology and history of South Dakota that first year to sixth, seventh and eighth graders. He smiled while describing that first year saying his classroom had only one textbook because no more could be afforded.

Jones left St. Francis in 1943 and onto St. Mary’s (Kans.) College to further his studies and was ordained in 1946. He made teaching stops at Saint Louis University and was Rector and President at Marquette University High School. Fr. Jones moved back to the Rosebud Reservation in 1963, where he first served as Superior before taking over pastoral duties in 1969. He has served in that capacity for the St. Francis Mission for the past 37 years.

It was easy to see how this small in stature but spiritual giant affected the people of the Rosebud Reservation. As he stood in the foyer of St. Charles Church after his last Mass, hundreds of wellwishers stopped to greet Fr. Jones. Many had tears in their eyes as they hugged their friend for the last time. “Fr. Jones always remembered everyone by their first name and made them feel special,” said Richard Iyotte.

Fr. Jones said seeing the Catholic and Episcopalian priests team-up with the Bureau of Indian Affairs BIA to start the poverty program in 1964 was very special to him. “You could feel the spirit motivate people with hope,” said Fr. Jones. 1965 was also a memorable year according to Fr. Jones as Fr. Richard Pates was asked to be the Director of New Housing.

The New Housing project brought 375 transitional homes to the Reservation and then 400 additional homes to the area. “Those new homes were instrumental in getting people out of tents and shacks and giving them homes with running water and electricity,” said Fr.Jones.

Fr. Jones was in St. Francis when the Jesuits gave up control of St. Francis Indian School in the early 1970s. “We are very proud that the Indian people have taken it over and in general they are doing a good job,” said Jones.

Fr. Jones said he is proud of the strides made in alcoholism reduction, education improvements along with social and health program improvements during his tenure in St. Francis. It was easy to see that this 92 year old man has a deep love and appreciation for the people living on the Rosebud.

“I found the Native American people to be a very loving and honorable people. They invited me into their homes and we shared our lives with each other and they made me feel a real part of them,” he said.

The long-time St. Francis resident received the prestigious Lumen Christi award in 2001. The award is given by the Catholic Extension Office annually to an outstanding missionary in the United States. Jones said the award belongs more to the people on the Rosebud Reservation than to him. “I would never have received the award were it not for the people themselves making me part of their homes.”

With a gleam in his eye, Jones smiled and referred to himself as a recycled teenager but said poor health is forcing him into retirement.