Anawim Center A Native American Interfaith Spiritual Center

Greetings from Anawim Center,

 

This past April we were able to provide an Anawim Family Retreat.  During this retreat we prayed and placed our desires before our Creator—what we want for our families and community,

and Anawim.  We have committed ourselves to make these prayers come to life— to continue these dreams throughout the year.  We need to make these real and concrete.  Some wanted to learn more about God through our Whole Community Catechesis, some want help to find their vocation/profession in life, and others wanted to help with Indian Taco sales.  Some too, want to build their resumes` .  We are also family for those without much family in Chicago.  We have been celebrating in these ways at Anawim for over 26 ½ years. 

 

But, what would we do if Anawim Center wasn’t here?   This is our church and your church: we are Church together.  The burden to sustain ourselves and our self-determination here is in your hands.  We need each person to stand up and be counted by being faith-community together: bringing our presence, time, talent, and monetary support.  We cannot afford to be an invisible minority.  Anawim gives us a way of preserving our languages and cultures.  Our children need this place to grow spiritually and culturally.  It is still a safe haven for our children.  We need your help to continue to do these things. 

 

We also do outreach/educational workshops, and so employ community members.  We do ministry, not as individuals, but as COMMUNITY—we minister to, with, by, and for Native people.  In our outreach and workshops we teach others cross-cultural sensitivity.  We partner with other organizations such as the Archdiocese of Chicago, Chicago Center for Cultural Connections, Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions, Children’s Museum, NAES/AIAI, Elmhurst College, and other Indian and civic organizations. 

 

Anawim is known to be a beacon of light and a well of healing—Anawim a place to pray in our Native way for people we love; it’s a friendly, warm, hospitable place in all seasons. We are welcome as we are!  We’d be lost and lonely without it.”  Some say: “Without Anawim we’d be missing our place to communicate with all our Indian friends.  We’d be missing our place to search for the help that we need.  It’s a place for us to exchange ideas and find comfort.   It’s a place where we can listen to our Elders speak—a place where Elders are appreciated.  It’s a place to support sobriety, and we can remember in a beautiful way those who have passed on.  Still others say: “We can grow stronger spiritually, and put together our Christian and Native beliefs.  Some have come because they needed help to die and connect with God; some needed strength.  Others wanted support for their education, others yet wanted their kids to learn music—traditional songs or musical instruments.” 

 

Help our prayers and dreams come true.  We need to sustain our efforts and our self-determination.   Please consider a gift to Anawim Center during this season. If you have given already, please know that we are GRATEFUL!

 

Our Winter Feasts are upon us already.  We celebrated Thanksgiving with so many people this year.  We are truly a thankful people!  Now Advent and the Mother of God ask us to see with new eyes Jesus in the flesh—our Healer, Teacher, Medicine Man, our Warrior—our best and greatest Gift from the Creator. 

 

 

Have a Blessed Christmas and New Year!

 

 

Staff & Leadership Circle of Anawim