In　the　beginning,　Father　Aloysius　Bittman　bought　a　bug.

That　was　in　1957　when　he　joined　the　staff　of　St.　Anthonys　Indian　Mission　in　Mandaree,　North　Dakota.

Since　then,　Father　Bittman　has　gone　a　long　way.　In　30　Volkswagen.

Owning　two　or　three　at　a　time,　the　Bittman　staff　travels　600　miles　per　week　in　each.　Over　dirt　and　gravel　roads　and　in　temperatures　that　go　to　55　below.

A　couple　of　Volkswagens　ago,　Father　Bittman‘s’65　broke　through　the　Garrison　Reservoir　ice.

“It　was　a　good　time　for　praying.”　he　said.

Luckily,　one　255　pound　priest　and　one　1808　pound　bug　floated　to　safety.　After　the　ice　was　chopped　away　and　a　quick　oil　change,　the　good　father　and　his　faithful　companion　were　off.

He　was　a　bit　peeved　about　the　oil　change　though.

“It　set　the　Mission　back　$1.80.”　complained　Father　Aloysius　Bittman.