The following comes from a July 11 Catholic Voice article by Michele Zurich:

The annual gathering of Native American Catholics comes to the Bay Area this month, as the Tekakwitha Conference, which draws participants from all over the country, begins four days of liturgies, keynote addresses, workshops and social events.

“Saint Kateri — The Bridge Between Our Faith and Our Traditions” is the theme for the conference, which bears the name of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American woman to be canonized.

Among the presenters at the workshops during the conference will be Andrew Galvan and Vincent Medina of the Ohlone tribe. Medina, who learned the Chochenyo language and proclaimed the first reading in that language at the canonization Mass of St. Junipero Serra last September, will speak about language survival and revitalization.

Galvan, who serves as curator of Mission Dolores, will join Medina for workshops on the history of the Ohlone people and topics regarding the California missions.

Greg Williams, president of the Kateri Circle of Central California, called this gathering, in the Year of Mercy, “a unique time in our ministry,” which stretches back 77 years.

It offers an opportunity, he said, “to learn how to forgive, let go of the bitterness, so our next generation can prosper.”