Spend a Thursday with the Kateri Circle

(Left to right, top to bottom) Sr. Jean Rhoads, D.C., Archie Lokanin, Steve Molberg, Margaret St. John, Rachel Ireton, Marilyn Lokanin, Gemma Gaudio, Sue Toliver, Janel Ireton, Aimee Aloysius, Renee Nicholson, Francine Bolewicz, Irma Hagan, and Fr. Vince Blanco.

The archdiocese has two Kateri Circles. Kateri Circles are groups of Catholics, other Christians, and seekers who pratice community through a lifestyle of prayer, service, and worship. The two circles in the archdiocese are at St. Anthony parish in Anchorage and at St. Michael parish in Palmer.  Each group welcomes anyone, Alaska Native or otherwise, who wishes to join their devotion to St. Kateri Tekakwitha and follow her way of life. Their devotion to the intercession and virtuous and holy life of St. Kateri Tekakwitha is central to their spirituality.

Members of the Mat-Su Kateri Circle. (Left to right) Sr. Jean Rhoads, D.C., Gemma Gadio, Ruth Stewart, Isabella Apfelbeck, Janice Barrett, Cherie Kadjan, and Kathy Lunwing. (Courtesy of Sr. Jean)

Each member of Anchorage’s Kateri Circle comes to St. Anthony parish every Thursday to share their joy. Whether they express that joy through a dish they bring to the potluck, an intention before the rosary, a story during fellowship, insight when discussing their weekly scripture readings, or a smile to a newcomer, it is the love of God they partake in and share, integrating it in their own way.   

The group is full of energy, organizing a number of Alaska Native events across the archdiocese with the same eagerness they organize for a group photo. Since 1980, the archdiocese’s Native Ministry has helped Alaska Native Catholics express their faith through their culture and support one another in their relationships with God. 

The Kateri Circle is an important aspect of the ministry. Named for St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint canonized who lived within what is now the United States, the Kateri Circle prays for her intercession at each meeting. 

Kateri Circles are individual chapters of the Tekakwitha Conference, an association of Catholics working to support ministry among Native Americans. They meet annually, and last year, several members of the archdiocesan Kateri Circles attended the annual meeting in Las Cruces, New Mexico with St. Jean Rhoads, D.C.  

In the archdiocese, the Kateri Circles plan and coordinate Sunday Masses at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage, monthly Masses at St. Anthony parish, the annual Alaska Federation of Natives Mass at Holy Family in Anchorage, and a Faith Walk every Friday in Lent. Community is central to the Kateri Circle. When members of the Alaska Native community pass on, the Kateri Circle chooses to be present for the loved ones of the deceased, organizing potlucks after funeral and memorial Masses.

Praying the rosary together is an important part of the Kateri Circle.

Most recently, the Kateri Circle’s members helped organize last November’s Christ the King Mass at St. Anthony parish, which saw many King Islanders come together in faith and fellowship. 46 years ago, the ministry’s first Mass was celebrated on the Feast of Christ the King at the very same parish. Since then, this has become an annual tradition organized by the Kateri Circles.

Sr. Jean says Sue Toliver, a King Islander Kateri Circle member fluent in Iñupiaq, helped “bring everyone together” for the Christ the King Mass. Many members of the Kateri Circle are not King Islanders but rather come from other Yup’ik, Iñupiat, and Aleut groups. Nevertheless, they all helped with the Mass, which saw a new eagle feather blessed and put onto the archdiocesan Native cross. 

Like many in the group, Toliver wears a kuspuk to the circle and different events. Sr. Jean notes that each kuspuk reflects its creator in a unique way, particularly with regards to braid work and other slight variations in design.  

In the same way, each dish brought to the potluck reflected its creator, too. Gemma Gaudio smiled as she received many compliments for the king salmon dish she brought. Likewise, Aimee Aloysius’s fish pie was eaten up very quickly. Rice, coleslaw, berries, brownies, and cookies all added to the meal and fellowship.

Sister Yoshie Takaoka, L.S.J., and Sister Agnes Bostrom are members of the Kateri Circle in Anchorage as well, serving as Eucharistic ministers at every Alaska Native Medical Center Mass. (Courtesy of Sr. Jean)

After eating, the group reads and discusses Sunday’s readings from At Home with the Word 2026. Members reflect on these readings, drawing together their unique experiences and points of view and sharing them to uncover deeper insight of the scriptures. In this way especially, they grow in relationship with God. 

Members of the Kateri Circles share their food, their thoughts, and their stories, continuing the mission of the archdiocese’s Native Ministry established 46 years ago to help Alaska Native people living in Anchorage rediscover community and be a source of strength for each other as they share their joy and live out the faith together.  

For more information on the Kateri Circle see aoaj.org/office-of-native-ministries. If you are interested in joining, please reach out to Sr. Jean at (907) 297-7777 or jrhoads@aoaj.org.