Anselm Weber facts for kids
Anselm Weber (1862–1921) was an American priest from the Franciscan order. He was a missionary who helped the Navajo people. Father Weber was one of the first friars to arrive at St. Michael's Mission in Navajo land. He served as the leader, called Father Superior, of the mission for a long time, from 1900 until he passed away in 1921.
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Early Life of Anselm Weber
Anselm Weber was born Anton Weber on November 10, 1862, in New Salem, Michigan. He studied with a local priest as a child. Later, he attended St. Francis College in Cincinnati, Ohio. On August 24, 1882, Weber joined the Franciscan order. This is when his name was changed to Anselm.
He became a priest on December 28, 1889. After that, he started teaching as a professor at St. Francis College. In 1898, his health began to get worse. He was sent to St. Michael's Mission in Arizona. People hoped the warm Arizona weather would help him feel better.
St. Michael's Mission: A New Beginning
St. Michael's Mission was a very important place. It was the first Catholic mission for the Navajo people in nearly 150 years. Earlier missions had been started but were later left.
In 1896, a woman named Mother Katharine Drexel provided money. This money helped buy land near Fort Defiance in Arizona. The goal was to build St. Michael's Mission there. The Franciscans were asked to send priests to work at the mission.
The first three friars arrived in October 1898. They were Father Anselm Weber, Father Juvenal Schnorbus, and Brother Placidus Buerger. In 1900, Father Juvenal left the mission. Father Anselm then became the Father Superior. He led the mission until he died.
During his time at St. Michael's, Anselm Weber saw the mission grow. He also helped it connect with the Navajo Nation. In 1903, the friars opened another part of the mission in Chinle. In 1910, they opened a third part in Lukachukai.
Father Weber focused on building good relationships with Navajo leaders. He also helped start a boarding school. He worked on translating Catholic materials into the Navajo language. He traveled a lot throughout the area. This helped him become friends with Navajo leaders like Charlie Tso and Henry "Chee" Dodge. These leaders helped him get support for the school among the Navajo people.
The boarding school opened on December 3, 1902. It had 57 students. Nuns from Mother Katharine Drexel's order of nuns worked at the school. At first, some Navajo parents were unsure about the school. The number of students changed over the years. But by 1948, the school had grown to 250 students.
Father Weber believed it was important for missionaries to learn Navajo. This made it easier to preach and talk with the community. They thought it was better for priests to learn Navajo. It was more practical than trying to make the Navajo learn English. They also got help from Navajo religious leaders. These leaders helped them translate Catholic ideas into Navajo words.
Helping as a Mediator
Because Father Weber was friends with both Navajo and US government leaders, he sometimes helped them solve problems. For example, in 1913, there was a situation called the Beautiful Mountain disturbance. US agents arrested some Navajo women for breaking US laws about marriage. The women's families reacted strongly. This led to a fight with federal agents.
As the situation became very tense, both sides used Father Weber as a messenger. He helped them talk to each other. In the end, Father Weber helped both groups meet. They reached an agreement that stopped the situation from becoming a full-scale conflict.
During the Influenza Epidemic
Father Weber was also present during the Navajo influenza outbreak from 1918 to 1920. He never got sick himself. But he and another priest, Berard Haile, went to different parts of the Navajo reservation. They helped Catholic members who were sick. They also helped other priests who had become ill. Father Weber also kept the school at St. Michael's separate from others. This helped prevent any students from catching the flu.
Father Weber worked hard to help the Navajo get land rights from the US government. His early work in finding land for St. Michael's mission helped him understand land law. He then used this knowledge to ask for more land for the Navajo.
In 1914, he wrote a pamphlet called The Navajo Indians: A Statement of Facts. This paper argued against those who said Navajo land was too big and should be sold. He also went with Navajo groups to Washington D.C. to argue for land rights. He talked to surveyors who visited the reservation. He also contacted railroad companies to get land.
He wrote many letters to railway companies, government officials, and others. He did this throughout his time at St. Michael's. His goal was to help the Navajo avoid being taken advantage of. He also wanted them to get their land back. Father Weber believed he helped the Navajo gain about 1.5 million acres of land. He continued working on land issues almost until his death. He was writing letters about land only a few days before he passed away.
Death
Anselm Weber was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 1917. He stayed on the Navajo reservation. But he did go to hospitals for treatment. He eventually had one kidney removed. His health got worse. He had to stay at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He died there on March 8, 1921.
After Death
Many people sent their sympathy for Anselm Weber's funeral. These included Catholic priests, Native Americans, and other important people. Indian Commissioner Cato Sells wrote that he shared "deep sorrow" because Father Weber had passed away. He said Father Weber had a "large Christian influence" and was a "true friend of the Navajo Indian."
Father Mandalari, a Jesuit priest, wrote that the Church lost a great missionary. He also said priests and religious people lost "a comfort, a leader, a real friend." Pablo Abeita from the Isleta Pueblo wrote: "We the Indians of the West, have lost a friend, a friend whom one and all liked and loved." He said it would take years to find someone like Father Weber again.
Anselm Weber was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in St. Bernard, Ohio. His friends and colleagues, Fathers Berard Haile, Marcellus Troester, and Leopold Ostermann, stayed at St. Michael's. Troester took over as the Father Superior of the mission after Weber.
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