NEW HAVEN, Conn., May 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new
documentary produced by the Knights of Columbus on Native American Catholicism will
air on ABC affiliated stations through a partnership with the
Interfaith Broadcasting Commission (IBC) beginning May 16, 2021.
Enduring Faith: The Story of Native American
Catholicism explores the rich contribution and witness
that Native American Catholics have given to the faith over the
course of nearly 500 years.
"The history and deeply ingrained traditions of Native American
Catholics demonstrate how Christ reveals himself through the
uniqueness of every culture," Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly said.
"Our hope is that this film will inspire a greater appreciation of
the faithful witness of Native American Catholics."
The documentary begins in the 16th century, when Mary, under the
title of Our Lady of Guadalupe,
appeared to St. Juan Diego as a mestiza woman. The film goes on to
explore the life of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first canonized
Native American saint, and the 20th-century Lakota
healer, Nicholas Black Elk, whose
cause for canonization is currently open in Rome.
The film examines the spiritual and cultural gifts of Native
American Catholics, the wrongs inflicted upon them by the often
unjust policies of the British and American governments, and how
Native American Catholics today continue to live out their faith in
fully inculturated ways.
The documentary is part of the Knights of Columbus Native
Solidarity initiative. First announced at the 137th Supreme
Convention in 2019, the Native Solidarity initiative began with a
partnership between the Knights, the Diocese of Gallup, N.M., and the Southwest Indian
Foundation to build a shrine to St. Kateri in the Southwest United States. As the Covid-19
pandemic struck, as part of Native Solidarity and the Order's
"Leave No Neighbor Behind", Knights brought necessities to
thousands of native and indigenous communities in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Hawaii that were struck particularly hard by
the Covid-19 pandemic. The Knights has also collaborated with Life
is Sacred, a native-run non-profit committed to building a culture
of life and a civilization of love, and the Black and Indian
Mission Office.
Enduring Faith: The Story of Native American
Catholicism will air primarily on Sundays. To find air
times for your area, visit kofc.org/enduringfaith.
About the Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is one
of the world's leading fraternal and service organizations with 2
million members in more than 16,000 parish-based councils. During
the past year, Knights around the world donated more than 77
million service hours and $187
million for worthy causes in their communities. The
organization also offers extensive life insurance services to
members and their families, resulting in more than $114 billion of life insurance in force. Knights
of Columbus Asset Advisors offers investment services to
individuals and institutions in accord with Catholic social
teaching and has over $26 billion in
assets under management. From helping children in need, to
providing wheelchairs for the disabled, to helping stock food
banks, to offering top-rated and affordable insurance products to
its members, to creating a legacy of giving, the Knights of
Columbus has supported families
and communities for more than 138 years. To learn more please visit
us at kofc.org.
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SOURCE Knights of Columbus