When the retired Sr. Bernadette Feist, OSU, was informed by Catholic Missions In Canada (CMIC) that she will be the recipient of the 2025 St. Philip Neri Award, she thought “that’s a good way to embarrass a country mouse.”

The initial inclination of the humble Ursuline nun for over half a century was to politely decline this honour, but then she reconsidered. The CMIC Taste of Heavens Gala on May 8 at Bellvue Manor in Vaughan, Ont., presents an opportunity to express some of the thoughts on her mind. There she will receive the Neri award, presently annually by CMIC to recognize outstanding service in Canada's mission territories.

Feist's convictions stem from 40 years of building relations with Indigenous peoples through her work as director of Valley Native Ministry in the Fort Qu'Appelle, Sask., area and establishing a Friday lunchtime service at the Too Good To Be Threw thrift shop that fed as many as 80 people.

“Ministry has changed so much in those years,” said Feist. “In the beginning years when I went to La Loche, I was with the Chipewyan/Dene people for eight years and that was what I would still like to have seen at the closing of 2024 — ministry was still amongst people.

“Right now, there is too much animosity and (ministry) is in an unbalanced state,” she suggested. “The Church has to (share) stories that balance ministry and listen to different voices.”

Feist is currently writing a book that shares the same title as Valley Native Ministry’s monthly Gathering the Four Winds newsletter. For every story of pain in the book, there will be a story of joy.

“I did not see in the (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) movement that the joy stories were allowed to be expressed,” said Feist. “I'm trying to focus my book on those stories with elders and the experience that I have had.”

She knows of Indigenous people who were excluded from the original consultation and are willing to share their story, but they want to receive the proper designation.

“There are people who will say, ‘I will go to that meeting for TRC if you call me a student at the school, not a survivor,’ ” said Feist. “Those are the people who need to be spoken to now to balance the story.”’

Now 77, Feist’s passion and care for Indigenous Canadians stretches back nearly 65 years. When she was in Grade 6, she accompanied her teacher to nearby Loon Lake to teach the catechism to some children.

“No. 1, I did not know that I was teaching First Nations children and all I was doing was the written prayers, ‘let's say the Our Father, Hail Mary,’ et cetera, et cetera,” said Feist. “Gosh, I liked the response. We had fun. I was their age. And like I say, I did not know that they were First Nations children, but I had so much delight in it.”

The desire to teach was enkindled.

Before securing an education degree from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon with a major in native studies, Feist first followed in the footsteps of two of her sisters — she grew up with seven brothers and four sisters in Barthel, Sask., northwest of Saskatoon — by studying at St. Angela’s Academy in Prelate. It was there she first came under the influence of the Ursuline Sisters.

Once Feist took her final vows she was asked where she would like to serve. She immediately identified northern Saskatchewan to be among the First Nations.

“That’s me — on my tombstone, it will be First Nations and that’s it,” said Feist cheerfully.

Eventually, Feist’s older sister Sr. Theresa Feist, now 83, was pulled into the orbit of her work in Lebret. After many years working in holistic health therapy in Winnipeg, Theresa retired. After returning to Saskatchewan, Theresa accompanied Bernadette on reserve visits “just as a companion and a friend who helped wherever she could.” She also supplied food and was a continual presence at Too Good to Be Threw.

They both retired in June 2024.

Feist also praised the late Fr. Wojciech Wojtkowiak, O.M.I. for his efforts to aid Valley Native Ministry for over 20 years.

“He worked with me for many years, and he was present 100 per cent,” said Feist. “We would have on average over 40 funerals in a year and culture was a part of those funerals very much.”

While the forthcoming book is an opportunity to share her experiences, and the Taste of Heavens gala is an occasion to both communicate a message and also thank CMIC for offering steadfast missionary sustenance, Feist is most in her element receiving no attention.

Something country music legend Dolly Parton said after her little-seen husband Carl Dean passed away over a month ago resonated strongly with Feist.

“In reference to this gala, I was watching a bit of the funeral of Dolly Parton’s husband, and hearing her comment, I said, ‘That's the way I feel about the gala.’ I’ll be rosy-cheeked and excited, but she said ‘what happens when the cameras are off is much more important than what happens when the cameras are on.'

“Not bad, eh?”