Sainte-Kateri Tekakwitha sanctuary
1 River Road, Kahnawake, QC J0L 1B0
Summer schedule—June to September
Monday to Friday | 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Regular schedule—September to June
Monday to Thursday | 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This shrine on the Mohawk territory of Kahnawake, in the Saint-François-Xavier mission (1720), is dedicated to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, the first North American Aboriginal woman to be canonized, on October 12, 2012. This is where her grave is located and where her feast day is celebrated on April 17.
A place to visit
The Saint Francis Xavier Mission, a historic mission first established in 1667 when the Kanienkeha’ka (Mohawk) community located to the northern part of the Territory at Kentake, now known as Laprairie, Quebec.
The Mission exhibits many gifts from France and historic treasures of Native, Canadian & European artifacts dating from the 17th to 20th centuries.
St. Kateri’s Tomb is located in the church on the right side near to the altar.
We invite you to visit the Mission and walk outside to view the old Mission bell on the front lawn, the old Fort St. Louis (1725) and the beautiful view of Montreal, as well as a view of the Mission complex.
History of the place
Kateri Tekakwitha, the “Lily of the Mohawks
Kateri Tekakwitha was born in 1656 on the banks of the Mohawk River in New York State, the first Aboriginal woman to be elevated to the rank of saint. At the age of four, an epidemic of smallpox swept away her entire family, leaving her with weakened eyesight and a cracked face. Kateri was raised by her aunt and uncle, who was a Mohawk chief.
After the epidemic, her community moved across the river to Caughnawaga, where she met Jesuit missionaries. She suffered much persecution at the hands of her family and tribesmen who opposed the Christianization of the Amerindians. In 1676, she was baptized as “Catherine” or “Kateri” in Mohawk. The following year, fearing for her safety, she fled to the Saint-Francois-Xavier Mission in La Prairie with the help of Jesuit missionaries who sent her there with a note describing her great devotion to God and identifying her as “La Précieuse Kateri Tekakwitha”. The mission church became almost her home. A devout soul, she prayed and fasted for her people to accept the Good News. She died three years later, in 1680, at the age of twenty-four. In less than a quarter of an hour, her face became radiantly beautiful. From then on, thanks to her intercession, Amerindians and colonists throughout New France obtained favors from Heaven, and even miracles.
Attractions to discover
- Kateri's church and tomb.
- The museum exhibits ancient sacred vessels, prayer books, manuscripts and native ethnic objects.
- The presbytery dating from 1720.
- Paintings including those donated by Charles X of France.
- Wooden statues, including one of the Infant Jesus dating from the late 17th century.