Young men reaffirm faith and friendship in Church-sponsored building project

 

Ann Arbor, Michigan, Mar 22, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

A New Mexico diocese is offering a unique opportunity for young men to affirm their faith and literally build up the Church in the American Southwest.

Until March 31, the Diocese of Gallup is accepting applications for the 2025 St. Kateri Rosary Walk internship program. Started in 2019, the program is finishing its building project and seeks to complete an outdoor plaza and chapel in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the saint known as the Lily of the Mohawks, St. Kateri Tekakwitha.

The internship is available to young men 18 and over and runs from May until Aug. 1. The missionaries will receive free housing, meals, travel to various local sites, and a stipend of $5,000.

William McCarthy, CEO of the Southwest Indian Foundation, which is cooperating with the program, told CNA that the program “provides intense leadership training to encourage manliness and Catholic faith to last a lifetime,” adding that “the men who come here will build a beautiful, lasting shrine for Our Lady and St. Kateri.”

Bishop James Wall of Gallup is on the board of the nonprofit guiding the project and serves as a chaplain to the interns. The men working on the project live at the Sacred Heart Retreat Center and receive spiritual and academic formation. They also have time for visits and travel to enrich their appreciation of the traditions and natural world of the region.

The first Native American saint who resided in what became the United States, Kateri Tekakwitha was born in 1656 in present-day New York state. She consecrated her life to Christ despite persecution by her own people.

According to the program website, “her near-daily walks through nature became a powerful symbol of the beauty of life. Kateri found comfort in her constant prayer and meditation along with her deep belief that even in hardships, God was always present.”

“Our program is based on three essential elements: One is physical, challenging these guys and getting them into great shape with labor and medical attention. Another is spiritual, which is more important, and a somewhat monastic life. They pray in the morning and evening, have daily Mass, and are plugged into Catholic prayer life. The third feature is the mentors and speakers all summer. There’s also a lot of music,” McCarthy said.

The interns are required to surrender their electronic devices during the week but are allowed to use them on Sundays. “This is a unique opportunity for a young man,” McCarthy noted.

Scope of project

Once completed, the St. Kateri Rosary Walk will feature four trails representing the mysteries of the rosary. Along each trail are five “nichos” or shrines made from traditional adobe and stucco construction typical of the Southwest. Each of them will feature one of the mysteries of the rosary made of tile conceived by a native artist as well as sacred images.

Victoria Begay, a member of the Diné or Navajo people, serves as interim director of the rosary walk. In an interview with CNA, she stressed that the project melds Native American reverence of creation with a strong Catholic faith.

“We want to strengthen our relationship with God and we are bringing native and Catholic values together in one place, providing a profound spiritual experience for everyone who comes through, whether from North America or the rest of the world,” Begay said.

The site is on a hill overlooking Gallup and offers vistas for miles around, including the extensive Navajo reservation. Begay said it offers a natural place to pray, and noted: “That’s what Kateri did. She left her backyard and walked where there were trees and nature. We’d like to provide that space for everyone to experience creation, to meditate, to pray.”

Dividends of participating

Joseph Meyers, a recent college graduate from Kansas City, Kansas, told CNA that he spent two summers working on the rosary walk. “It’s still nourishing me to this day,” said Meyers, who plans to attend law school.

Meyers said he and his comrades spent each day of the week working hard on construction but with time in the evenings and weekends for hiking and exploring as a group.

“It is a male formation experience: no phones, no tech, no distractions, not a lot of comfort. We’re at a time in the world and the Church where masculinity is in crisis. The things holding men back are basic things like comfort, distraction, isolation, and addiction, which is the worst,” Meyers said.

Invigorated prayer life, he said, was encouraged by group prayer, Scripture study, and liturgies, which were coupled with physical challenges. For Meyers, the experience was life-changing.

“People didn’t recognize me when I came back. I was lean and brown and fit. All of the guys needed something like this and walked away as different people than when they came in,” he recalled. “It is sort of a Catholic school of hard knocks for young guys who are on a mission, and it’s super awesome.”

Among the fruits of the program are enduring friendships and at least two religious vocations, Meyers said.

“We go to each other’s weddings. There’s a brotherhood bond because we grew up together” on the rosary walk, Meyers said. “We stay in touch, we’re tight. It’s good because it’s what you need: communities of guys who have serious bonds and help each other do good in the world.”