The Feast of Kateri Tekakwitha – American Girl Saint

Today is the Feast Day of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha.

Who Was St. Kateri?

Saint Kateri was born in 1656 in Ossernenon, New York, a village overlooking the Mohawk River (now known as Auriesville, NY home to the Shrine of the North American Martyrs.

Peg Saint of Saint Kateri by Rosie LaVictoire

Kateri was the daughter of a Turtle Clan Chief and a Christian Algonquin captive. A smallpox epidemic decimated the town and left Kateri orphaned at the age of four. The disease also left the little girl with a pockmarked face and poor eyesight. This was a source of humiliation for the child and she frequently hid her face with a blanket.

Kateri was raised by her paternal uncle. When French Jesuits established a mission in her home, teenage Kateri was exposed to the Catholic Faith and experienced a conversion. She was baptized by Father Jacques de Lamberville, and took the name Catherine, which is Kateri in her native language.

But Kateri’s faith and vow of virginity were not accepted by her family and village. To escape persecution she left for the safety of Caughnawaga, a mission village near Montreal, 300 miles away.

Kateri died at the age of 24. Devotion to her began almost immediately. She was beatified on June 20, 1980, and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 21, 2012 with six others. She is known as the Lily of the Mohawks.

Ways to Celebrate!

Make an authentic native American Dinner!

Make a Lilly Craft

Learn about the geography of New York State. 

Learn about Montreal. 

 

• Learn more about the North American Martyrs
• Learn about Smallpox
• Learn more about the care and growing of Lillies

• Study the Mohawk tribe.

Sew an Indian costume for All Saints Day. Here’s an easy one for kids. 

Little Kateri Costume I made for Rosie when she was a baby.

Bob and Pennie Lord Movie about the Saint on Amazon Streaming here.

Follow Elena LaVictoire’s board St. Kateri on Pinterest.