Catholics in and around the U.S. community of Fonda, New York, are celebrating this weekend.<br/> <br />Tomorrow, the town's Catholic heroine Kateri Tekakwit will become the first Native American saint.<br/> <br />Although she died 300 years ago at just 24, the church contends her spirit is still capable of miracles.<br/> <br />According to the Vatican, she healed a five-year-old boy struck by deadly flesh eating bacteria in 2006 thanks to the family's prayers.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) FATHER DAVID WHITE SAYING:<br/> <br />"And his family prayed specifically to Kateri and whatever the details of it were the infection just dried up and healed and that doesn't happen medically."<br/> <br />The saint-to be was born in 1656 to a Mohawk father and an Algonquin-Christian mother.<br/> <br />When she was just four, a small pox epidemic left her badly scarred and nearly blind, but her injuries didn't stop her from devoting herself to Christianity.<br/> <br />Pilgrims believe the waters at Kateri's shrine still have healing powers.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) JOE FONDANO, KATERI DEVOTEE, SAYING:<br/> <br />"My friend who lives in Watervliet now, his sister received that water and she had this type of cancer and she was diagnosed and it completely went away."<br/> <br />The community plans to hold a special ceremony on Sunday to recognize Kateri's sainthood.
