This week, let’s look at the story of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, a Native American who lived over 400 years ago. Born to a Mohawk chief and an Algonquin woman in 1656 in what is now New York state, St. Kateri was orphaned at the age of 4. In 1676, she was drawn to Catholicism by missionaries and baptized. Because she devoted her life to Jesus and lived a Christian lifestyle, those in her village did not accept her and forced her to flee. St. Kateri spent the rest of her short life near Montreal devoted to prayer, doing penance, and caring for the sick and aged.
When she died in 1680, her last words were, “Jesus, I love you.” As the first Native North American to be declared a saint (by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012), she is venerated for her devotion to Christ and her commitment to charity and chastity. She is also recognized as the patron saint of the environment and ecology.
St. Kateri is the result of the successful evangelization efforts of Jesuit priests in our region. She serves as an example of how ordinary people, through serving others, can inspire each of us to strive for sainthood. This reminds us that, even today, none of us are too young or uneducated to bring Christ into our world by following our faith and helping others.
