From Catholic.org/Saints -
Feastday: July 14
Patron of the environment and ecology
1656 – April 17, 1680
Beatified By: Pope John Paul II
Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin, will be canonized on October 21, 2012.
Kateri was born near the town of Auriesville, New York, in the year 1656, the daughter of a Mohawk warrior. She was four years old when her mother died of smallpox. The disease also attacked Kateri and transfigured her face. She was adopted by her two aunts and an uncle. Kateri became converted as a teenager. She was baptized at the age of twenty and incurred the great hostility of her tribe. Although she had to suffer greatly for her Faith, she remained firm in it. Kateri went to the new Christian colony of Indians in Canada. Here she lived a life dedicated to prayer, penitential practices, and care for the sick and aged. Every morning, even in bitterest winter, she stood before the chapel door until it opened at four and remained there until after the last Mass. She was devoted to the Eucharist and to Jesus Crucified. She died on April 17, 1680 at the age of twenty-four. She is known as the “Lily of the Mohawks”. Devotion to Kateri is responsible for establishing Native American ministries in Catholic Churches all over the United States and Canada. Kateri was declared venerable by the Catholic Church in 1943 and she was Beatified in 1980. Work is currently underway to have her Canonized by the Church. Hundreds of thousands have visited shrines to Kateri erected at both St. Francis Xavier and Caughnawaga and at her birth place at Auriesville, New York. Pilgrimages at these sites continue today.
Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha is the first Native American to be declared a Blessed. Her feastday is July 14. She is the patroness of the environment and ecology as is St. Francis of Assisi.
We will be with you in spirit and prayer during your trip and stay in Rome. What a wonderful thing for the Native Americans! She can inspire many youth by her example and life.
Many prayers and blessings will accompany all of you, Bishop Wall and all pilgrims. Overjoyed to see that you are starting with a visit to Assisi and the shrines of Francis and Clare. Valentina Benallie shared the itinerary so we will know where you are each day.
God bless all the travelers to Rome.
BUON VIAGGIO! We will pray for you all. Please pray for us all in Gallup when you go to all the holy places and especially at the canonization of St Kateri Tekakwitha!
We are with you in Spirit! We are New Yorkers, lovers of Kateri and the North american martyrs!