Denver Catholic

9 DENVER CATHOLIC | JULY 25-AUGUST 7, 2015 3.75% APR * Bringing Catholic Values to Financial Services APR* = Annual Percentage Rate. Some restrictions may apply. See website for more details. Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government National Credit Union Administration, a U.S. Government Agency NCUA Looking to be Mortgage Free in 10 Years? Rates as low as Call: 303.424.5037 Click: www.nufcu.com or Come by one of our convenient locations. We have an affordable option with lower closing fees than a conventional home loan. Contact us today! I n helping his clients fi gure out their lives, psychotherapist Kenn Cramer, 36, was fi guring out his own. Cramer, founder of St. Raphael Counseling in Denver, which combines psychotherapy with the truths of the Catholic faith, recently made a major life decision that will satisfy a longing to live a more radical lifestyle for Christ. In September he will leave his practice and comfortable Highlands Ranch home to do mission work along with his wife, Laura, 32, at Fort Belknap Indian Reser- vation in Montana. "When Laura and I got married (three years ago) we played around with the idea to do something extraordinary for Christ," Cramer said. Through spiritual direction and much prayer, the couple fi nally decided the time was right for Cramer to move on from St. Raphael's, which he opened in 2009. Yearning to go on mission, which both had previously done, they felt a call to serve the most impoverished in the United States. Cramer sent out inquiries to several dioceses. "It was clear almost from the get-go that we were being led to Montana," Cramer said. After visiting Fort Belknap, home to the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine tribes, they decided there wasn't a good reason not to go. "They need help and we have gifts to o£ er," Cramer said. The couple will serve as parish life coordinators, a position provided by canon law when there aren't enough priests for an area, to run three parishes and a chapel formerly sta£ ed by the Jesuit order, which left Fort Belknap last month after 128 years of ministry. "Laura and I will be fully running four churches on the reservation," Cramer said, listing everything from administra- tive duties to o£ ering religious education and organizing weddings, funerals and Communion services. A newly ordained diocesan priest, Father Garrett Nelson, assigned to a town 40 miles away from what will be the Cramers' home in Hays, population 800, will celebrate Mass at the churches once a week. "All of us in the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings look forward to Kenn and Laura joining us," Bishop Michael Warfel told the Denver Catholic. "I am fully con- fi dent with their wealth of experience, formation and many gifts they each bring, combined with a sincere love for Christ and the Church, they will be e£ ective ministers to the people of the Fort Belk- nap Reservation." Located on 652,000 acres of plains and grasslands in north-central Montana, Fort Belknap has nearly 7,000 enrolled tribal members with about half living on or near the reservation. The main industry is agri- culture, consisting of cattle ranching and growing alfalfa. Although the rolling ter- rain and wide sky are beautiful, problems of extreme poverty and high rates of alcohol- ism and suicide among Native American populations overall are challenges. "It is quite destitute," Cramer said. "I feel this call to help bring purpose and mission and hope from Christ to these people." Dominican Sister Kathleen Kane, who has served the tribal populations in Montana since 1973, said she is looking forward to the Cramers' arrival. "There is a great need on the reserva- tion for a steady, prayerful presence and also for leadership development in the parishes," she said. Although leaving the counseling center he founded is bittersweet—Cramer said he'll miss his clients—he's confi dent his partner, clinical psychologist Jim Lang- ley, who is taking over St. Raphael's, will continue to fulfi ll the center's mission. Area couple leaves Denver to minister at reservation BY ROXANNE KING 720-771-3394 editor_king@icloud.com www.twitter.com/RoxanneIKing Kenn and Laura Cramer will leave their lives and careers behind in Denver to run four churches on a Native American reservation in Montana. PHOTO PROVIDED

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