Fr. Eddie Fronske
Fr. Eddie Fronske, O.F.M. has been the priest at St. Francis Church, on the White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation, in Whiteriver, Az. for twenty nine years.
Fr. Eddie was born and raised in Flagstaff, Az., the eldest of nine children, he entered seminary at the age of thirteen years. They no longer accept boys that young these days.
Fr. Eddie’s first parish was in Nevada. He is fluent in Spanish and worked with the Mexican farm workers.
Fr. Eddie shepherds three parishes on the reservation, Whiteriver, Cibecue, and Cedar Creek. He took on Cibecue and Cedar Creek in order to keep them open when their priest left. We have a shortage of priests in the Gallup Diocese.
Fr. Eddie gives many retreats in Az., New Mexico, and Calif. He is very talented in his presentation and very well regarded in his Franciscan Community.
Fr. Eddie also holds healing masses monthly in Whiteriver and Cibecue.
Fr. Eddie is a published song writer and poet. Fr. Eddie is also a master fisherman.
Anna Reno
Anna Reno has been working with Fr. Eddie for almost ten years. She is the mother of two boys and has five grandchildren.
Anna is a Master Gardener and used to teach at the Phoenix, Az. Botanical Gardens. Anna’s green thumb is apparent in the garden and the flowers around the church that Anna and Joe tend t
Anna is Fr. Eddie’s Right Hand Gal, secretary, gardener, and helper in running three parishes. Anna helps Fr. Eddie run the retreats and healing masses. Anna also runs a pre-school library. In Fr. Eddie’s words, “Anna has a heart of gold,” Anna started feeding the strays at the church about five years ago. She is also an animal lover.
Anna wears another hat as the one in charge of A.F.T.C.O. buying and selling. She started the Apache Fair Trade Co-Op to buy the Apache crafts at a fair price, and selling at the price bought, then turning around and buying more, and so on. It is a way for the Apache women to bring money into their households. The unemployment rate on the reservation is around 80%.
Rosalie Henning
Rosalie Henning was born and raised in McNary, Az., on the White Mountain Apache Reservation. She has lived in Pinetop, Az. most of her life.
Rosalie is retired now. She has taught school on the White Mountain Apache Reservation and most recently was the Children’s Program Coordinator at the White Mountain Safe House, a domestic violence shelter in Pinetop.
Rosalie has done many decorative and art projects for the beauty of the church. Fr. Eddie has called her “his artist in residence”.
Rosalie has had animals all her life. Her children grew up with rats, hamsters, monkeys, a possum, donkeys, horses, dogs, cats, pigs, goats, and sheep in their lives. Thankfully, not all at the same time.
Rosalie believes that animals enrich our lives, they don’t care if we are getting fat or old, their love and devotion is unconditional.
Joe Alderette
Joe Alderette was born in McNary, Az. Joe has lived in Whiteriver thirty years. Joe has been married to Glenda thirty four years. Joe and Glenda have raised two boys and two girls, and have eight grandchildren.
Joe is Head of Maintenance and the Grounds Keeper of the three parishes. Joe’s care of the church grounds is very apparent, with the garden producing and the flowers in bloom, the church grounds are very beautiful this year.
Joe is a friendly, sincere person who is willing to help anyone he can, not only humans, but also the S.O.D. dogs.
Glenda works at The I.H.S. Hospital in Whiteriver. She is a White Mountain Apache member and is a part of the S.O.D. ministry.
Joe had the job of digging Willow’s burial place on a very hot, sunny day. Joe approached the task with sympathy and reverence.
Joe did most of the work, Fr. Eddie helped with the shoveling, I helped with the covering. We all felt the loss of a very special spirit guide in Willow.
The S.O.D. dogs teach us about unconditional love, forgiveness, and moving on after abuse. They live in the now, giving their love, loyalty, and appreciation to the one who makes their lives safe and secure. A pat on the head, a scratch on the chest, a loving voice praising them and a cookie reward for a task well done does not compare to the love they return to the one who holds the cookies!!
Fr. Eddie Fronske, O.F.M. has been the priest at St. Francis Church, on the White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation, in Whiteriver, Az. for twenty nine years.
Fr. Eddie was born and raised in Flagstaff, Az., the eldest of nine children, he entered seminary at the age of thirteen years. They no longer accept boys that young these days.
Fr. Eddie’s first parish was in Nevada. He is fluent in Spanish and worked with the Mexican farm workers.
Fr. Eddie shepherds three parishes on the reservation, Whiteriver, Cibecue, and Cedar Creek. He took on Cibecue and Cedar Creek in order to keep them open when their priest left. We have a shortage of priests in the Gallup Diocese.
Fr. Eddie gives many retreats in Az., New Mexico, and Calif. He is very talented in his presentation and very well regarded in his Franciscan Community.
Fr. Eddie also holds healing masses monthly in Whiteriver and Cibecue.
Fr. Eddie is a published song writer and poet. Fr. Eddie is also a master fisherman.
Anna Reno
Anna Reno has been working with Fr. Eddie for almost ten years. She is the mother of two boys and has five grandchildren.
Anna is a Master Gardener and used to teach at the Phoenix, Az. Botanical Gardens. Anna’s green thumb is apparent in the garden and the flowers around the church that Anna and Joe tend t
Anna is Fr. Eddie’s Right Hand Gal, secretary, gardener, and helper in running three parishes. Anna helps Fr. Eddie run the retreats and healing masses. Anna also runs a pre-school library. In Fr. Eddie’s words, “Anna has a heart of gold,” Anna started feeding the strays at the church about five years ago. She is also an animal lover.
Anna wears another hat as the one in charge of A.F.T.C.O. buying and selling. She started the Apache Fair Trade Co-Op to buy the Apache crafts at a fair price, and selling at the price bought, then turning around and buying more, and so on. It is a way for the Apache women to bring money into their households. The unemployment rate on the reservation is around 80%.
Rosalie Henning
Rosalie Henning was born and raised in McNary, Az., on the White Mountain Apache Reservation. She has lived in Pinetop, Az. most of her life.
Rosalie is retired now. She has taught school on the White Mountain Apache Reservation and most recently was the Children’s Program Coordinator at the White Mountain Safe House, a domestic violence shelter in Pinetop.
Rosalie has done many decorative and art projects for the beauty of the church. Fr. Eddie has called her “his artist in residence”.
Rosalie has had animals all her life. Her children grew up with rats, hamsters, monkeys, a possum, donkeys, horses, dogs, cats, pigs, goats, and sheep in their lives. Thankfully, not all at the same time.
Rosalie believes that animals enrich our lives, they don’t care if we are getting fat or old, their love and devotion is unconditional.
Joe Alderette
Joe Alderette was born in McNary, Az. Joe has lived in Whiteriver thirty years. Joe has been married to Glenda thirty four years. Joe and Glenda have raised two boys and two girls, and have eight grandchildren.
Joe is Head of Maintenance and the Grounds Keeper of the three parishes. Joe’s care of the church grounds is very apparent, with the garden producing and the flowers in bloom, the church grounds are very beautiful this year.
Joe is a friendly, sincere person who is willing to help anyone he can, not only humans, but also the S.O.D. dogs.
Glenda works at The I.H.S. Hospital in Whiteriver. She is a White Mountain Apache member and is a part of the S.O.D. ministry.
Joe had the job of digging Willow’s burial place on a very hot, sunny day. Joe approached the task with sympathy and reverence.
Joe did most of the work, Fr. Eddie helped with the shoveling, I helped with the covering. We all felt the loss of a very special spirit guide in Willow.
The S.O.D. dogs teach us about unconditional love, forgiveness, and moving on after abuse. They live in the now, giving their love, loyalty, and appreciation to the one who makes their lives safe and secure. A pat on the head, a scratch on the chest, a loving voice praising them and a cookie reward for a task well done does not compare to the love they return to the one who holds the cookies!!
