Inthebeginning,FatherAloysiusBittmanboughtabug.

　　Thatwasin1957whenhejoinedthestaffofSt.AnthonysIndianMissioninMandaree,NorthDakota.

　　Sincethen,FatherBittmanhasgonealongway.In30Volkswagen.

　　Owningtwoorthreeatatime,theBittmanstafftravels600milesperweekineach.Overdirtandgravelroadsandintemperaturesthatgoto55below.

　　AcoupleofVolkswagensago,FatherBittman‘s’65brokethroughtheGarrisonReservoirice.

　　“Itwasagoodtimeforpraying.”hesaid.

　　Luckily,one255poundpriestandone1808poundbugfloatedtosafety.Aftertheicewaschoppedawayandaquickoilchange,thegoodfatherandhisfaithfulcompanionwereoff.

　　Hewasabitpeevedabouttheoilchangethough.

　　“ItsettheMissionback$1.80.”complainedFatherAloysiusBittman.