U.S. Catholics urged to observe day of prayer for Blessed Kateri

Published: 2005-05-18

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions in Washington has declared July 14 as a day of prayer for the canonization of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, also known as "the Lily of the Mohawks." Blessed Kateri, beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1980, was the first indigenous North American to be beatified. Her feast day is July 14. In announcing the day of prayer, Msgr. Paul Lenz, executive director of the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, said he was concerned that the Native American woman is not as well-known among Catholics in the United States as she should be. That concern prompted the bureau's board to decide last November to ask all U.S. bishops and U.S. parishes to spread the story of Blessed Kateri's life and observe a day of prayer in 2005.

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