St. Kateri Mission
St Kateri Tekakwitha Mission Church is deeply grateful to the Black and Indian Missions for the boost in funding this quarter. Without it, we would have been hard pressed to pay all the bills. We also received a generous donation from the Hoopa tribe for the use of Kateri Hall. We hope that it will be a continuing relationship with the social services of the tribe. The small congregation has had an unusually quiet quarter. Some of our key members have been dealing with illness; so the rummage sale that we expected to have held by now is scheduled for Saturday, September 14th. We have a great quantity of good donations ready for sorting.
We continue to gather after church for parking lot gatherings and to share the bounty of our gardens. St Kateri Day, always a special celebration, fell on a Sunday this year. We were doubly blessed that day with a Mass at the Church in the morning, and an evening prayer service on Bald Hill, overlooking the reservation. Father Michael Cloney gave an address describing the life of St Kateri and reflecting on the ways she exemplified a Christ-centered life.
We also remembered the late Fr. Ralph Monteiro who was instrumental in renaming the church for Blessed Kateri and who led us in so many prayers for her canonization. Congregation members told stories of those days and rekindled a dedication to our patron saint. It was a perfect evening, not too hot, with a gentle breeze and no mosquitoes. We shared a delicious potluck after prayer, enjoyed the beauty of fresh smoke-free air, and let the grandeur of the mountains inspire us.
We appreciate all the good priests who tend to the mission: Fathers Francis, Pacheco, Cloney, and Brady, as well as Deacon Ken Bond and Rose Bond. Also, sincere thanks to Lou Bull who continues to help with the preparation of the bulletins and the documentation for the Finance Committee meetings.
