“Who will teach me what is most pleasing to God, that I may do it” - Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Mohawk - Algonquin

Orgin Story

The Saint Kateri Center first opened as the Anawim Center in 1982, in Chicago’s Uptown community, which was then the center of American Indian life. Two Dominican nuns, one named Sister Miriam Young, were asked by Catholic Chicago American Indian elders, such as Peggy Des Jarlait - Arikara, Irene Big Eagle - Odawa, and Inez Marie Runningbear Dennison - Lakota, to open a center where Indians could practice Catholic traditions, pray, and learn about Native American religion and culture.

It operated independently until 1987 when the Archdiocese of Chicago began to sponsor the center. It was headed by Sister Toni Harris from 1995-1997. Sister Patricia Mulkey took over the leadership from 1997-2010 until her retirement. Anawim moved to 4750 North Sheridan Road in 1997 and then to Saint Benedicts Parish at 3938 North Leavitt in 2010. Under the leadership of Georgina Roy - Ojibwe, the Anawim name was changed to Saint Kateri soon after moving to Saint Benedicts.

Many volunteers and donations have supported both Anawim and the Saint Kateri over the years. Without those gifts, the Saint Kateri Center would not exist.

The Saint Kateri Center is named after Saint Kateri Tekawitha, who was canonized on October 21, 2012. Blessed Kateri is known as “the Lily of the Mohawks,” and was born to a Christian Algonquin mother and a Mohawk father in 1656 along the Hudson River in what is today upstate New York. She was baptized by a Jesuit missionary in 1676 when she was 20 years old.

Saint Kateri Center Today

Chicago has always been Indian Country for thousands of years before Europeans and Christianity arrived. While most American Indian people did not survive after hundreds of years of war, disease, and genocide, those who remain and prosper today carry on the pride and greatness of their ancestors. Today there are over 550 federally recognized American Indian tribes in America and many carry on their own cultures, languages, and religions including Christianity.

The Saint Kateri Center is located in the second largest census concentration of American Indians in the city of Chicago. It serves Catholics and others from many different tribes, with large populations being Ojibwe, Dakota, Oneida, Menominee, Navajo, Choctaw, Pueblo, and Cherokee.

The current director is Jody Roy. The Saint Kateri Leadership Circle serves as an advisory committee for the Saint Kateri Center and demonstrates a strong foundation for its future endeavors. Parish leadership is provided by Father Stephen Kanonik.