Blessed Kateri, whose father was chief of the Turtle clan of the Mohawk Indian tribe, was born in the mid-1600s and died at the tender age of 24. She was beatified, precursor to being made a saint, by Pope John Paul II in 1980.
Thirty-two years later, she became an official saint this past Sunday, Oct. 21.
Irondequoit was watching, both in Rome and in town, since it has a combined Blessed — now “Saint” — Kateri Tekakwitha Roman Catholic parish.
The parish combined the congregations of St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Salome, St. Margaret Mary, St. Cecilia, and Christ the King churches under one umbrella. The parish has three worship sites — at the latter three churches.
It was at St. Cecilia, 2732 Culver Road, that teens and others gathered in the wee hours of Sunday morning to watch, on a big screen, Kateri’s canonization at the Vatican in Rome.
A total of 24 Irondequoit residents, including four priests, also traveled to Rome for the momentous occasion.
Kateri Tekakwisha is the first Native American Catholic saint.
“For Native Americans, she has always been a saint, right from the beginning,” said Pat Gambacurta Sunday morning. “For them, this is just a formality; for us (Roman Catholics), she’s finally elevated ... We’re just thrilled that the whole world now recognizes her as a saint.”
Plus, Gambacurta added, “We are a (relatively) new parish and the largest in the diocese ... so now we’re a new parish with a new saint! How wonderful!”
Celebrations are planned next month in Irondequoit.
Blessed Kateri, whose father was chief of the Turtle clan of the Mohawk Indian tribe, was born in the mid-1600s and died at the tender age of 24. She was beatified, precursor to being made a saint, by Pope John Paul II in 1980.
Thirty-two years later, she became an official saint this past Sunday, Oct. 21.
Irondequoit was watching, both in Rome and in town, since it has a combined Blessed — now “Saint” — Kateri Tekakwitha Roman Catholic parish.
The parish combined the congregations of St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Salome, St. Margaret Mary, St. Cecilia, and Christ the King churches under one umbrella. The parish has three worship sites — at the latter three churches.
It was at St. Cecilia, 2732 Culver Road, that teens and others gathered in the wee hours of Sunday morning to watch, on a big screen, Kateri’s canonization at the Vatican in Rome.
A total of 24 Irondequoit residents, including four priests, also traveled to Rome for the momentous occasion.
Kateri Tekakwisha is the first Native American Catholic saint.
“For Native Americans, she has always been a saint, right from the beginning,” said Pat Gambacurta Sunday morning. “For them, this is just a formality; for us (Roman Catholics), she’s finally elevated ... We’re just thrilled that the whole world now recognizes her as a saint.”
Plus, Gambacurta added, “We are a (relatively) new parish and the largest in the diocese ... so now we’re a new parish with a new saint! How wonderful!”
Celebrations are planned next month in Irondequoit.
