"Anne Henry drove 200 miles from Aberdeen to Sioux Falls to be part of a service Sunday honoring the first Native American saint ever canonized.

More than 300 years after her death, St. Kateri Tekakwitha was canonized Oct. 21 in Rome by Pope Benedict XVI. A local ceremony honoring the saint and a blessing of a bronze statue of Tekakwitha was held Sunday at the Cathedral of St. Joseph.

“It’s very important for the state of South Dakota,” said Henry, 49, an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux. “It’s a big day.”

Helping the local diocese celebrate by participating in Sunday’s liturgy were two South Dakota Native American Catholic deacons who had attended the canonization ceremony in Italy.

Deacons Alfred Jetty of Chamberlain and Steve McLaughlin of Fort Thompson participated in a Sunday’s special mass, a combined celebration of Thanksgiving and ceremony to honor St. Kateri Tekakwitha."

Get the Story:
Jay Kirschenmann: Native saint canonized (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 11/19)

Related Stories:
Indian delegation takes part in celebration for Kateri sainthood (10/18)