USCCB - Cultural Diversity in the Church

Welcome

“The Catholic community is blessed, enriched and profoundly challenged by the faith of Native Americans in our midst. We ask the Catholic community to join us in seeking new understanding and awareness of their situation and in committing our church to new advocacy and action with our Native American brothers and sisters on issues of social justice and pastoral life which touch their lives.”

— excerpt from the 2003 "Native American Catholics at the Millennium"

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap
Homily at Tekakwitha Conference, 7/3/2009

The Tekakwitha Conference: Affirming Our Faith as Native American Catholics
Under the Protection of Kateri Tekakwitha

Tekakwitha was born in 1656 of a Christian Catholic Algonquin mother and a traditional Mohawk Chief in a village called Ossernenon along the Mohawk River.

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In Her Foot Steps: by Sister Kateri Mitchell, SSA

Click the Button to Listen to the Song

Mohawk Algonquin Lily Filled with love
Grateful woman we honor you.

Sister Turtle Clan strong, kind and true
Faithful woman we honor you.

Tekakwitha hope filled dignity
Joyful woman we honor you.

Woodland Cross of Life fasting and prayer
Mystical woman we honor you.

Precious Flower virgin, fair and free
Holy woman we honor you.

Friend with Compassion helper and healer
Lover of peoples we honor you.

Gift of Nations gentle and forgiving
Loyal witness we thank you.

Our Sunshine vision, bright and keen
Open, generous we thank you.

Creator centered creation filled
Air, Sky, water we thank you.

Celebrate our gathering clans, tribes, nations Justice, harmony we thank you.

Family united Body, blood, life
Serving, sharing we thank you.

In your sacred journey Blessed Kateri
We honor you we thank you.

The Subcommittee Mandate

The subcommittee on Native American Affairs is under the direction of and assists the Committee on Cultural Diversity within the Church by working directly with the standing committee and collaboratively with other USCCB committees to address the pastoral concerns of Native American (North American Aboriginals) Catholics to affirm the gifts and contributions of Native American Catholics and to provide more opportunities for Native American Catholics to engage in the life of the Church and help shape its evangelization mission.

This mandate includes the following areas of responsibility:

The subcommittee is directly responsible for outreach to Native American Catholics under the direction of the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church.