events

2002 Native American Mass

Judy Arnouts created and presented the beautiful woodburned statue of Blessed Kateri to the Diocese of Wilmington Native American Community.
Also shown is a shawl created in beadwork by Judy Arnouts.
Judy and Gail Rando met while at the 2002 Tekakwitha Conference in Michigan. Gail invited Judy to participate in the Wilmington, DE Mass in November. For more information on the annual Native American Mass and the Tekakwitha National Conference, check out the Calendar of Events and Outreach links on this site.

Young MNAC member, Kate (Choctaw) and Judy Arnouts after Mass in front of the altar in St. Joseph's Church in Wilmington, DE.

Sunday, November 24, 2002 was a meaningful day for Catholic Native Americans of Wilmington and surrounding areas. Organized by Gail Rando, coordinator of the Diocese of Wilmington Ministry to Native American Catholics (below), St. Joseph's Church in mid-Wilmington was filled to capacity for Mass at which a large Diocesan Choir sang while the assembly participated in all the singing. Many were dressed in regalia native to each tribe and Native American customs were interwoven in the worship.
At the end of Mass, a beautiful statue of Blessed Kateri was blessed and dedicated with all the priests participating in the blessings and prayers. Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions Newsletter, Jan/Feb 2003