North Dakota youth group crafts American Indian gifts for pope

Published: 2008-04-22

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A group of young people from a North Dakota parish serving the Spirit Lake Dakotah Nation brought traditional American Indian gifts to honor Pope Benedict XVI when they visited the nation's capital during the pontiff's visit. The gifts included a star quilt and a walking stick. Both were made by members of the group, most of whom are American Indians and live on the Spirit Lake Reservation. Thirteen-year-old Colby Gannon is hoping the 75-inch walking stick he crafted will be used once in a while when the pontiff takes a walk away from the public eye. Made in the shape of a star, the quilt symbolizes the creation of the universe by God, said Kelly Gannon, Colby's mother and a chaperone on the trip. The words "Happy Birthday Pope Benedict" were embroidered on the quilt. The gifts were presented to Father James Goodwin, a priest from the Diocese of Fargo, N.D., who is studying canon law at The Catholic University of America in Washington. Father Goodwin told Catholic News Service April 22 he plans to deliver the gifts to Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the U.S., who will likely forward them to the Vatican.

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