Canadian Conf. of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) Secretariat for the Canonization of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha
Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha will be canonized in Rome, October 21, 2012, followed by several major celebrations planned inRome, Canada and the United States. Because it is such a significant event for Indigenous Peoples and all the Catholic Church, especially in North America, the Executive Committee of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has established a Secretariat to assist in the flow of information on the Canonization and the surrounding celebrations. Working in close collaboration with the Most Reverend Lionel Gendron, P.S.S., Bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil and CCCB Co-Treasurer, this special Secretariat will function under the direction of CCCB General Secretary Msgr. Patrick Powers, P.H. Bishop Gendron is one of the key persons in the celebrations marking the Canonization as he is the Bishop of the Canadian diocese where Blessed Kateri lived and died. She was born in the United States, in the Diocese of Albany, New York.
CCCB Advisor and Research Assistant Mrs. Tracy Blain will take on the responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the temporary Secretariat. Mrs. Blain is also the secretary of the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council. Father Thomas Rosica, C.S.B., CEO of Salt and Light Television, will be the CCCB media coordinator for the Canonization and the other celebrations in Rome.
The major events in Rome will include a Prayer Vigil the evening before the Canonization, the Canonization itself, a Mass of Thanksgiving the following day for Canadians who will be in Rome for the Canonization, and the screening by Salt and Light Television of a new film on the Saint's life. The Holy Father will hold his regular General Audience on the Wednesday morning following the Canonization, where he is expected to give special greetings to those at the celebrations in Rome.
The special CCCB Secretariat will gather information on these and other activities, and make it available to the Canadian pilgrims in Rome. In addition, it will provide information to all Canadians on the schedules and locations of the celebrations in Rome as well as in North America. A special webpage will later be accessible on the CCCB website for all the events surrounding the Canonization, in Rome and also in Canada.