Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680) was the daughter of a Mohawk War Chief and an Algonquin Catholic mother. By the time she was four years old, Kateri lost both of her parents in a small pox epidemic - a disease that also left her with poor health and poor eyesight.

The young child was taken in by her uncle and his wife and it was her uncle who gave her the name "Tekakwitha" which in Mohawk means "she goes putting things in order."

At the age of 20, Kateri went against the wishes of her family and sought Baptism from the Jesuit priests who visited her village. She took as her patroness St. Catherine of Sienna.

Coming into the Catholic faith, Kateri found her true mission in life. By a vow of virginity, she consecrated herself to her Spouse - Jesus Christ - and she literally ran in the pathway of sanctity. Always a stron, intelligent person, now with divine grace building on nature, Kateri became a woman of intense prayer, penance, and numerous works of charity. It was said of Kateri that whenever she was seen going about, it was to visit the sick, the elderly, and the poor in their homes or to teach catechism to the children.

During her lifetime, Kateri said that she wanted to spend her eternight helping her people on earth - "putting things in order."

Saint Kateri's feast day is July 14 and she is the patron saint of ecology and the environment, people in exile, and Native Americans.

Saint Kateri, you are our saint! Please pray for us and help us as you promised!

We are a Catholic community of communities, a family of God. We are a Native American parish, open to all brothers and sisters in the Faith. We seek to spread God's providential presence in creation and among us. We strive to grow together in the Holy Spirit, alive in the traditions, witnesses, and ways of our ancestors. We commit ourselves to share in the love and mission of Christ so that all, unto the least of us, become apostles of Jesus our Lord.

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parish Center was dedicated on March 2, 2003 by Bishop Manuel D. Moreno.

This community is served by the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, whose vision is "that every Catholic, whether priest, religious, or lay person, embrace the call to apostleship – working together to serve the needs of the poor and marginalized, witness to the Faith in our daily lives, and preserve the Faith among those most in danger of losing their Catholic Faith."

To learn more about our parish and its history, click here.

Our parish community includes the Native American Missions in South Tucson area, serving the Pascua Yaqui and Tohono O'odham people.
Learn more about the missions