National Shrine of Saint Kateri

This entry is LONG overdue. I started this entry back in July. I have gone on other explorations, so please bear with me while I try to catch up with posting. It’s mostly the sheer number of photos I take and narrowing them down, and researching that takes up time (aside from the long hours at work!). But thank you for visiting my website and reading my entries. I hope you enjoy them as I enjoyed visiting these places.

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha was born around the mid-1600’s in Auriesville, NY (location of what is now the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs, which is beautiful – and will be a topic of a future entry). She survived small pox as a child, left with impaired vision (hence her last name, Tekakwitha, which means “she who bump into things”) and scarring; taken in by her uncle and aunt and moved into the Mohawk Indian Village (where the National Kateri Shrine now stands). She was baptized in the Roman Catholic faith as Catherine Tekakwitha and was also known as the Lily of the Mohawks. She lived in the small village where the Shrine of Saint Kateri is now located until she was 18. She moved to the Mission of Saint Francis Xavier, in Canada because of ridicule, accusations and death threats for taking on the Christian life. She took a vow of poverty and virginity until her death, at the age of 24.

She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1980 and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 21, 2012.

Off of Route 5 in Fonda, NY

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At the entrance.

A rosary and statue for Saint Kateri.

Holy grounds, featuring the Stations of the Cross.

A statue of Saint Kateri and her last words, “Jesus, I love you!”

The Pavillion

beautiful words

The Blessed Virgin Mary

As you make your way up the hill to the top of the grounds, these scriptures are perfect for the woodland and country side scenery.

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Past the trees would be the Mohawk River and the town of Fultonville.

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Stations of the Cross.

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The sound is amazing in the pavillion, even though it’s outdoors and open on three sides. The officiant would have no problem being heard, I think.

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The altar.

This trek was a little bit deceiving. I had hiked the road and you end up facing a paved road and three boulders. I hiked over to my right, and ended up facing a marked, HUGE, ancient oak tree. On my left was a brook. What I had found out much later, driving around town, was that had I crossed the paved road, I would have come across the dig and the spring. It’s much easier to drive there.

The path I walked.

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Leaves, nature’s canopy.

It was such a serene, quiet walk. Probably really creepy at night – possibly even haunted!

The Candle Chapel.

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An altar to Saint Kateri, with offerings, gifts and prayers.

bracelets, charms, coins, rosaries, and other personal trinkets in exchange for prayers and healing.

When I arrived at the native village archaeological dig site and spring.

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Caughnawaga Castle site. Discovered in 1950. It’s the only completely excavated Iroquis village in the country and historical site. The land is marked by different colored stakes, showing outlines for stockades and longhouses.

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Visit the National Kateri Shrine:
3628 State Highway 5,Fonda, NY 12068
(518) 853-3646

Strawberry Picking and Farm Country

I’ve been busy these past two weeks, with work being a little chaotic, it’s led to not much sleep, stress and an inability to compile my photos and research for proper entries. Sorry!

But here’s a little filler of an entry.

I found time yesterday to go exploring the farm country. Usually, I know when people think of “New York”, they just think of the city. A lot of people, even native New York City dwellers, forget about upstate New York. Greater New York, as it’s also known… really is great. Driving outside any city or town limits and into farm country where rolling hills, cows, work horses, tractors and Amish buggies are abundant is quite the eye opener. It’s like being transported to another state all together.

It’s June, and in NY, it’s strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry season. I went searching for you-pick farms because I find it fun to pick your own fruit.

I came upon Conbeer’s Farm in the town of Fonda, and I had fun picking strawberries! It was $2.25 a quart and I thought that was a steal! I bought four quarts. I was really tempted on buying more, but the thought of transporting them for five hours back to Queens is tough enough.

Beautiful mountain landscape

Conbeer’s Farm

Strawberry fields forever. 😉

Cute strawberries peeking out!

My first quart. You don’t know how delicious they smelled! They tasted sweet too!!

My three quarts. I gave my forth to my coworker.

After Conbeer’s, I drove off further into the farm country.

Moo

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Cute family portrait. I wish the barbwire fence wasn’t in the way.

A beautifully kept classic vintage pick up.

There’s a turkey on the tractor!

My last stop was Meadowlark Farm. Known for their blueberry farm, I had to stop by and see if I can pick a few quarts. The last time I had farm-fresh blueberries was back when I visited my uncle and aunt in Texas a few years back.

Sadly this time around, the farm was closed because the blueberries weren’t ready yet.

When I think of blueberry, I think of Violet Beauregarde from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

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Not ready yet. 😦

Cute wild daisies.