FONDA, NY - The Vatican has announced the fall date for the canonization of a woman to be the first Native American saint.
The National Shrine of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha in Fonda is expecting big things leading up to the October 21st canonization. Blessed Kateri, a Mohawk-Algonquin, was baptized on Fonda grounds more than 350 years ago.
The pope attributes a miracle to Blessed Kateri after people prayed for her intercession to help heal a Seattle boy who was dying of a flesh eating bacteria and survived.
The Fonda shrine is planning a special mass inside the rustic chapel in October. Friar Steed says they expect a simple elegant ceremony welcoming the shrine's namesake into sainthood.
Blessed Kateri will not be the only local saint of interest, the Catholic Church will also canonize Mother Marianne Cope this October. Mother Marianne began religious life in Utica but moved to Hawaii to care for leprosy patients.
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