April 17

SAINT KATERI TEKAKWITHA

1656-1680

St. Kateri was baptized Catherine (after St. Catherine of Siena) as a baby. She was orphaned at the age of four after a smallpox epidemic, and raised by her uncle. She met Jesuit missionaries when she was 18 and dedicated herself to Jesus. She practiced severe penance such as self-flaggelation. She died from lifelong poor health at 24 years.

Did you know?

St. Kateri's feast day is celebrated July 14, in the United States. The Canadian feast date marks her death. She was the first Native of North America to be canonized (in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI).

A family tradition...

St. Kateri is the patron saint of ecology and the environment. Take a walk around your street or a local park and collect the strewn garbage.