Native Americans celebrate faith, spirituality at Tekakwitha gathering

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An image of St. Kateri Tekakwitha hangs in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington Jan. 26 during the national Mass of thanksgiving for the canonization of St. Kateri and St. Marianne Cope. (CNS photo/Nancy Phelan Wiechec)

Catholic News Service | July 23, 2013

EL PASO, Texas (CNS) — Nearly 600 Native American Catholics from 37 states joined in the annual Tekakwitha Conference gathering in El Paso July 17-22.

Participants from Maine to Oregon, Florida to California, attended the annual four-day event that was held in the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center.

Named for St. Kateri Tekakwitha, who was canonized in October 2012, the Tekakwitha Conference was originally founded to help indigenous Catholics “reinforce Catholic identity” while at the same time affirming “pride in our cultures and spiritual traditions,” which are “special gifts” to the Catholic Church, said Sister Kateri Mitchell, a Sister of St. Ann, who is the conference’s executive director.

This year’s gathering was the second to be hosted by the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of El Paso’s Tigua Tribe.

http://www.catholicsun.org/2013/07/23/native-americans-celebrate-faith-spirituality-at-tekakwitha-gathering/