Fr. Patrick Twohy, S.J. has worked extensively with the Native Americans in the Northwestern United States. For the past few years he has been at Seattle University. His dedication and love for people shine through his beliefs, words, and actions. Here are some examples of his life's love and work.
Biographical Information from the Jesuit News
50 Years in the Society
http://www.nwjesuits.org/BecomingaJesuit/Jubilees2007/Twohy.html
Pat Twohy, the son of a famous Yakima lawyer with a great reputation as a court orator and humorist, has carried on the family tradition of devotion, service and humor during his fifty years in the society. Along with Tom Williams and Pat Conroy, Pat is always among the first Jesuits at province gatherings to be asked to sing and tell stories. Famous for his rendition of ‘Long, Tall Texan’ and other classics, Pat embodies the droll wit of what some call the ‘holy uncouthness’ of the Oregon Province. He first showed his wit in his formation days, especially as English teacher and moderator of the school paper at Bellarmine during his regency. He has kept alive his youthful appearance and subtle humor in all his ministries, endearing himself to Jesuits and lay people across the province.
After ordination from Regis College in Toronto in 1970, Pat spent several years as campus minister with C. Pat Carroll at Gonzaga University, where he was famous for his homilies, his work on Searches (and on ‘Losts’), and his mixture of spirituality and creative jestorship. In 1974, he was asked to try a year of ministry with the Colville peoples at Inchelium, a fateful move that led to his continued work with Native peoples for the past thirty-three years. The respect of the people for Pat was shown dramatically at his final vows, taken at the Catholic Church in Keller in 1979 at a ceremony during which Native leaders and Pat’s father spoke from the heart. During his 15 years with the Colville, Pat not only ministered to the people on the reservation but also gathered their Native spirituality and Catholic sacramental traditions into a well-received book written in a meditative, poetic style titled Finding a Way Home (1983). After moving to the Swinomish and Tulalip Reservations near Mt. Vernon, WA, Pat learned the ways of the Salish peoples and eventually published a book of their traditions, Beginnings (1999). During all his years with Native peoples, Pat has worked with other Jesuits to build a coordinated Rocky Mountain Mission, for which he is currently the superior. He also has served as province consultor since 2002. In 2006, he moved from La Conner to Seattle University, from which he ministers to urban Indians in the Seattle Archdiocese and advises the Archbishop on Native American ministry. Those who claim that there are no more ‘characters’ in the Oregon Province have not yet met Pat Twohy.
© Copyright 2007 Society of Jesus, Oregon Province. All Rights Reserved.
Crossroads Speaker Series:
Finding Light in the Darkness: The Rocky Mountain Mission
May 1, 2007 Finding Light in the Darkness: the Rocky Mountain Mission
with Fr. Patrick Twohy, S.J., Superior of the Rocky Mountain Mission of the Oregon Province of the Jesuits and Fr. John Ridgway, S.J., Associate Director of the Jesuit Spirituality Center in Portland.
Listen to Fr. Twohy's talk by clicking on the audio link below:
Audio Link: http://www.nwjesuits.org/newsPub/Crossroads2007/CRTwohy.mp3
Additional resources:Rocky Mountain Mission: http://www.rockymtnmission.org/
Crossroads 2007: http://www.nwjesuits.org/newsPub/Crossroads2007/Crossroads2007after.html
Books by Fr. Patrick Twohy, S.J.
Patrick J. Twohy is a Jesuit priest who has lived with and served the Native Peoples of the Pacific Northwest for 36 years. He has lived with the Swinomish and Tulalip Tribes of the Coast Salish Peoples for the past 25 years, and with the Colville Confederated Tribes in Eastern Washington State from 1973 to 1984.
Father Twohy's love and respect for the people he serves has led to his work which describes the spiritual traditions of the Native religions and connects them with the Catholic faith. Two books, numerous articles and renown as a one who speaks with the sanction of both the Native Peoples and the Catholic Church, are the fruit of his work.
His life work as a parish priest in Native communities has brought him to the role of spiritual leader and, now, as a respected Elder in both Catholic and Native communities.
Patrick Twohy's academic degrees include a B.A. in English from Gonzaga University and two master's degrees: an M.A. in English from Gonzaga University and a Masters in Divinity gained at the Toronto School of Theology. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Gonzaga University in 2006 and was the principal Commencement Speaker for Graduation Ceremonies of that year.
Father Twohy has presented papers and addressed numerous academic, community and spiritual, religious audiences and conferences, including the Coryneclee Institute for Peace, Ballycastle, North Ireland, in the Fall Convocation of Faculty at Seattle University in 2006 and the keynote address at the 2009 Conference "Western Conversations", a convocation of Professors of Philosophy, Religion, and Multi Cultural Studies from all of the Jesuit Colleges and Universities in the Western United States.
Father Twohy has served six terms on the Board of Directors of the Tekakwitha National Conference. He is Director of the Rocky Mountain Missions, of the Oregon Provence of the Society of Jesus, a Jesuit Province Consulter since 2002, Chaplain to Native Americans for the Archdiocese of Seattle and Minister to the urban Native community in Seattle, and a guest lecturer at Seattle University. Father Twohy has lectured in Psychology at Notre Dame University with Walter Lanner, distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington. He is the subject of the final chapter, "Modern Renewal", of the book 'The Paths of Kateri', by Christopher Vecsey, University of Notre Dame Press, 1997.
His life as a minister to the Native Peoples is Father Twohy's primary devotion and purpose. He has said that his greatest joy is to live in the Native community where he finds the people steeped in their religious beliefs, living in a richly spiritual world, and willing to share wisdom to a patient listener.
That life and the wisdom and love shared and given to him serve as the basis of his writing. He has authored and published two books: "Finding A Way Home: Indian and Catholic Spiritual Paths of the Plateau Tribes" and "Beginnings: A Meditation on Coast Salish Lifeways". Both works reflect his poetic style and his deep reverence for Catholic and Native tradition and beliefs. "Finding A Way Home" is now in its fifth printing (2009) and has sold over 10,000 copies." Beginnings" is now in its second printing and has had global circulation and recognition.
His work has received positive literary and academic reviews, and, most essential to his life work, the approval of Native Elders and Spiritual Leaders.
"The book, Beginnings, is meant to be a bridge of understanding between First Nations Peoples and other Peoples. Through the knowing of our true relationships with one another, we may find that though we all walk separate paths, we are on one sacred journey." Patrick J. Twohy, in his forward to Beginnings.
retrieved from Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Patrick-J-Twohy/e/B002KLKXIG
