Black and Indian Mission Collection

Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament

The Catholic Negro-American Mission Board supports the ministries of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, which were founded by St. Katharine Drexel. The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament minister to Native Americans and African Americans in both cities and on reservations. They are also involved in a variety of other services including pastoral and spiritual ministries, social services, counseling, religious education and health care.

Tekakwitha Conference Support

The Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions supports the ministry of the Tekakwitha Conference as the group reaches out to Native Americans. Promoting the canonization of Blessed Kateri, and making her saintly life better known, is also part of the work of the office.

Gila River Reservation

Father Dale Jamison, O.F.M., ministers at the Gila River Reservation in Arizona. Grants from the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions to the Diocese of Phoenix help Father Dale and other mission directors in their work across the country. Father Wayne Paysse, executive director of the Black and Indian Mission Office, and Native American parents thank our benefactors for giving these children a future by supporting the evangelization efforts of the Black and Indian Mission Collection.

Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, will canonize the first Native American saint, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, on October 21, 2012 in Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City.

“We’ve been waiting for this for so long. Now that it’s here, it’s unbelievable. We’re overjoyed! …With the elevation of one of our own to the altars, the universal Church will know that we have a person from our community who has climbed to the heights of holiness and attained a deep relationship with God.”

-Sister Kateri Mitchell, S.S.A., Executive Director, National Tekakwitha Conference (link to article)

Click here for more information on the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions’ Official Canonization Pilgrimage to Rome.

Sister Frances Vista, D.C., of the Catholic Native Ministry of the Archdiocese of Anchorage, notified us here at the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions of an ongoing special Novena of Masses being held all across the vast Archdiocese of Anchorage in preparation for the canonization of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha on October 21.

The novena started with a Mass on August 19 at Saint Patrick Church in Anchorage, and the response has been very favorable. “So far parishioners of different parishes where the Mass were held were grateful for having Kateri’s life story and her virtues incorporated in the Mass by the priest,” Sister Frances said in a recent e-mail.

Members of the Kateri Circles–groups of Native American Catholics gathering for communal support and to pray for Kateri’s canonization–speak about their patroness distribute gifts. “It is simple but very well received. Doing these novenas has encouraged and built up the confidence of the Kateri (Circle) members because they are being welcomed and acknowledged for making the Saint to be, Kateri Tekakwitha, known,” Sister Frances explained.

Below is a schedule of the remaining Masses in this special novena.

5:30 PM               Sept. 29^th – Our Lady of Guadalupe    Tel. # 907-248-2000
3900 Wisconsin St.  Anchorage, AK 99517

9:00 AM                 Oct. 7th – Holy Cross   Tel. # 349-8388
2627 Lore Road    Anchorage, AK 99507

11:00 AM               Oct. 14^th – St. Andrew Kim   Tel. # 333-5307
7206  Lake Otis Parkway  Anchorage, AK 99507

Special Masses

12:10                    Oct. 17^th – Holy Family Cathedral   (AFN Mass)  Tel. # 276-3455
811 West 6^th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501

5:30 PM               *Oct. 20^th – St Anthony Parish  (Vigil ) Tel. # 333-5544
825 So. Klevin Street   Anchorage, AK 99508

11:00 AM               *Oct. 21^st – AK Native Hospital – Canonization Day
(Memorial Mass July 14 – Common of One Virgin, Roman Missal pg..1092)

A Novena is nine days of prayer for specific cause.