At a canonization in Rome next month the first American Indian will be declared a saint - and some local Tohono O'odham members hope to be there.
Tribal Catholics are raising money for a trip to Rome to witness the canonization of Kateri Tekakwitha, who devoted her life to the church and good works despite persecution. Pope Benedict XVI is to perform the ceremony Oct. 21.
The Tohono O'odham Rome Pilgrimage Group is fundraising through food sales and donations. About 20-30 members of the nation hope to make the trip, but the pilgrimage group is raising money for eight local members. (See box accompanying this article.)
"We've been praying for this for years," said Art Bailey, a San Xavier District member who hopes to make the trip to Rome. Being there to witness the canonization, he said, "is a fulfillment of one of our promises to her."
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Kateri Tekakwitha was born in 1656 at Ossernenon, a Mohawk village, about two miles from present-day Auriesville, N.Y. Her father was a Mohawk Indian and her mother a Christian Algonquin.
Her mother bore two children, one boy and one girl. In 1660, smallpox took her entire family, leaving Kateri alone at only 4 years old.
She had survived smallpox but was scarred with pockmarks and poor sight. She was taken in by her uncle, who was the first chief of the village and was strongly opposed to the Christian faith.
In 1666, after French soldiers defeated Mohawk warriors and burned their village, Ossernenon was rebuilt a couple miles west of the original village, on the other side of the Mohawk River. It was renamed Gandaouague.
After the move, the chief asked for peace and requested missionaries. Three arrived in 1667, and in the course of their three-day visit Tekakwitha cared for the Jesuits, whose pious behavior and courteous manners impressed her.
On Easter Day, 1676, she was baptized; her conversion brought persecution and even death threats from fellow villagers. The following year, fearing for her life, she fled the village with the help of three others to the Sault Mission on the St. Lawrence River.
Tekakwitha had wanted to start a community of Indian nuns, but a priest persuaded her to give up the idea. In 1679, on the feast of annunciation, she took a vow of chastity. She devoted her life to helping others and following the teachings of her religion.
In early 1680, after many years of poor health, she fell seriously ill and died at 24 years old. Since her death, about 50 biographies of the "Lily of the Mohawks" have appeared in some 10 languages.
To donate
To make a donation or for more information, contact Art Bailey at 1-520-248-6158.
Donations also can be made payable to the Reservation Creation Women's Circle Charitable Trust (for the Tekakwitha Canonization). Send checks to P.O. Box 27782, Tucson, 85726.
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