Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, 1656–1680
Feast Day: April 17

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha’s father was a Mohawk warrior. Her mother was an Algonquian woman who was Christian. Kateri is the first Native American to be considered for sainthood. She learned about Jesus from Jesuit missionaries. Because she lived so close to nature and found God in the natural world, she is the patron of ecology, nature, and the environment. Kateri often spent time praying in the woods. She would talk to God. She would hear him in her heart and through the wonders of creation. One of her titles is the “Lily of the Mohawks.”

Discuss: What in nature reminds you of God?

Activity
Leaf Rubbing
Multiple Intelligence: Naturalist

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha found God in nature. Use the following activity to help children appreciate the intricacy and variety found in nature.

• Provide an assortment of leaves, plain paper, and crayons without paper wrapping.
• Invite the children to choose a leaf and place it under a piece of paper. Then have them use the long side of a crayon to rub the paper over the leaf and transfer the design onto the paper.
• When everyone has finished, hang the leaf rubbings around the room for all to see.
• Talk with the children about how all creation tells us about God.