St. Katharine Drexel - Patron Saint of Philanthropists and Justice

St. Katharine Drexel is the second American-born saint to be canonized by the Catholic Church. St. Katharine was an heir to a large bequest who became a religious sister and a brilliant educator. The Drexel family was financially and spiritually well endowed. They were devout in the practice of their faith, setting an excellent example of true Christian living for their three daughters. They not only prayed but practiced what the Church calls the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

When her father passed away a year later, he donated part of his $15.5 million estate to a few charities and then left the remainder to be equally split amongst his three daughters. As one of their first acts following their father's death, Katharine and her sisters contributed money to assist the St. Francis Mission of South Dakota's Rosebud Reservation. Katharine soon concluded that more was needed to help the Native Americans and the lacking ingredient was people. On February 12, 1891, Katharine made her first vows as a religious and dedicated herself to working for the American Indians and African Americans in the Western United States. From the age of 33 until her death in 1955, she dedicated her life and her fortune to this work. 

In 1894, Mother Katharine took part in opening the first mission boarding school called St. Catherine's Indian School, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Other schools quickly followed for Native Americans west of the Mississippi River, and for the Black people in the southern part of the United States. In 1915, Katharine founded Xavier University in New Orleans, the first Catholic University in the United States for African Americans. By the time of her death, she had more than 500 Sisters teaching in 63 schools throughout the country, and she established 50 missions for Native Americans in 16 different states.

Katharine was remembered for her love of the Eucharist and a desire for unity of all peoples. She was courageous and took the initiative to address social inequality within minorities. She believed all should have access to a quality education and her selfless service, including the donation of her inheritance, helped many reach that goal.

Katharine left a four-fold dynamic legacy to her Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, who continue her apostolate today, and indeed to all peoples:

• her love for the Eucharist, her spirit of prayer, and her Eucharistic perspective on the unity of all peoples.

• her undaunted spirit of courageous initiative in addressing social inequities among minorities. 

• her belief in the importance of quality education for all, and her efforts to achieve it.

• her total giving of self, of her inheritance and all material goods in selfless service of the victims of injustice.

Katharine Drexel was  beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 20, 1980.