Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha: Feast Day July 14th 

“I am not my own: I have given myself to Jesus. He must be my only love.” 

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

When I was a child, my siblings and our neighborhood friends would often dress up like Native Americans and play outside. We would explore the cedar tree- filled vacant lot, with its babbling creek, next door to our house, and would roam our two acre yard, building bed-sheet tents hanging from our front trees, and basking in the wonders of summertime. When I reflect back on these fond and treasured childhood memories, I think about how often I feel connected to God when I’m outside experiencing the beauty of His creation. When I gaze at the beauty that fills the sky with the rising and setting sun, feel a breeze upon my skin, or watch a thunderstorm roll in as I sit on my front porch, I feel a sense of delight, wonder, and peace. Nature has a special way of connecting the soul with its creator. Today, as we celebrate Saint Kateri Tekakwitha— The Lily of the Mohawks and first Native American woman to be canonized, I think about how she and the Native American people and culture are in tune with nature and the world around them. In today’s modern times, the wilderness seems to be the “road less traveled,” yet in the wilderness, the quiet and stillness of nature provides a place for us to reflect, pray, and wait for our God, who is constantly calling us to step away from the world and seek Him, to speak to our hearts. Step outside today, away from the noise and distractions of the modern world, and go on a hike with your family. As you hike or walk, reflect on the beauty and wonder of nature, the world that God created for us to live in and care for, and let your heart and mind sing His praise!

Celebrating with Food:

As a tasty treat to celebrate Saint Kateri, make Native American Fry Bread. The book Fry Bread, by Kevin Novel Maillard, who is a member of the Seminole Nation, has an authentic recipe for fry bread. You can access this recipe from the Jaquith Public Library website—just scroll to the bottom of the page. Instead of frying the fry bread in coconut oil, I just used vegetable oil and a lesser amount. You can then serve your fry bread with “Mohawk Indian Corn Soup” using this recipe from “Allrecipes.” I couldn’t find rutabaga at the store, so I used three parsnips and one acorn squash as substitutes.

Celebrate with Crafts:

Color a picture of Saint Kateri using the free template from the website “Catholic Icing” (scroll down the page). There is also a neat “How to Draw St. Kateri” video on this website that you can use with older kids so they can free hand their coloring page. After coloring your pictures of Saint Kateri, take your family outside and gather small sticks from your backyard. Using the sticks you find, make stick crosses connected with yarn, since Saint Kateri is often pictured holding a simple wooden stick cross. We then put our stick crosses in our vegetable garden.

(The image of Saint Kateri next to the coloring pages is a holy card I have of her from the National Shrine). 

Celebrating with Prayer:

Here is a prayer I wrote that you and your family can say today. You can even make it into place-setting-cards for your dinner table by printing it and then gluing it onto construction paper.

Saint Kateri, humble, faithful servant of God, you suffered and offered your suffering and life to the Lord. Pray that we may have courage like you to face the difficulties and sufferings we face in this life and grow in holiness and virtue. Amen.

Additional Resource:

Here is the link to the Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site if you’re interested in learning more about Saint Kateri.

You and your family can watch the short video below from the National Shrine of Saint Kateri located in Fonda, NY, together as a family. You can also YouTube other short videos (3-4 minutes) that discuss Saint Kateri.