Sometime in the dead of night of June 26th or early morning June 27, the Pastor of St. Joseph Apache Mission in Mescalero, New Mexico, along with Diocese of Las Cruces staff, and renegade members of the Knights of Columbus from Alamogordo, New Mexico purloined the icon (image) of the Apache Christ. The theft followed a sermon by the Pastor in which he told the congregation, “You can either be a Christian or an Apache. You can’t be both.”
Youth minister, Anne Marie Brillante recorded a phone interview that she had with the Public Relations officer of the Diocese. He told her that the icon could not have been stolen because the parish and the people don’t own it even though the State of New Mexico lists the Mission as an independent non-profit organization. Besides, the Mission is located in the Mescalero Apache Nation (Reservation).
The paternalistic theft occurred after devastating fires hit the area including the towns of Ruidoso and Alto.
After a loud outcry on social media, and a report on the National Catholic Reporter, the icon was returned. Painted by Franciscan Friar Robert Lentz, “Apache Christ” is an 8-foot icon depicting Jesus as a Mescalero holy man, with the inscription in Apache “Giver of Life.” Since 1989 it had hung behind the altar of the church under a crucifix.
On July 2nd, the Mescaleros reported on their Facebook page that the icon had been returned. The mission “pastor,” Fr. Chudy, said that an explanation would be given next week. This should be good.
In 1920 Father Albert Braun laid the cornerstone for the new mission that took decades to complete. That priest veered away from the notion popular that indigenous people must give up their customs and adopt North American/European culture – a practice that has led many indigenous people into alcoholism, unemployment, and suicide.
Expect a Rio Grande Trails and Tales trip soon to Mescalero and the St. Joseph Apache Mission. In the meantime, please visit the tribe’s webpage.