By JESSICA NICOSIA

For the C-S-E

Kateri Tekakwitha will be canonized as a Roman Catholic saint Sunday by Pope Benedict XVI. While the pope holds mass at the Vatican, the two Montgomery County shrines that honor Kateri will be celebrating with their own events.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville will have a Mass of Thanksgiving at 2 p.m., before which the grounds, visitor’s center, and gift shop will be open.

Documentaries about Kateri’s life will be shown in the Saints of Auriesville Museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a Kateri art exhibit by artist Bob Renaud of Carthage will be on display in the Shrine History Museum that morning.

Books, sacramentals, rosaries, holy cards, and other mementos of Kateri will be available in the gift shop and a snack bar will be open for refreshments.

Beth Lynch, events coordinator at the Shrine in Auriesville, could not release the number of people they expect to come to the canonization events next Sunday, which is also the last day of their summer season.

The National Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine in Fonda will also hold a celebratory Mass that morning. An opening prayer and dedication will take place at 10 a.m. on the front lawn of the chapel, followed by a procession with the relic of Kateri via the stations of the cross and a mass at 10:30 a.m. The Mass will be followed by a simple reception.

The Shrine in Fonda expects up to 500 people to celebrate the canonization, according to friar James Amrhein.

Lynch said that local clergy, visitors to the shrine, and area residents are excited that Kateri will be canonized ó a cause many have pushed for years.

“She’s one of our own, and she crossed boundaries,” said Lynch. “You know, everybody somehow relates to her at some level or another.

“That’s part of the Gospel, you know, that the least will become the greatest. And that’s what happened.”

Kateri, who was beatified in June 1980 by Pope John Paul II, is the first Native North American to be canonized by the Catholic Church. Two other Americans will be canonized alongside her on Sunday: Marianne Cope of Syracuse and Pedro Calungsod of Guam.

“We have certainly been very devoted to blessed Kateri for a good number of years, and we’re really excited about her being canonized finally,” said Theresa Schweigert, who volunteers at the shrine in Auriesville. “[In] New York state we’re so proud to think that two people have been recognized by the Catholic Church for this incredible honor. Both interesting personalities but certainly very dedicated to their faith and ... expressing their love of God through love of neighbor.”

Theresa’s husband Michael, who volunteers as a photographer for the shrine in Auriesville, will be traveling to Italy for the canonization.