Father Joseph’s story is an inspiring one for all

There’s a small viewing spot along the Spokane River in Riverfront Park dedicated to “Christian Pioneers Spokane Area.”

Our small group out and about Saturday wandered in to the circular rock walled space to find plate-like inscriptions in the asphalt floor.

One in particular grabbed my attention. I learned Father Joseph M. Cataldo, S. J. “entered the Jesuit order in 1852 and was ordained a priest in 1862.

Declared consumptive and doomed to an early death, he came to the Spokane area in 1865, where his health improved.

He founded nearby St. Michael’s mission in 1866 and labored for 60 years for Indians and Whites in the Inland Empire region.

An able administrator and missionary, his Indian language fluency helped his effective peacemaking during Indian wars.

A major achievement was his founding of Gonzaga University in 1887. He died at 92 in 1928.”

The first thing I noticed is Father Joseph did not let his diagnosis define him.

He traveled from Italy (I looked that up) to the United States and kept on keeping on, beginning work that lasts to this day. What happened to the “early death” prediction? He stayed ahead of it past ninety. At that point he probably figured he’d proved the doctor wrong.

I am also impressed by his work “for Indians and Whites.” In researching him I learned he “mastered some 20 European and Native American languages.” Taking the time and making the effort to become fluent in another language says to me that person cares for the people who speak that tongue—wants to form relationships and communicate with them.

Father Joseph was so passionate with Indian Affairs in the Nez Perce uprising in 1877 that a federal agent accused him of “being an accomplice to Chief Joseph.”

He lived among the tribe in such a loving consistent way, teaching of a greater love — the love of God for each person — that the Nez Perce said, “We believe in Cataldo’s teaching and that is the only teaching we wish to have.”

Gonzaga’s start is another fascinating account according to what I discovered.

The land along the Spokane River was purchased by Father Joseph with a stash of 936 silver dollars and described as “an old piece of gravel near the falls.”

The first day of school there were seven students.

A sickly boy become a young man traveled the globe and came to light in our part of the world — following the last earthly command Jesus gave — that being to make Him and His words known to all people. He brought others together — he lived and worked and spoke his care for his fellow human beings. He thought beyond his time to what could be.

Father Joseph Cataldo is probably the last guy who wants a dedication plate in the park. But that’s how I found out about him. A peacemaker. The Jesus he followed said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

Add that to Father Joseph’s impressive list of languages.