Native American Catholics

Mission Statement

The primary purpose of the Office of the American Indian Ministry is to be at-one-with the American Indian people within the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, a listening presence in their midst and a promoter of Catholic American Indian celebrations.
To represent the diocese at various functions and serve as the voice that brings American Indian concerns to the attention of the Bishop, the diocesan officers, and other directors of diocesan offices.

Responsibilities        

Work with Office of Liturgy to prepare for American Indian and St. Kateri Masses.
To nurture and enrich Catholic values within the American Indian faith community.
Encourage and empower the faith community to respond to the needs of their parish and the wider community.
To help the Kateri Circles keep traditional rituals alive within the church by providing cultural workshops.
Maintain and update address list of Kateri Circles; prepare prayer and agenda; copy handouts (evangelization and spirituality material); set up/pick up room/ environment; maintain phone contact as needed; maintain office files; maintain surveillance of events; plan workshops; secure speaker; assist co-workers when needed.

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

Kateri Tekakwitha was born in 1656 in the Mohawk village of Ossernenon, just a few miles west of present-day Auriesville, New York. Her Mohawk name, Tekakwitha, means “she who bumps into things.” Kateri was the daughter of Mohawk Chief Kenneronkwa. Her mother, Tagaskouita, was an Algonquian woman who was adopted and assimilated by the Mohawk before her marriage. This was a common practice among the Mohawk in the mid- to late-1600s, when they were trying to overcome population losses caused by European diseases and fur trade wars. Because of this practice, the community Kateri grew up in was very diverse, with new people and beliefs introduced all the time.

When Kateri was about four years old, her parents and younger brother died in a smallpox outbreak. Kateri survived the illness, but she was left with facial scars, damaged eyesight, and poor health.

In the spring of 1674, Kateri told a visiting priest that she wanted to learn more about his religion.  Kateri was baptized in 1676, at which time she took the name Kateri in honor of Saint Catherine.

 On August 17, 1680, Kateri died with the entire community of Kahnawake collected around her. Everyone who witnessed her death later swore that within minutes her smallpox scars disappeared, and her skin became radiant. They interpreted this as a miracle and a sign that Kateri was a saint, and built a chapel in her honor.  Some reported miraculous healings, and Kateri’s community of followers grew over the time. She was officially canonized as the first Native American saint in 2012.

The Tekakwitha Conference is held every year since 1939 in the honor of Saint Kateri.
Declared Venerable by Pope Pius XII, January 3, 1943
Beatified by Pope John Paul II, June 22, 1980

Saint Kateri Circles’ Mission Statement:                                                                      

We the Kateri circles of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, along with circles around the U.S., Canada and Central & South America to carry out the mandate of Jesus and the church to our environments and the world with the gospel through the life of St. Kateri. Our members are to foster peace, love compassion and forgiveness towards all people just as St. Kateri did with the love of Jesus Christ our Lord. By our evangelization work we share the gifts of our culture with others and seek to bind all tribes in unity, friendship, love and peace. We always seek to recruit new members in this mission. The American Indian Ministry is comprised of two Kateri Circles and is affiliated with the National Tekakwitha Conference. Active in the Conference, members enjoy an ongoing camaraderie with other American Indian Catholics across the United States, Canada, and Central and South American.

Dulac, La.
St. Kateri Circle of Dulac
Meets: At 6:30 P.M. on 1st. Saturday at Holy Family Church

Pointe-Aux-Chenes, La. (Montegut, La.)
St. Charles the Roch Kateri Circle
Meets: At 7:00 P.M. every 4th. Saturday at the Knights of Columbus building

 St. Kateri Masses:
July 12, 2024
July 11, 2025
July 10, 2026
July 9, 2027
July 14, 2028  

American Indian Masses:
November 22, 2024
November 21, 2025
November 20, 2026
November 19, 2027
November 17, 2028

 

Nicholas Black Elk, Our Brother in Jesus Christ

                            

Nicholas Black Elk lived a life of holiness during the 19th and 20th centuries. He was a
Lakota Sioux holy man and lay convert in South Dakota and he became widely known through the books Black Elk Speaks and Nicholas Black Elk: Medicine Man, Mystic, Missionary. Baptized “Nicholas,” after the saint whose generous giving resonated with Lakota traditions, he committed his life to better knowing the Great Spirit and teaching Jesus’ way of peace, love, and harmony towards all creation. In so doing he seamlessly lived Christian and Native ways without contradiction and led over 400 Dakota-Lakota people to baptism in Jesus Christ.

Prayer for the canonization:

Heavenly Father, Great Spirit! Behold us, who stand before you singing our song of thanksgiving for Servant of God, Nicholas Black Elk. Faithfully he walked the Sacred Red Road and generously witnessed the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ among the Native American people. We humbly ask you to hear the prayers we plead through his intercession. We ask Holy Mother Church to recognize his sanctity by acknowledging his presence among the company of Saints and as one to imitate in his zeal for the Gospel. Open our hearts to also recognize the Risen Christ in other cultures and peoples, to your glory and honor through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Antonio Cuipa and Companions, January 26, 1704, Apalachee Province

Names:            Antonio Cuipa or Antonio Enija (Apalachee),
                             Cui Domingo (Apalachee),
                             Francisco El Chiquito (aka Feliciano) (Apalachee),
                             Fernando (Apalachee)
                             Fr. Juan de Parga Araujo, O.F.M. (Province of Santiago, Galicia)
Date:                January 26, 1704
Place:               La Concepción de Ayubale, Apalachee Province (Tallahassee)



The lead martyr Antonio was an Apalachee Indian. He was a layman—a husband, father, chief, and catechist. He was a carpenter, and he was devoted to St. Joseph. He was a skilled musician (a guitarist as well as a craftsman of flutes). He was also an evangelist, whose zeal and joy brought many native persons to Christianity.

Antonio’s life would end tied to a cross at the mission of La Concepción de Ayubale, where the English led a brutal attack.  Antonio was mocked for his faith and tortured with a fire burning under his feet for many hours.  Near the end, Antonio cried out from the cross.  The Virgin appeared to him at his side!  It was her eyes looking into his, he said, that gave him courage to endure his martyrdom.  His last words were that his body would fall to the earth, but that his soul was going to God.
                                                                                                                             
Apalachee Indians Francisco El Chiquito and the Panther (Cui Domingo) were also killed tied to crosses and ridiculed for their faith.  In order to mock the short height of Francisco El Chiquito, the Creek cut his legs off.  The martyr responded that it was fine to do so – he didn’t need legs – because the angels would bring him into Paradise.
Fr. Juan Parga voluntarily accompanied the force that included Antonio, El Chiquito and the Panther to come to the aid of the people at Ayubale.  Before leaving Fr. Parga’s mission, San Pedro y San Pablo de Patale, Fr. Parga, a gifted preacher, spoke several hours to the faithful, emphasizing to them that the defense of Ayubale was defending the very law of God.  Further, anticipating the martyrdoms, Fr. Parga said that this day will be “a day of great rejoicing.”

Although many times the faithful attempted to persuade Father Parga to remain at the Patale mission for his safety, he insisted on joining the mission under siege, for the encouragement of the faithful.   Father said that he “must go and die with his children.”

There was another prominent chief, Fernando, who, following a blow to the head at Ayubale, was thought to be dead.  When he regained consciousness, he was taken prisoner by the Creek, and then killed shortly thereafter when he refused to deny the Cross and spit on it.

“…he said that if they brought him a Cross he would pray before it to ask God our Lord that      they  would cease making raids and killing people… and would convert to the religion and to    the Holy Church of Jesus Christ, and would listen to the words of the missionaries and thus    leave their idols that are nothing but devils that deceive and dominate them, so that when they  died they could be with God and the angels in his Kingdom.”        
 

Prayer for the Beatification of Servants of God Antonio Cuipa and Companions

O God, Father of all nations, you have summoned us to announce the freedom of your children.
We thank you for calling your servants, Antonio Cuipa and his companions,
to proclaim the Catholic faith during the birth of a new nation.
May their example of suffering and forgiveness give us the courage to bear witness to Christ in our own time.
We also pray that they be counted one day among your saints.
Through the intercession of your Servants, grant us the following grace which we ask from your loving kindness
{here make your request}
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen

To report prayers answered or favors granted through the intercessions of the Martyrs of La Florida,

please send your name, contact information, and details of the request and its resolution to [email protected] or call (850)445-1326