Archive for April, 2006
Story of New World Mission Insightful
Sunday, April 30th, 2006
“The Post and Courier”
By Jeffrey Kirby
Recently, Bishop Robert Baker and Tony Sands published the historical novel, “Cacique” (which means “chieftain”) through the St. Catherine of Sienna Press. The novel is a creative recounting of the heroic Franciscan missions among the native peoples of the New World. Outside of Florida, it is a little-known history, which the novel seeks to highlight and enliven in the 21st century.
Although the novel principally occurs in 17th-century Spanish Florida, the perennial human themes of failure, restoration, friendship, religious liberty, enculturation, reconciliation, conversion, peace, death, mourning and hope are expressed and developed throughout the 274 pages of the novel.
Their accounts give the novel an ageless dimension and provide the contemporary reader with enduring insights and helpful reflections.
Beginning with the journey to start a new mission post by the zealous young missionary, Father Tomas, and the older, skeptical Franciscan, Father Buenaventura, the novel’s opening plot contains both excitement and peril.
A violent murder, the abandonment of a child and the cowardice of the older missionary mark the start of Father Tomas’ work among the Potano Indians of northern Florida. Although seemingly doomed to failure before even initiating his missionary efforts, Father Tomas continued by himself to seek entrance into the tribe and heart of the Potano. After a competition with the local medicine man, which showed Father Tomas his sinful pride and weakness, and the Potano people the humility and power of God, Father Tomas began to share the gospel with the local people by personal example and gentle preaching.
Father Tomas’ efforts lead to a grand Nativity play, the baptism of the baby who would become the future chieftain, a miraculous peace treaty between the Potano and Apalachee tribe and the beginning of a true mission to the holy faith.
Father Tomas’ labors each have their sufferings and successes. The novel depicts his struggles, disappointments, joys and triumphs. It elaborates in beautiful detail the tension for balance between evangelization and enculturation, patience and zeal, prudence and instruction, friendship and mentorship. The missionary’s toil can be recognized by any spouse, parent, sibling or friend who seeks to share or explain the gospel to a loved one, who is without faith or who has fallen from the faith.
Father Tomas soon is rejoined by the older Father Buenaventura, who seeks forgiveness and now desires to work in the mission. The two friars are reconciled and labor together for the gospel.
Like the faith of each believer, the mission post’s history is marked by success and failure.
In one of the more touching passages of the novel, the holy and almost mystical death of Father Buenaventura is recounted. The uncertain and providential story of the mission ensues.
Baker of Charleston, who served as a priest in Florida for almost 30 years and pastor of the oldest parish on the mainland United States in St. Augustine, Fla., shows his own missionary heart in “Cacique.” Narrating the powerful, yet almost forgotten, story of the early Franciscan missionaries, he demonstrates his own commitment and zeal for the gospel.
Baker, who uses the Pauline text, “Rejoicing in Hope,” as his Episcopal motto, clearly demonstrates his assertive and untiring belief in the influence and power of hope.
The story is a consolation and encouragement to every Christian, and a must-read for anyone interested in sharing and spreading the gospel of hope.
Jeffrey Kirby, a seminarian from the Catholic Diocese of Charleston is studying in Rome.
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