St Kateri Tekakwitha

My dear brethren,

Praise and thanksgiving be to God for the opportunity to celebrate the First Nation's Canonized Saint Kateri Tekakwitha.  She was named Tekakwitha because it means one who bumps into things, named because she had poor eyesight.  However, when it comes to the things of heaven, she had a good vision.  She love God and devoted a majority of her life to serving God at Church.  

People were spellbound by her stories of Christ.  They love to listen to her share biblical stories.  Often at Mass, parishioners would sit close to her.  The Priest often wondered why parishioners love to sit close to her, and they responded that her face radiate every time she spoke about God.  They feel closer to God when they are in her presence.

It was October 21 of last year that she was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI.  Some of us were blessed to be at the Canonization Mass to witness the historic event.  She along with six other saints were canonized: Jacque Berthieu the Jesuit Missionary, Maria Salles from Spain, Marianne Cope who worked with the Leper colony, the second Philippino saint Pedro Calungsod, Italian John Piamarta who helped the young generation finding work, Anna Schafer who wanted to join an cloister order, but before she could join, she worked as a maid to receive enough income.  But she suffered a terrible accident to her legs and was bed ridden for the rest of her life but continued to offer prayers the sanctification of souls.  

Pope Benedict XVI shared in his homily at the Canonization Mass: Kateri Tekakwitha was born in today’s New York state in 1656 to a Mohawk father and a Christian Algonquin mother who gave to her a sense of the living God. She was baptized at twenty years of age and, to escape persecution, she took refuge in Saint Francis Xavier Mission near Montreal. There she worked, faithful to the traditions of her people, although renouncing their religious convictions until her death at the age of twenty-four. Leading a simple life, Kateri remained faithful to her love for Jesus, to prayer and to daily Mass. Her greatest wish was to know and to do what pleased God. She lived a life radiant with faith and purity.

Kateri impresses us by the action of grace in her life in spite of the absence of external help and by the courage of her vocation, so unusual in her culture. In her, faith and culture enrich each other! May her example help us to live where we are, loving Jesus without denying who we are. Saint Kateri, Protectress of Canada and the first native American saint, we entrust to you the renewal of the faith in the first nations and in all of North America! May God bless the first nations!

This church is blessed to house the icon of St Kateri as an intercession and protector of this church along with Mother of God of lasting things. St Kateri is the bridge providing harmony between between Native and Catholic tradition.  It is so that we can together proclaim Christ as Savior and Lord.  

In our first reading, we hear about Aaron and Hur helping Moses by lifting up his arms during battle.  St Kateri helps the faithful, lift up our spirit, through her intercessions.  Also her life inspires the faithful to persevere despite trials and hardships.

The Gospel today is the parable of Christ about persevering in prayer.  The Judge of this small town is a non believer.  He doesn't fear anyone, neither God nor any human person.  Yet, this judge listens to the widow that keeps bothering him to the point of irritation.  How much more does God listen to those who remain vigil in prayer.  But when we pray, we are not simply asking God for stuff but to discern the will of God for our lives.  God what do you want me for me.  God you know what is good for me.  God may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

What does it mean when we say that St Kateri is officially canonized.  It means that the gates of heaven have been opened up for her.  The Pope, because of Apostolic succession, holds the Keys of St Peter.  The Pope carries the authority to allow certain distinguished persons to be in heaven.  

In heaven, she prays for us.  She encourages us to be faithful to Christ.  She remains connected to us which we call the communion of saints.  She inspires us with a goal and desire to be in heaven with God, and Christ who sits at the right hand.  She also wants us to love God and love one another.  

God loves you and shows that love by giving us Christ and the Holy Spirit.  And also the saints like Blessed Mother, and St Paul and St Kateri Tekakwitha.  St Kateri is our companion on the spiritual journey. 

When I was working at the Lummi Nation, i was able to know more about St Kateri.  One of the miracles attributed to her is the healing of Jake Finkbonner.  He had an accident at the Basketball game and contracted the Necrotizing Fasciitis disease which is also called the Flesh Eating Disease.  But the people of Lummi prayed for his healing.  I was there at the Hospital with his extended family, and we sought the intercession of St Kateri.  At one point, the Doctors spoke to his parents about him being an organ donor which for me is a sign of the end.  But a few days later, Jake recovered.  After his recovery, Jake had scars on his face , not unlike St Kateri who had small pox.  He also said that he saw Jesus and his uncle, Tom.  But The Lord told him that it wasn't his time so he went back to earth.  Last year, When Jake was here, his Dad shared that Jake asked him; why am I here, why can't I be in heaven with God.  It's a better place .  But his dad consoled him and said: God has a plan for you.  Jake and his family travels to different places and shared their story.  He was also at the Canonization Mass and brought up the gifts to Pope Benedict XVI.

Today, our goal is to give thanks to God for St Kateri, who is a humble and a distinguished person because of her love for God and her faithfulness.  She is the source of unity and the bridge to God.   

St Kateri, pray for us.