St. Kateri Tekakwitha Committee of St. Lucy's Church

04/16/2026

In this week's Evangelist, we look back at the special Easter Mass at the Saint Kateri National Shrine and Historic Site, which fell on the 350th anniversary of the saint's baptism.
https://evangelist.org/news/2026/apr/09/a-very-special-easter-mass/

04/05/2026

We're getting ready to celebrate Easter Mass and commemorate Saint Kateri's baptismal anniversary. We hope you'll join us! 😇

02/04/2026

Thank you Rep. Elise Stefanik for your continued support. The recognition of this legacy through the United States Mint and of Polly Cooper’s contributions serves as a great source of pride for our people, as well as for all Upstate New Yorkers and all Americans.

Learn more about the story of Polly Cooper: http://spr.ly/6183hDjT9

11/05/2025

Our shrine is a place dedicated to peace and healing, and supporting mental health within our community is very important to us. Pope Leo's prayer intention for the month is for the prevention of su***de: “that those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts might find the support, care and love they need in their community, and be open to the beauty of life.” His video on the topic can be found here: https://youtu.be/AcME5I05LOg?si=vZB5zGPzLGZC_d7d
If you are struggling and looking for a quiet place to pray, our Candle Chapel dedicated to Saint Kateri is open 24/7, every day of the year.

10/22/2025

On this day in 2012, Kateri Tekakwitha was canonized. In his homily, Pope Benedict XVI said: "Kateri impresses us by the action of grace in her life in spite of the absence of external help and by the courage of her vocation, so unusual in her culture. In her, faith and culture enrich each other! May her example help us to live where we are, loving Jesus without denying who we are."
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us!

Artwork by Karla Aurora Kozach

10/15/2025

10/15/2025

St. Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680, North America) was the daughter of a Mohawk chief and an Algonquin Catholic woman in what is now upper New York State. When St. Kateri was only four years old, a smallpox epidemic killed her parents and younger brother and left her with impaired eyesight and scarred facial features. She also experienced isolation, family pressure, and marginalization from her earliest years of life. In her late teenage years, she was drawn to the Catholic faith, finding refuge and purpose with the Jesuit missionaries. She was a Christ-like example to all who encountered her. St. Kateri died at the young age of 24.

Learn more at https://ow.ly/qCyM50Xa6ZC

07/14/2025

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us!

(The image of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha is from a small statue at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Hominy, Oklahoma.)

07/14/2025

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Lily of the Mohawks, Servant of Jesus Christ and devoted Daughter of the Church found solace, joy, and hope as she prayed and meditated in the forest. Pope Francis reminds us in Laudato Si: “to sense each creature singing the hymn of its existence is to live joyfully in God’s love and hope.” We, too, are creatures in God’s creation. Connecting with our fellow creatures nurtures and lifts us with hope.

Rejoice and trust that there are untold ways that nature heals herself yet to be revealed, and that we and our future generations will continue to live and learn in this sacred creation. Let us trust that the loving and triune God that created us and gives us past, present, and future, works all things for good. Seasons turn and return. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Lily of the Mohawks, Servant of God, daughter of the Church, Help us turn to the world’s indigenous peoples for wisdom, insights, observations, and time-tested practices that have allowed them to be nurtured by the abundance of the world without wasting it. Rather than “fighting climate change” indigenous traditions follow the way of surviving, reviving, and following transformation through an intimate and respectful relationship with the natural world.

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Patron of the Environment, we seek your intercession in our present need: that we may care for all of God’s creation as you did. Help us to heal the prejudice and disrespect that divide us from working together to restore Mother Earth. With your intercession, may we bring traditional knowledge and modern scientific technology together in finding the way through our environmental challenges. And, may we keep our word to each other by honoring our treaties. We need all of us in this endeavor!

Text courtesy of St. Joseph Parish, Seattle, Climate Justice Committee
Image: “Purity, Perseverance, and Hope” courtesy of Karla Aurora Kozach

07/13/2025

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Lily of the Mohawks, Servant of Jesus Christ and devoted Daughter of the Church, was full of love for Jesus and for God’s creation. She practiced charity: generosity and helpfulness toward all—especially toward those who needed help. Born into cruel and violent conflicts, Kateri hungered for peace, harmony, and healing between peoples. She was known for kindness, generosity, and compassion in serving the needy and the sick. As Kateri lay on her deathbed at the young age of 24, she told those gathered around her not to mourn. She was happy to be joining our Lord and would be able to do much more to help them from the next world. She died with a smile on her lips. Within moments of her death, the smallpox scars disappeared, and her face glowed with a remarkable radiant beauty. Following her death, there were many reports of people praying for her intercession and receiving healing.

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Patron of the Environment, may we hear and respond to the Call of the Poor. Changes in the climate are marginalizing people, creating migrants and refugees, and placing children at risk. May we find ways to help individuals. May we also pay attention to the manner of how social systems and programs are serving displaced and indigenous people. For the sake of harmony, peace, and stability, may we be willing to open our hearts wider. Help us to give up a bit of what we want so that all can have what they need. Climate change demands a change of heart and a greater sense of charity—especially toward those whose lives are most affected by it.

Saint Kateri, through your intercession, help us to promote eco-justice and invite the spirit of belonging and caring into local communities and neighborhood eco-systems. May we defend human life from conception to death and support all forms of life on Earth.

Text courtesy of St. Joseph Parish, Seattle, Climate Justice Committee
Image: “Purity, Perseverance, and Hope” courtesy of Karla Aurora Kozach