Our friars work in diverse ministries and one of the most unique, is that of the National St. Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine, in Fonda NY.
Conventual Franciscan Friar, Fr. Thomas Grassmann, OFM Conv. founded the Fonda Memorial and Museum in 1938 and unearthed the post molds of a stockade line of the Indian Settlement in 1950, but passed away in 1970 before the 1980 official declaration of the site as a shrine, after Pope Saint John Paul II declared Kateri as Blessed, on June 22nd. (St. Kateri Tekakwitha was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 21, 2012.) However, he was on hand to see his beloved ministry developed greatly and now, after almost 8 decades, it continues to grow under the care of our Conventual Franciscan Friars of Our Lady of the Angels Province, while also serving the pastoral needs of the area Catholics of the Mohawk Nation.
The Shrine will celebrate the opening of the 2016 Season on May 1, 2016.
Friar Mark Steed, OFM Conv., the staff and the volunteers of the Shrine, hope you are able to find an opportunity to visit this beautiful and historical location that includes the fully excavated Caughnawaga Castle Site. Over 300 years ago, the site was inhabited by the Turtle Clan of the Mohawk (1666-1693). Although she died in 1680 in the Canadian Jesuit mission village of Kahnawake, it was at this site that Saint Kateri was baptized and lived most of her life.
National Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine
“A Place of Peace and Healing”
PO Box 627, State Highway 5, Fonda NY 12068-0627
518-853-3646 office@katerishrine.com
Shrine Hours: 9am-6pm Every Day, May 1-October 31
Candle Chapel: Always Open
Gift Shop: 10am-4pm Every Day
Office: 9:30am – 12:30pm Mon-Fri
Spring 2016 Calendar of Events
Season Opening – “A New Encounter with Jesus”
April 30, 2016 – 4:30 p.m. – Opening Vigil Mass
May 1, 2015 – 10:30 a.m. – Official Opening Day Mass
May 7, 2016 – 4:30 p.m. – Mother’s Day Vigil Mass (Special Blessing for Mothers)
May 8, 2016 – 10:30 a.m. – Mother Day Mass (Special Blessing for Mothers)
Native American Weekends – Prayer and Healing Circle & Food Bank Collection
May 14, 2016 – 4:30 p.m. – Pentecost Sunday Vigil Mass
(Baptismal Promise Renewal & Kateri Spring Water Blessing)
May 15, 2016 – 10:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Pentecost Sunday Mass
(Baptismal Promise Renewal & Kateri Spring Water Blessing)
May 21, 2016 – 4:30 p.m. – Vigil Mass
(Mohawk Akwesasne and Kahnawake Traditional Purification Rite)
May 21, 2016 – 7:00 p.m. – Prayer & Healing Circle with Algonquin elder, Theresa Steele
May 22, 2016 – 10:30 a.m. – Mass
(Mohawk Akwesasne and Kahnawake Traditional Purification Rite)
May 22, 2016 – Following Mass – Solemn Offering & Burning of Winter Season Prayer Petitions
May 28, 2016 – 4:30 p.m. – The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Vigil Mass
May 29, 2016 – 10:30 a.m. – The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Mass
June 4, 2016 – 4:30 p.m. – Vigil Mass, 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 5, 2016 – 10:30 a.m. – Mass, 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Pilgrimage of the Relic of St. Maximilian Kolbe Weekend
June 10, 2016 – Opening of the Pilgrimage
June 11, 2016 – 4:30 p.m. – Vigil Mass
(Solemn Blessing with St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. Relic)
June 12, 2016 – 10:30 a.m. – Mass
(Solemn Blessing with St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, OFM Conv. Relic)
June 18, 2016 – 4:30 p.m. – Father’s Day Vigil Mass (Special Blessing for Fathers)
June 19, 2016 – 10:30 a.m. – Father’s Day Mass (Special Blessing for Fathers)
