USCCB - Cultural Diversity in the Church

Welcome

“The Catholic community is blessed, enriched and profoundly challenged by the faith of Native Americans in our midst. We ask the Catholic community to join us in seeking new understanding and awareness of their situation and in committing our church to new advocacy and action with our Native American brothers and sisters on issues of social justice and pastoral life which touch their lives.”

— excerpt from the 2003 "Native American Catholics at the Millennium"

A Message from Archbishop Chaput

Thank you for visiting the web page for the Subcommittee on Native American Affairs. Our country’s Native peoples are the true “first Americans.” I’m very grateful for my own Native American ancestry (Prairie Band Potawatomi). Yet the history of America’s Native peoples has often been difficult, and the challenges facing them -- even today -- remain complex.
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A Pilgrimage of Healing in the Footsteps of Blessed Kateri and the Saints: July 3- July 9, 2011

A Roman Pilgrimage of Peace with Blessed Kateri Tekakwith: October 19- October 26, 2011

Sponsored by the Black and Indian Mission Office

Native Americans reflect a strong presence at the Catholic Cultural Diversity Network Convocation hosted by the University of Notre Dame

Photos credit - Matt Cashore, University of Notre Dame

ALL THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW
by: Gail Rando, Cherokee Nation
Caring for Mother Earth Kateri Circle
Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL

Affirming Our Faith as Native American/Aboriginal Catholics Under the Protection of Kateri Tekakwitha

Tekakwitha was born in 1656 of a Christian Catholic Algonquin mother and a traditional Mohawk Chief in a village called Ossernenon along the Mohawk River. (Photo Credit: Bob Roller, CNS)

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Kateri is symbol of enduring tie between Catholicism, native peoples

Blessed Kateri's example is one of "perseverance," she said, "and love of our creator, love of one another, love (of) our mother earth and all of creation." read more

In Her Foot Steps: by Sister Kateri Mitchell, SSA

Click the Button to Listen to the Song

Mohawk Algonquin Lily Filled with love
Grateful woman we honor you.

Sister Turtle Clan strong, kind and true
Faithful woman we honor you.

Tekakwitha hope filled dignity
Joyful woman we honor you.

Woodland Cross of Life fasting and prayer
Mystical woman we honor you.

Precious Flower virgin, fair and free
Holy woman we honor you.

Friend with Compassion helper and healer
Lover of peoples we honor you.

Gift of Nations gentle and forgiving
Loyal witness we thank you.

Our Sunshine vision, bright and keen
Open, generous we thank you.

Creator centered creation filled
Air, Sky, water we thank you.

Celebrate our gathering clans, tribes, nations Justice, harmony we thank you.

Family united Body, blood, life
Serving, sharing we thank you.

In your sacred journey Blessed Kateri
We honor you we thank you.

The Subcommittee Mandate

The subcommittee on Native American Affairs is under the direction of and assists the Committee on Cultural Diversity within the Church by working directly with the standing committee and collaboratively with other USCCB committees to address the pastoral concerns of Native American (North American Aboriginals) Catholics to affirm the gifts and contributions of Native American Catholics and to provide more opportunities for Native American Catholics to engage in the life of the Church and help shape its evangelization mission.

This mandate includes the following areas of responsibility:

The subcommittee is directly responsible for outreach to Native American Catholics under the direction of the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church.