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Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site
Saint Kateri is the patroness saint of Native Americans, First Nations peoples, ecology, and the care of creation.Our Fonda road trip planning tool makes visiting Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site and other Fonda attractions simple, and helps you make a travel plan personal to you.
The Kanienkehaka pronounce Kateri's name as Gah-deh-LEE (Kateri) Deh-gah-GWEE-tah (Tekakwitha).
Kateri was born in 1656 of an Algonquin mother and a Kanienkehaka ("Mohawk") chief in the village of Ossernenon, near present day Auriesville, NY. She was the only member of her family to survive a smallpox epidemic at age 4. It left her face scarred and her vision impaired. She was then adopted by her Kanienkehaka uncle and aunts. Her village was destroyed after the epidemic.
Later they crossed the Mohawk River and settled at Caughnawaga, at or near the present site of the only archaeologically excavated and preserved 17th-century Kanienkehaka village in existence. Here she lived with her family and was instructed by missionaries in the Catholic faith. Kateri was baptized in in a small chapel on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1676.
Kateri was treated poorly because of her conversion to Christianity and her deepening love of Jesus. Kateri grew deeper in her faith and wished to live a more Christian focused life. She left Caughnawaga and headed north to the Catholic settlement of Kahnawake, the present day Mohawk Nation in Quebec, Canada, on the St. Lawrence River. There Kateri lived the rest of her short life, and enjoyed peace and quiet in service to others and a deeper experience of Jesus and his Gospel to which she dedicated her life.
Kateri died at the age of 24. This is the saint we celebrate in this Shrine dedicated to her and her holy life. Her feast day is celebrated on July 14th (US).
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Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site reviews
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I am not the slightest bit religious, but I enjoyed my visit. Grounds are beautiful, peaceful, and carefully maintained. Trails are nice. The small museum is interesting, although I'm not sure about.... more
I am not the slightest bit religious, but I enjoyed my visit. Grounds are beautiful, peaceful, and carefully maintained. Trails are nice. The small museum is interesting, although I'm not sure about.... more »
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The entire site was a treat for the senses. The main sanctuary is awesome in that it is very rustic and features the woodlands and traditional symbols along with main stream religious. I found the..... more
The entire site was a treat for the senses. The main sanctuary is awesome in that it is very rustic and features the woodlands and traditional symbols along with main stream religious. I found the..... more »
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We try and visit Catholic shrines when we travel. Just minutes off I90 St Kateri was easy to find. We walked the property, enjoyed the gift shop, and even attended the 430pm Saturday mass. The mass was held outdoors under a shelter. So comforting and inspiring! Highly recommend!
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I love stopping here when I’m in the area. Saint Kateri’s story is an interesting one, but the story of the Mohawk people plays a big role in her story, so this shrine offers a look into a lot of history of the region, not just of Kateri Tekekwitha. Every time I’ve been here I’ve found a great sense of peace. The wooded walk to the baptism site is tranquil, and a great opportunity for a fresh air walk and reflection. Really glad the folks here have worked so hard to make it the destination it is today.
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