Native Catholic Sources

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Secretariat Report on Diversity, "Native American Catholics at The New Millennium" (March 2003) states that approximately 20% (or 493,614) of all Native Americans (2,376,036) are Catholic. An estimated 77,769 baptized Native Catholics lived in California, Hawaii, and Nevada, according to the report. Native Americans compose approximately 3.5% of all Catholics in the United States.

The following descriptions are from the Catholic organization websites who serve Catholic Native American communities.

The American Indian Catholic Schools Network

An initiative of five Indian Mission Schools, in partnership with Creighton University and its Office of Multicultural Affairs.

The Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions

The Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions is a Catholic charity that was established in Washington, D.C. in 1874 to advocate for the needs of Catholic Native Americans.

Catholic Extension

Founded in 1905, Catholic Extension brings the Catholic Church to isolated faith communities. Its support of Native American ministries answers Pope Francis' call for a "missionary impulse" that can transform lives through faith.

Tekakwitha Conference

The Tekakwitha Conference is the voice, presence and identity of Indigenous Catholics of North America under the protection and inspiration of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha.

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops - Native American Affairs

The subcommittee on Native American Affairs is under the direction of and assists the Committee on Cultural Diversity within the Church by working directly with the standing committee and collaboratively with other USCCB committees to address the pastoral concerns of Native American (North American Aboriginals) Catholics to affirm the gifts and contributions of Native American Catholics and to provide more opportunities for Native American Catholics to engage in the life of the Church and help shape its evangelization mission.