Saint Katharine Drexel

Saint Katharine Drexel was born in Philadelphia on November 26, 1858, as the second child of Hannah and Francis Anthony Drexel. Hannah died five weeks after her baby's birth. For two years, Katharine and her sister, Elizabeth, were cared for by their aunt and uncle, Ellen and Anthony Drexel. When Francis married Emma Bouvier in 1860, he brought his two daughters home. A third daughter, Louise, was born in 1863. The children grew up in a loving family atmosphere permeated by deep faith. By word and example, Emma and Francis taught their daughters that wealth was meant to be shared with those in need. When the family took a trip to the Western part of the United States, Katharine saw the plight and destitution of the native Americans. This experience aroused her desire to do something specific to help alleviate their condition. She established St. Catherine Indian School in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1887.

Later, when visiting Pope Leo XIII in Rome and asking him for missionaries to staff some of the missions she was financing as a layperson, she was surprised to hear the Pope suggest that she become a missionary herself. After consultation with her spiritual director, Bishop James O'Connor, she decided to give herself totally to God, along with her inheritance. In 1889, she began her training in religious life with the Sisters of Mercy at Pittsburgh. On February 12, 1891, she professed her first vows as a religious, founding the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, who were dedicated to sharing the message of the Gospel among Native Americans and Afro-Americans. 

Through the prophetic witness of Katharine Drexel's initiative, the Church in the United States was enabled to become aware of the grave domestic need for an apostolate among Native Americans and Afro-Americans. In 1915, Mother Katherine founded Xavier University in New Orleans, the first Catholic University in the United States for African Americans. During her lifetime, approximately 60 schools were established by her congregation. For the last 18 years of her life, she was rendered almost completely immobile because of a serious illness and gave herself to a life of adoration. She died on March 3, 1955.

Heavenly Father, You called Saint Katharine Drexel to teach the message of the Gospel and to bring the life of the Eucharist to the Native American and African American peoples; by her prayers and example, enable us to work for justice among the poor and the oppressed.

Prepared and updated by:

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,

Penampang, Sabah Malaysia.