"Everything about this day makes me happy"

Today is shaping up to be one of those humbling, fire-igniting days where I cannot believe what I am a part of.

Today, the first Native American woman was canonized. Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha became Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. This has been a 128 year process in the making.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, we had a special mass (both parishes combined to one celebration) with Lakota drumming, people dressed in native garb, and a beautiful homily delivered in Lakota and English. Following this, we went to our community center to watch the recorded mass from Rome (especially exciting for our parishes because 7 of our parishioners were at the mass!), and we had a HUGE turnout. There was food, laughter, our students' colored posters all over the wall, and an energy about the room.

One moment, though, will cling to my heart forever. A woman, around 90 years old, came up to me as I was mixing more kool-aid/lemonade mix (a disastrously delicious combination, by the way). I asked her how she was doing as she poured her apple juice, and she replied, "Everything about this day makes me happy," smiling like a little girl. It hit me in that moment how big of a deal this truly is for many individuals. People have been praying for Kateri's canonization for decades. Catholic natives here have always seen her as a spiritual role model and guide, and she is finally being recognized by the Church as a figure worthy of its highest honor.

For me, this day has been a weight on my shoulders because of all the preparation going into it. For weeks, we have been reminding people about the celebration, celebrating a novena every night at one of our parishes, gathering supplies, recording radio spots, teaching our students about her, getting students to work on a poster for her, creating worship aides for the mass, setting up the feed from Rome's mass, etc. You get the idea. I was excited, but also looking forward to this being behind me. This woman's smile, though, reminded me why all the hard work was worth it. For me, as an outsider, and someone who knew very little about Kateri earlier on, I saw this as a really special moment for others that I got to be a part of. That woman's smile reminded me that, for many, this is the culmination of decades of prayer and yearning. In a way, I feel like she pulled me into the community of excitement.

There is a prayer we used for Kateri during this past novena. I invite you to call upon her life and example for intercession. She truly is one of a kind.

Kateri, favored child, Flower of the Algonquins and Lily of the Mohawks, We come to seek your intercession in our present need: (mention petitions here here).

We admire the virtures which adorned your soul: love of God and neighbor, humility, obedience, patience, purity and the spirit of sacrifice. Help us to imitate your example in our life. Through the goodness and mercy of God, Who has blessed you with so many graces which led you to the true faith and to a high degree of holiness, pray to God for us and help us.

Obtain for us a very fervent devotion to the Holy Eucharist so that we may love Holy Mass as you did and receive Holy Communion as often as we can. Teach us also to be devoted to our crucified Savior as you were, that we may cheerfully bear our daily crosses for love of Him Who suffered so much for love of us. Most of all we beg you to pray that we may avoid sin, lead a holy life and save our souls.
Amen.