The Grand Finale: The Icing on the Cake…of the Tiny Homes!
The Grand Finale: The Icing on the Cake…of the Tiny Homes!
When St. Ignatius Loyola Ignatian Social Justice Ministry volunteered for the first year of building tiny homes on the Cheyenne River Reservation with the YMCA Alumni National Service Project, the completion of these homes seemed far, far away.
Four years and 24 St. Ignatius volunteers later, the 2025 Wave 4 group witnessed the culmination of architect Annie Coombs, and Zoe Malliaros, and the hands of hundreds of other volunteers who built these four houses.
“What we did in Dupree, South Dakota, is like a drop falling into the sea and expanding from small circles to larger circles, all the way to infinity. This is my second year in Dupree. The first year I returned from the mission, full of dreams and melancholy for the wonderful life experience and the encounter with extraordinary human beings who will always be in my heart. This year, I returned from Dupree aware that life has meaning when it is given to others, considering the privileges of a life lacking nothing, a life that I received without merit from Our Father. It was therefore an experience that has grown me spiritually and humanly.
I thank God, the Church of St. Ignatius, Jean Santopatre, the guys from the NYC team, and the YMCA National Alumni Service Project for the opportunity and honor of having taken part in this incredible and concrete action in communion!”, commented Enrico Giuseppe Mazzon.
George Painter, the construction manager of the project for the Y Alumni, kept reminding us this year that we were “putting the icing on the cake!” Touch up painting, plumbing, landscaping, and creating the Medicine Wheel was 99% accomplished in the week. Some contractors would come after us to complete their finishing touches.
The week ended with a celebration on Lakota singer, Jackie Bird, Lakota drummers and dancer, Ohani. About one hundred people showed up for the celebration and ribbon cutting. The St. Ignatius contingent made history by being the only non-Native people to cut the ribbon on the South House.
“My time on the Cheyenne River Reservation was deeply moving and inspiring. The Lakota people’s profound sense of faith left a lasting impression on me—the way they trust in something greater, even amid hardship, is a powerful reminder of resilience. Their spiritual traditions, rooted in connection and trust, showed me how faith can be both a grounding force and a source of hope. Witnessing this, I left with a renewed appreciation for the strength that comes from faith and the trust we place in one another and in life itself,” commented Gabrielle Dougherty.
— Jean Santopatre, Pastoral Associate