Program Twelve: Saint Kateri Tekakwitha: A Healer’s Saint
Kateri Tekakwitha is a Saint to pray to for guidance in all aspects of life. She also inspires Catholic Aboriginals to combine their cultural backgrounds with their faith practice.
Materials
Videos:
Program Twelve: “Saint Kateri Tekakwitha: A Healer’s Saint”
Documents
“Directions in Aboriginal Ministry”
Building Bridges Project/ Newman College, Edmonton Alberta
“The Story of Canadian Aboriginal Spirituality”
Chapter 3, World Religions: A Canadian Catholic Perspective
By Sr. Eva Solomon, CSJ
Novalis Publishing Inc. and Nelson Education Ltd. 2011
"Medicine Wheel: A Method of Reading the Bible"
By +Sylvain Lavoie, OMI
Publisher TBA
“Drumming from Within: Tales of Hope and Faith from Canada's North.”
By +Sylvain Lavoie, OMI
Novalis Publishing Inc. 2009
"Faith Moments: Saint Kateri Tekakwitha"
By Anne Neuberger. Novalis 2009
Websites:
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) Click Here
Saint Kateri Resources
compiled by
Religious Education + Family Life
Renfrew County Catholic School Board Click Here
Study Guide
Goal
The goal of Program Twelve is to provide students with a background to the story of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (canonized on October 21, 2012) and the devotion to her among North American Aboriginal Catholics. Reflections from Pope John Paul II, Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie, OMI, Archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas (2005-2012); Founding Chair, Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, Assembly of Western Catholic Bishops; Rosella Kinoshameg, Odawa First Nation, Member, Aboriginal Council, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops; Sr. Eva Solomon, CSJ, Ojibway First Nation, Sister of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie, Executive Director, Building Bridges Project; Sandra Carter; Elder; Cree First Nation; Florence Catcheway, Elder, Schonan Reserve; Doris Lirondelle, Métis, Elementary school teacher.
Steps
1. Show the internet TV video - Program Twelve: “Saint Kateri Tekakwitha: A Healer’s Saint”
2. Ask students to form small groups to describe the following impressions from the video:
Who was Kateri Tekakwitha?
Who are the non-Aboriginal speaker in the video and why do they care about Kateri Tekakwitha?
Who are the Aboriginal speakers in the video and why do they care about Kateri Tekakwitha?
What did you know after viewing the video that you didn’t know before?
Why do you think this story is so important to Aboriginal Catholics?
3. Option for Take-Home Assignment
Via the Internet find more facts about the story of Kateri Tekakwitha and her times.
Provide facts for the history of North America at Kateri’s time.
Provide facts about the history of the Church in North America in Kateri’s times.
Find out why the Church decided to make Kateri a saint.
In groups, make presentations to the class about any or all of the above. Include suggestions on how students could find out more about the devotion to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha.
