“Ours is the Spirit of the Eucharist, the total Gift of Self.”
-Saint Katharine Drexel
About Saint Katharine Drexel
Saint Katharine Drexel (1858–1955) was a woman of deep faith, extraordinary generosity, and courageous commitment to justice. Born into a wealthy family in Philadelphia, she chose a life of service to God and to people who were often overlooked and underserved. Her life reminds us that faith is not only something we believe—it is something we live.
A Life Transformed by Faith
As a young woman, Katharine traveled widely and witnessed the severe poverty and discrimination faced by Native Americans and African Americans in the United States. These experiences profoundly moved her heart. During a meeting with Pope Leo XIII in Rome in 1887, she asked the Holy Father to send more missionaries to serve these communities. He reportedly replied, “Why don’t you become a missionary yourself?”
Katharine took that challenge to heart.
Founder and Missionary
In 1891, she founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, a religious congregation dedicated to serving Native American and African American communities through education and missionary work. Using much of her personal fortune, Mother Katharine and her sisters established more than 60 schools and missions across the United States.
Among her most lasting contributions was the founding of Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans in 1925—the only historically Black Catholic university in the United States.
Her work was not always welcomed. At a time of deep racial division, she faced hostility, threats, and criticism. Yet she remained steadfast, believing that every person is created in the image of God and deserves dignity, education, and opportunity.
A Legacy of Faith and Justice
Saint Katharine devoted her life to prayer, the Eucharist, and service to those most in need. Even after illness forced her into a more contemplative life, she continued to guide her community through prayer and correspondence.
She was canonized a saint by Pope John Paul II in 2000, becoming the second American-born saint.
Her Message Today
The witness of Saint Katharine Drexel continues to inspire the Church today. Her life calls us to:
- Pray and listen for God’s call
- Seek truth through learning
- Live the Gospel through service
As a parish bearing her name, we strive to continue her mission—growing in prayer, learning, and service to build the kingdom of God.
