A Place to Belong: The Church of Gichitwaa Kateri

The Church of Gichitwaa Kateri in South Minneapolis serves as the American Indian Catholic Church for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The parish provides weekly Mass and faith formation sessions known as family circles, which Robert Haarman, the director of Indian ministry, says are designed to support the community's spiritual journey through cultural sharing.

The church also hosts monthly gatherings for community elders that include prayer, meals, and traditional activities, such as learning to make moccasins.

Gichitwaa Kateri serves as a site for American Indian wakes, funerals, and memorials. The church offers an affordable alternative to funeral homes and operates the Miigiiweyon hearse ministry. This ministry provides one-way transportation for deceased relatives to a reservation at no cost to the families.