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Kateri Tekakwitha Project |
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Kateri Tekakwith was a Mohawk woman who lived in the 1600s in NY and Canada. She is awaiting canonization by the Catholic church to become the first Native American Saint. Giovanna Paponetti is a Taos artist who has been commissioned by the St. John the Baptist Church to complete 21 paintings on Kateri's life story. Giovanna was selected for this project because of her classical painting style. The paintings are installed in a beautiful wooden altar carved by Daniel Tafoya of Penasco. A mass was held at St. John the Baptist church at Ohkay Owingeh pueblo ( formerly San Juan pueblo), at 10:00 a.m. on June 24th, 2009. Archbishop Michael Sheehan blessed the alter with 15 of the 21 paintings installed – a work in progress. Representatives from the Kahnawake Reservation in Canada attended this event. Attendees from Canada included Deacon Ronald Boyer, who was appointed by the Pope as a Vice-Postulator for the cause of Kateri's canonization. He is the first Native American and the first Deacon to hold this position. In order for Kateri to be canonized as a Saint a miracle must occur. People may report any suspected miracles to Deacon Boyer for possible investigation by the Pope. Other guests from Canada included Cathy Rice, Connie and Elizabeth Meloche (models in Giovanna's paintings), and Arnold Boyer. In August of 2005 Father Terrance Brennan, six women from Ohkay Owingeh, Santa Clara, and Jemez pueblos, and Taos Artist Giovanna Paponetti visited the Kahnawake reservation in Canada to meet with representatives to obtain permission to photograph some of their tribal members for Giovanna's paintings. Kateri is buried at the St. Francis Xavier Church on the Kahnawake reservation. There are 8,000 tribal members at Kahnawake. Following their visit to the Kahnawake reservation, the group made a pilgrimage to Auriesville, NY to visit the site where Kateri was born. Giovanna returned to Canada a second time to further her research. The installation of all 21 paintings will be complete by Christmas of 2009. Look for Giovanna's book "Kateri Native American Saint/The Life and Miracles of Kateri Tekawitha" published by Clearlight Publishing of Santa Fe in 2010. www.clearlightbooks.com |
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Giovanna
Paponetti |
Artist's Biography |