“This is more than a personal dream come true for us, it’s a community healing and a community celebration,” said Michael Madrigal, a parishioner at St. Joseph Mission in San Jacinto.
Native American Catholics have been working on finding a way of reconnecting with their culture, traditions and customs while still being Catholic. For many, Blessed Kateri’s story has been the inspiration for their journey.
“I’m proud that she will be the first Native American saint in North America,” said Sylvia Arzate, a parishioner at St. Rose of Lima Chapel in the Santa Rosa Indian Reservation near Anza.
Arzate’s family held several fundraisers to help raise the money so that she could travel with a group to visit Blessed Kateri’s birthplace near Albany, NY. During her pilgrimage to visit the future saint’s birthplace, Arzate was also able to tour the site of the Caughnawaga settlement (Fonda, NY) where Kateri was baptized.
“It was very touching to get to be at the locations. My son came with me. He was very touched.”
Parishioners at St. Joseph Mission, San Jacinto have had a deep devotion to her for more than 30 years. The Mission has been able to acquire a relic that is displayed in the sanctuary.
“This gives us the opportunity to live our faith more deeply,” Madrigal said. “She has been a model for us on how to bridge the two cultures: our Catholic identity and our native customs and traditions.”
Anticipation for Blessed Kateri’s canonization has grown especially for those who have regularly attended Tekakwitha Conference meetings. The Tekakwitha Conference is an institution that supports Christian ministry among Native Americans, primarily through its annual meeting.
“I’ve gone to five Kateri Conferences and each time, we’ve hoped that the next year her canonization would be announced,” said Helen Jose, a parishioner at Sacred Hearts of Mary and Jesus Chapel in the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Reservation near Thermal. “She was so devoted to God and was still able to take care of her community, doing what she could.”
Blessed Kateri has inspired Jose to strengthen her faith, encouraging her to go to church more often and to be active in her faith. Jose’s love for Kateri is so great that she had her niece named after Kateri.
“I hope that her canonization will bring people back to our church, especially the younger kids,” Jose said.
The news of Blessed Kateri’s canonization has sparked interest from other members of the Torres-Martinez Reservation that do not attend Mass at the chapel as well.
“Others from the four other churches are interested in getting to know Kateri’s history and the fact that she is going to be a saint,” said Victoria Jose Sanchez, a Sacred Hearts of Mary and Jesus Chapel parishioner.