Saint Katherine Drexel INFO

St. Katherine Drexel was born in 1858 in Philadelphia to a wealthy family. She used her inheritance to establish schools for Native Americans and African Americans. She founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1891 and dedicated her life to serving marginalized communities. She was canonized as a saint in 2000 by Pope John Paul II.

St. Katherine Drexel, also known as Mother Drexel, was born into a prominent family in Philadelphia in 1858. Her father, Francis Drexel, was a successful banker and her mother, Hannah, was a homemaker. From a young age, Katherine was exposed to a life of luxury and privilege, but she also witnessed the suffering of marginalized communities in her city.

In 1887, Katherine made a life-changing trip to the western United States where she encountered Native American and African American communities who were living in poverty and facing discrimination. This experience ignited a passion within her to help these communities and she decided to use her inheritance to establish schools for them.

With the support of her family, Katherine founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1891. The order was dedicated to serving Native American and African American communities and establishing schools and missions for them. Mother Drexel also used her wealth and influence to advocate for social justice and equality for all people.

Throughout her life, Mother Drexel faced opposition and criticism from those who opposed her work with marginalized communities. However, she remained steadfast in her mission and continued to serve those in need. Her dedication and selflessness earned her the respect and admiration of many, including Pope John Paul II.

In 2000, Mother Drexel was canonized as a saint by Pope John Paul II, making her the second American-born saint and the first saint to have been born a U.S. citizen. Her legacy continues to inspire people around the world to serve others and work for social justice and equality.