Receiving mail in Holman, New Mexico
The Society of Missionary Catechists had many benefactors that supported their mission. Fr. Sigstein thought that it would take about $3000.00 to support a Catechist throughout her lifetime. He set up a Burse for each Catechist, and a mission group might adopt one of the Burses. These mission groups were usually groups of women in the East and Midwest who wanted to provide assistance for the mission work of the Missionary Catechists. These groups would hold fund raisers to contribute to raise money that they could contribute to the Catechist's Burse. They would also send material to the missions to assist the Catechists. This particular scene shows a package addressed to Catechist Luetenegger. This delivery was made with a truck. Many times the Catechists would get assistance form someone who had a means to get it from the local train station. It might be one of the parishioners of their missions, or maybe a non-Catholic neighbor. The crate was sent from the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. These crates contain clothing that would be distributed to the poor, including winter coats, shoes, and boots. Other items that might be sent include liturgical items for distant missions. These might be vestments for the priest, cloth for the altar, or candlesticks. At Christmas packages might include toys for the children who might not receive any, candy and fruit would be used at parties at Halloween, Christmas, and the end of the school year. Holy cards that were received might be used as rewards for their students. Other items that were also sent to the missions were school supplies like paper and pencils. The Catechists mission was to minister to the poorest of the poor. Many of the families struggled to put food on the table or purchase shoes for their children as they outgrew their previous pair.