Fr. Henry Sands, Executive Director of the Black and Indian Mission Office, visited St. Ann Indian Mission on the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation in North Dakota from July 22-26, 2026 to participate in their annual St. Ann's Novena. He celebrated Mass and offered a homily during each evening of his visit. The annual St. Ann's Novena has been celebrated at St. Ann's Indian Mission since 1885. 

Each day of the Novena is dedicated to asking God the Father for special blessings for the following groups of people: 
Day 1 - Blessing of Marriages 
Day 2 - Blessing of Families 
Day 3 - Blessing of the Unborn, All Children and St. Ann's School 
Day 4 - Blessing of Modes of Transportation 
Day 5 -Blessing of the Environment, Farmers and Ranchers 
Day 6 - Blessing of the Youth and Play Areas 
Day 7 - Blessing of Elders 
Day 8 - Blessing of the Souls in Purgatory and Cemeteries 
Day 9 - Blessing of All in Turtle Mountains, especially the souls of the deceased and those who 
lost loved ones 

After each evening's Mass, everyone is invited to share a meal that is prepared by a particular parish group. A midday Mass is celebrated on the last day of the Novena, and it is followed by a large feast that is prepared by all of the groups who prepared meals during the week. 

Fr. Sands was very inspired and impressed by his interactions with the people of the Parish who he found to be very devout, very committed to supporting the life of their parish community, and very welcoming. 

Fr. Sands was also inspired and impressed by the strong spiritual and pastoral leadership offered to the people of St. Ann's Indian Mission by the priests, brothers, sisters and lay associates of the Servants of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trintiy (SOLT) religious congregation. 

History and Tradition

Founding: First celebrated in 1885 by pioneer missionary Rev. John F. Malo.
Roots: Built upon a rich history of Catholic faith dating back to the mid-18th century and Father George Belcourt.
Devotion: Dedicated to Saint Anne (the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus), drawing generations of pilgrims for communal prayer, healing, and faith.