The Saint Kateri Center is the voice, presence, and identity for spirituality and prayer of the American Indian community within the Archdiocese of Chicago. In the spirit of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, the Saint Kateri Center embodies and preserves the spiritual practices and traditional cultures of the Native people within the Catholic Church.

 

Our Mission

The Saint Kateri Center contributes to the mission of the Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Church Universal in the work of the Gospel, inspired by the Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. It serves in this mission through worship, evangelization, catechesis, community building, justice, service, healing and reconciliation with Native leadership through worship, education, and service to others and respect for Mother Earth. The Saint Kateri Center is involved in the process of building relationships among the family of God through love and respect.

“The St. Kateri Center provides a social community and spiritual community. There can be no healing or wholeness without community. ”
— Starr-Bresette, Ojibwe

What We've Achieved

  • Awarded 12 scholarships to Native Catholic children who attend Catholic schools within the past 2 years

  • Sent youth members to both the UNITY youth conference and the Tekakwitha conference in 2019

  • Our annual St. Kateri Pow Wow held every summer, the theme for 2019 was “Building Community Through Our Youth”

  • Provided weekend Cherokee language classes, 4 week Lakota workshops, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools - American Indian Education Program

  • Brought guest speakers to the Center for the youth and community

    • Levi Horn, Northern Cheyenne former Chicago Bears Player who is a motivational speaker for youth.

    • Brian Frejo, Pawnee/Seminole is a National Motivational speaker, leadership development, team building trainer and suicide, substance opioid use, bullying prevention specialist and community engagement advocate.

  • Provided over 48 Native American Students with back to school supplies for the 2019-2020 school year, in partnership with CPS - American Indian Education Program.

  • In December 2019 the Archdiocese of Chicago has officially assigned Deacon Bill Frere as our first Deacon of St. Kateri Center.