Invitation to a Novena to St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Patron of the Environment

The Climate Justice Committee of St. Joseph Parish in Seattle welcomes you to a Novena to St. Kateri Tekakwitha!  St. Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1690) was the first person of the North American First Nations to be named a saint by the Catholic Church. She was canonized on October 21, 2012. St. Kateri Tekakwitha, along with St. Francis of Assisi, is a patron of the environment.  We begin praying the nine-day novena to St. Kateri on July 6, with daily prayers continuing through her feast day on July 14.

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha is also known as Lily of the Mohawks, Servant of Jesus Christ, and devoted Daughter of the Church. In this novena, we honor her with those appellations while contemplating her life story. We ask for ways to strengthen our faith through the holy virtues and the gifts of the Holy Spirit that she turned to for strength and solace in her life. We also address Saint Kateri as Patron of the Environment, asking for her intercession in our efforts to grow as stewards of the environment. In addition, we ask for help for our personal special intentions.

In his 2015 encyclical letter Laudato Si' (Praised be to Thee, my Lord), Pope Francis declared: