He did not move around, but sat in a chair. Segregationists harassed her work, even burning a school in Pennsylvania. She is recognized as a saint because she was a woman of worldly wealth who embodied Christ and the Catholic tradition for the poor, the outcast, and the forgotten of society during the 20th century. Our parish Mission Statement presents us with an exciting and daunting challenge: to form a modern Christian community in an ancient faith to become the Living Body of Christ in a secular society to embody a Catholic tradition in a pluralistic world. She had a real social policy to go with it. She was so selfless and so sacrificing and so considerate, says Sister of the Blessed Sacrament Ruth Catherine Spain, who helped document her cause for canonization. Shes beyond us now, Sister Beatrice adds. They performed maintenance and janitorial work, and helped out in the library. Come to a Prospective Members meeting to learn more about joining our parish. But she also had the courage and initiative in addressing social inequality among minorities many decades before the Civil Rights movement became popular in the United States. They had told the sisters that I was not feeling well. We are a big family, and we have one thing in common: We love Jesus, and desire to share His love with others. She had a unique (for her day) perspective on the unity of all people. Up until this week, Ive concentrated on people, all men, who were considered pivotal game changers in the early days of the church. The Mass will be live-streamed at10:15 a.m.on the parishs Facebook page,St. Katharine Drexel Parish of Chicago. Drexel's legacy lives on since she was declared a saint in the Jubilee Year 2000 by Pope St. John Paul II. Katharine and her two sisters were educated at home by tutors, and they had the added advantage of touring parts of the United States and Europe with their parents. Thank you for the words of encouragement or expressions of gratitude for bringing the Word of God home to you through our media ministry. After her fathers death in 1885, she and her sisters contributed money to help the St. Francis Mission on South Dakotas Rosebud Reservation. Watch live and on-demand content from Saint Katharine Drexel Parish Louise Drexel Morell, her younger sister, contributed millions more to similar causes. I knew if they went back to the reservation that would be the end of it, Sister Marie Celine says. Your body is reconstructing its anatomy.. Saints & Angels Facts Feastday: March 3 Patron: of racial justice and philanthropists Birth: November 26, 1858 Death: March 3, 1955 Beatified: November 20, 1988 by Pope John Paul II Canonized: October 1, 2000 by Pope John Paul II Author and Publisher - Catholic Online Printable PDF of St. Katharine Drexel Shop St. Katharine Drexel She is remembered for her selfless service for minorities, including the donation of her inheritance, for the victims of social injustice. If this Philadelphia nun knew all the trouble shes caused us, Im sure shed be sorry.. This was the beginning of her lifelong personal and financial support of numerous missions and missionaries in the United States. In a trip with her father to the U.S. northwest territories in 1884, Kate saw Indians living in squalor and despair. Katharine was born in Philadelphia in. Please check out the Kids Bulletin for activities relating to the weekly gospels. No. Katherine Drexel, Saint of the Day, Lives, Lessons, and Feast, (revised by Pat McCloskey OFM) Franciscan Media, ISBN 978-0-86716-887-7. Twice a week, the Drexels distributed food, clothing and rent assistance from their family home at 1503 Walnut Street in Philadelphia. In 2000, St. Katharine was canonized by Pope John Paul II making her the second American-born saint to be canonized by the Catholic church. Feast day March 3 Printer Friendly Contemplation and generosity vied for first place in St. Katharine Drexel's life. Kate nursed her for the final three years of her life and came to realize that not even the Drexels immense fortune could do anything to prevent Emmas death. Long (D-La. Lisa and her family make their home in Nashville. From a young age, Drexel learned from her family the importance of sharing with others. In Events, Livestream Video, Uncategorized, https://www.facebook.com/StKatharineDrexelParishChgo/live, The Catholic Church throughout the world continues to celebrate the Octave of Easter. I wonder sometimes what America and what the Catholic Church might have been in respect to minorities had she not come along, added Francis, who hopes to build a $6.3 million Saint Katharine Drexel Religious Center at Xavier in her honor. Event Contact: Irma Woerner (301-514-6562) or [] Apr 15 2023. Her familys wealth also allowed Kate a firsthand opportunity to travel and see the disgraceful treatment of Native Americans. Her mother died five weeks after her Katharine's birth, but her father remarried in 1860. The law became known as The Philadelphia Nun Loophole., Forty-five years later, Senator Russell B. The miraculous healing of Bob Guthermans eardrum provided the first of two miracles that led to Katharine Drexel being declared a saint. After nursing her stepmother through a long . The blacks and Native American people were her pride and joy, but they had never had a chance., And now, the woman who many believe started the Catholic Church in America on the road toward racial integration belongs to the world. Xavier University is the only Catholic institution of higher learning established exclusively for African-Americans in the Western Hemisphere and the crowning jewel of Saint Katharines educational system. St. Katharine Drexel. She is the patron saint of racial justice and philanthropists. In the late 1920s, when Mother Katharine found property in New Orleans for expanding Xavier University, she used a third party as a purchasing agent to keep the transaction from falling through. Our parish mission is: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday: 8:00 a.m. Oops, there was an error sending your message. We went knocking on their door, saying We have a story to tell you.. Twice a week, the Drexels distributed food, clothing and rent assistance from their family home. Jim Graves Jim Graves is a Catholic writer and editor living in Newport Beach, California. Cultivate your faith relationship Experience Our Blog Reflections! I can tell you one thing, Long said. When her shoelaces snapped, she sewed them back together rather than buy a new pair. The sister we spoke to listened, and then asked us to write the story down and send it to her. The doctor told us that there were three bones in the ear that you needed to be able to hear, and two of mine in the right ear had been destroyed by the infection. If you would like to read the most recent bulletin or receive the bulletin via email each week, input your email address on their page HERE. The canonization of Saint Katharine Drexel, the niece of the founder of Drexel University, was an uncommon reunion of sorts for the 200 members of the Drexel family who attended the ceremony in October 2000. If it were reported by news outlets today, the headline would read, "Heiress Gives Up Two Hundred Million." In 1889, after years of wrestling with a desire to enter the religious life, St. Katharine Drexel decided to give it all away, trading her fine gowns and linens for the black and white habit and exchanging elaborate socials and frivolous adventures abroad for the community life of . If you are looking for a spiritual home, we hope that you will consider joining us! Event Contact: [], Springtime Tea Party: Sunday, 7 May 1:00 PM Don your best bonnet and gloves to enjoy an elegant tea party sponsored by Katies Ladies. There is a "word" from the Lord tomorrow! Bertha Thomas Antonio, one of the first graduates to respond to the call for teachers, told Sister of the Blessed Sacrament Patricia Lynch that her mother said, If we wont help our own people, who will? Mrs. Thomas sent three daughters to teach in the rural schools. Katharine Drexel was born Catherine Marie Drexel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 26, 1858. As Emma Drexel taught her daughters, Kindness may be unkind if it leaves a sting behind.. Weekend Mass: Sat. Over the course of 60 yearsup to her death in 1955 at age 96Mother Katharine spent about $20 million in support of her work, building schools and churches and paying the salaries of teachers in rural schools for blacks and Indians. Katharine knew that many African Americans were far from free, still living in substandard conditions as sharecroppers or underpaid menial laborers. You do not have to subscribe to Facebook in order to celebrate with us. Our summer reading used book sale was such a success last year that we are doing it again! Catholic Church. Explore The Timeline . Contact Us Shrine Hours Sunday from 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM Monday - Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM Perpetual Novena to Saint Katharine Drexel Each Thursday following the 7:15 AM and 12:05 PM Masses Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament 4 Neshaminy Interplex Drive Suite 205 Trevose, PA 19053 215-244-8174 Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you do not have internet accessibility, you may participate via teleconference by calling our toll-free number. The vacation climaxed in Rome in January 1887 when Pope Leo XIII received the Drexel sisters in a private audience. 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; I wanted to get away from a government-subsidized existence, Skye says. I would tell them that Mother Katharine knew they could do the work and that they should be proud of themselves. Bob Gutherman of Bristol Township, Pennsylvania, was present for both ceremonies. I had been to a series of different doctors, who were treating it as a normal ear infection. Following her example, it is in worship and prayer that we discover strength for the journey. He said Id never hear in my right ear again. The woman who had spent $656,000 for the land and new buildings watched the dedication ceremony from a third-floor window, far away from the dignitaries platform. She was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II in 1988 and canonized in 2000. She died on March 3, 1955. If you do not have internet accessibility, you may participate in the Mass at. The Philadelphia Public Ledger carried a banner headline: Miss Drexel Enters a Catholic ConventGives Up Seven Million.. I am delighted that we were able to reach so many at Easter! Katharine Drexel was born in Philadelphia on November 26, 1858, to Francis Anthony Drexel, an investment banker, and his wife Hannah Langstroth. Its going that extra mile, and that is certainly evident in her life. As Emma Drexel taught her daughters, Kindness may be unkind if it leaves a sting behind.. Her mother died five weeks after her Katharines birth, but her father remarried in 1860. The heiress from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, wanted most to withdraw to a cloister, but her circumstances and gifts pulled her to Christian service. In all, she established 50 missions for Indians in 16 states. EIN 27-4581132 It has given me a clearer understanding of the presence of God. Please continue to share with your family and friends that St. Katharine Drexel is alive and well! March 3, 2020 Mother Katharine Drexel depicted in the Hall of American Saints On March 3, we celebrate the Feast of Saint Katharine Drexel, the second American-born saint to be canonized. If you are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith and exploring whether you would like to join the Catholic church, contact us. After surviving a heart attack in 1935, Blessed Katharine refused to purchase a wheelchair. Know that I pray for you daily! Follow along in the footsteps of a saint as you learn about St. Katharine Drexel's family, her life, her ministry and canonization. [But] God allowed her to live until she was 96, and we had that interest available for many more years. This week, I thought wed take a look at a woman, who was from the United States, and whose influence in the lives of Native Americans and African Americans is still making positive changes today. Event Contact: Irma Woerner (301-514-6562) or []. She used pencils until they were nubs, wrote return correspondence on the blank side of the letters she received and opened up the flaps of envelopes for notepaper. In this series, it has been my hope to bring to light just a few ordinary people who had a big influence on the Christian Church. Katharine Drexels story is rich, overflowing and, quite frankly, mind- boggling. If everybody loved, how different the world would be.. She saved the Church from embarrassment in terms of social justice.. Order Bulk SubscriptionsGet a discount on 6 or more copies sent to your parish, organization Our task as a faith community is to discern how we will do the same during the 21st century. Her decision rocked Philadelphia social circles. The country was still 70 years away from any widespread notion of civil rights. Remember! Eucharistic adoration has been offered for decades. Kate told the pope about her inward pull toward the contemplative life, but she also described the plight of the Indians in North America. Saint Katherine DrexelWhatever headaches she may have caused lawmakers, Blessed Katharine changed lives, one at a time. I met him a few days before the beatification at his Wednesday audience, and I was full of tears and happiness and excitement. hbspt.cta.load(465210, '57ad65ad-aa62-4bfc-bf85-3be71f8823ac', {}); Your email address will not be published. Saint Katharine Drexel An Interactive Timeline. She frequently encountered the ire of train conductors on her many visits to her schools and missions because she spent as much time as possible in the day coach, which was a cheaper fare, before retiring for a few hours in the sleeper car. Katharine Drexel, SBS (born Catherine Mary Drexel; November 26, 1858 - March 3, 1955) was an American Catholic heiress, philanthropist, religious sister, and educator. I was led up to greet him by Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, who was Archbishop of Philadelphia at the time. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Katharine Drexel and John Neumanns Eucharistic Devotion, The Holy Father invited the faithful to remember that our lives, if we think about it, are filled with miracles.. 5:00 PM Saturday, 9:00 AM Sunday, 11:00 AM Sunday, Pentecost Breakfast: Sunday, 28 May 10:00 AM Celebrate the birthday of the Church and enjoy a delicious breakfast between the Sunday Masses prepared by the Knights of Columbus. But when a priest, a transplant from Blessed Katharines home state of Pennsylvania, objected to the plan, African-Americans got the old church and whites the new one. Drexel married Bouvier a few years after the death of his first wife, Hannah, who had died after giving birth to Kate in 1858. The most famous foundation was made in 1915; it was Xavier University in New Orleans, the first such institution for African Americans in the United States. Daily prayer was a way of life. Her family owned a considerable fortune, and her uncle Anthony Joseph Drexel was the founder of Drexel University in Philadelphia. Know that Fr. Religion. Like so many other treaties, it was a hollow promise. I was 14 years old and in the 9th grade in 1974, when I developed a severe ear infection. May God continue to bless each of you as we shelter-in-place! What do you recall about these visits and meeting Pope St. John Paul II? Copyright 2023 EWTN News, Inc. All rights reserved. As we approach All Saints Day, wed love to share the story of some heroes of the faith and of the church that you may not know a lot about. SubscribeStart your Register subscription today. I welcome their participation in our liturgy! In 1988, it was declared to be a miracle attributed to Katharines intercession. (Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first in 1975.). It affected by right ear. Katharine Drexel of Philadelphia is known for many things: heiress to a banking fortune, fierce advocate for the poor, foundress of the American religious order Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, and canonized saint in the Catholic Church. The Church recognized her holiness, which was confirmed by two miracles or cures to persons not able to hear, attributed to God through her intercession. In the opinion of her contemporaries, she was truly saintly. The Pope had nowhere near the vigor he had in 1988. There were any number of miracles that the Lord provided through her, and weve always called Xavier a miracle, says Francis, whose university sends more African-American graduates to medical school than any other university in the country. I grew up in Bensalem, Pennsylvania [a Philadelphia suburb], and lived about a mile away from the sisters motherhouse. Sister Marie Celine told us she was a millionairess, the daughter of an investment banker named Francis Drexel. I encourage as many parishioners as possible to join in these days of prayer and reflection in order to learn about Seeing with Easter Eyes. As we continue the 50-day celebration of the Easter season, we are treated to events at Mass that we fasted from during the season of Lent. When her family took a trip to the Western part of the United States in 1884, Katharine saw, first hand, their sufferings. Kate still was reeling from the death of her father when she and her sisters went to Europe in 1886, with the hope of her regaining some physical vigor. It stopped after I had the exploratory operation. Finney Jr., Peter, The Legacy of Saint Katherine Drexel, St. Anthony Messenger. Her greatest accomplishment may have been her role in the struggle for racial justice in America. It was the second miracle credited to her intercession. In Rome, their doctors reviewed the findings. Saint Katherine Drexel, LOsservatore Romano, p.2, 21 November 1988. Even though she was raised in opulence, Blessed Katharine took seriously her vow of poverty. One of my sisters spoke to my mother, telling her, We believe that Mother Katharine is in heaven. 40 Hidden Springs Rd, Alton, NH, 03809, United States . Whatever brings you here, we welcome you! Xavier is a miracle not just for all that it has done but for the mere fact that it has survived and thrived. If she had died at the normal age of 70, which at the time would have been a big age, Xavier would have struggled. In 1915, when Mother Katharine purchased an abandoned university building to open Xavier Preparatory School in New Orleans, vandals smashed every window. A reporter seeking an interview showed up at the Mercy convent the day after she entered. In addition to the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, she added a fourth: To be the mother and servant of the Indian and Negro races., In his homily, Archbishop Ryan asked if Sister Katharines desire for religious life required ambition. CLICK here for messages from our parish. Her charitable ways so impressed Congress in the 1920s that she successfully lobbied for an amendment to the federal tax code that would allow an organization that gave at least 90 percent of its income to charity an exemption from income taxes. Reproduction of material from this website without written permission, or unlicensed commercial use or To this day, The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament pursue their original apostolate of working with African-Americans and Native Americans in 21 states and Haiti. The Easter celebration concludes on Sunday, April 19, the Second Sunday of Easter, also referred to as Divine Mercy Sunday. Together as a parish, we are charting a course to follow Christ as Katharine did. Katharine was the second daughter of Francis Anthony Drexel, a . Her mother opened her home to the poor three days each week, and her father spent at least a half-hour in prayer every evening. Throughout her life, Mother Drexels chief motivation was to help more souls know and love Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. TheParish Office has reopened for business on a part-time basis. Lisa Strnad is a weekly contributor to the Whats in the Bible and JellyTelly blogs. They used to distribute clothing, food, and rent assistance to needy people in the streets of Philadelphia. Springtime Tea Party: Sunday, 7 May 1:00 PM Don your best bonnet and gloves to enjoy an elegant tea party sponsored by Katie's Ladies. My hope is that this Sunday, everything will flow smoothly. "Mother" Katharine, pictured above in the Trinity Dome, is known for her commitment to racial justice and her educational efforts for minority groups in America. Skye, one among the hundreds of thousands of lives touched by Katharine and her sisters, floods with emotion when asked what her canonization means to him. In current dollars, the estate would be worth about $250 million. In Charlotte, North Carolina, Blessed Katharine contributed $4,000 to finish construction of two churches with the stipulation that several rows of pews be set aside for use by black parishioners. Let us continue to pray for one another in these difficult times. But after much discussion with Bishop O'Connor, she wrote in 1889, "The feast of Saint Joseph brought me the grace to give the remainder of my life to the Indians and the . You attended the beatification and canonizations of Mother Katharine in Rome. I am inviting you to participate in the Mass for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. What was your familys connection to the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament? There was a series of tests and doctors I saw. Suppress it in one week or flogging with tar and feathers will follow. A few days later, a violent thunderstorm ripped through Beaumont, destroying a building that served as the Klans headquarters. He had a rock star presence. a Catholic who hasnt been to church in a while, new to the area and havent found a parish home, just looking for a welcoming and energetic parish community. Elizabeths life is a gentle rebuke to our fractious age of outrage. Politics & Society News How St. Katharine Drexel became part of the tax code and changed U.S. philanthropy forever Tim Swift - Catholic News Service March 29, 2022 This likeness of St.. I was very impressed because she was somebody who could do anything or be anything, and she gave it all up to work with minorities.. In 1988, he was a much more vibrant person, full of life and able to move around easily. Subscriber Service CenterAlready a subscriber? We have an inspiring role model in Katharine Drexel. In 1891, she founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, a religious order serving Black and Indigenous Americans . We welcome you to be part of our community. I get full inside when I think about it. We will not stand by while white priests consort with nigger wenches in the face of our families. She had always been interested in the plight of the Native Americans. Katharine Drexel, whose cause for sainthood began in 1964 and who was declared blessed by Pope John Paul II in 1988, cleared the final hurdle to sainthood last January when the pope decreed that two-year-old Amy Wall had been miraculously healed of nerve deafness in both ears through Katharines intercession in 1994. SCRIPTURES & ART: God tests us, but he never tests us beyond our strength. Know that God is doing a good work among us! Renew or manage your subscription here. Our parish mission is: To proclaim the Gospel of . St. Katharine Drexel was the founder of the Blessed Sacrament Sisters for Indians and Colored People, now known as the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. On March 3, 1955, St. Katharine Drexel died peacefully at age 96 in her order's motherhouse in suburban Philadelphia. We are a welcoming Catholic community called by God to live out the message of Christ in love and service to all people. Just click on the following link that takes you directly to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/StKatharineDrexelParishChgo/live. In November 1889, Kate took the religious name Sister Mary Katharine upon the suggestion of the superior general of Mercy Sisters. She was beatified November 20, 1988, then canonized a saint on October 1, 2000. Katharine Drexels legacy lives through the children whose lives she has touched directly and through her sisters. She later made the decision to give herself to God, along with her inheritance, through service to American Indians and African Americans. St. Katharine Drexel was born November 26, 1858 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Saint Katharine Drexel was an American heiress, nun, and missionary born in 1858 and died in 1955. Her mother died five weeks after her birth. We attended the parish church across the street. Pope Francis: Do We Allow Ourselves to Be Amazed at Gods Works? Continue Reading St. Katharine Drexel's Father Francis Anthony Drexel Katharine Drexel's father was a nationally and internationally well known banker. print and digital media outlets, dedicated to reporting the truth in light of the Gospel and the My doctor testified that those two bones were gone, and then returned. By 1942 she had a system of African American Catholic schools in 13 states, plus 40 mission centers and 23 rural schools. Knowing that rural schools for blacks in south Louisiana needed qualified teachers to survive, she trained men and women at Xavier for education degrees and then convinced their parents to allow them to leave home to teach. Chaplet of Divine Mercy for the Unborn, Mailing Address: PO Box 180, Wolfeboro, NH 03894. St. Elizabeth of Portugal, Great Queen and Humble Peacemaker, Pray For Us! St. Katharine Drexel Parish is a Roman Catholic Church in the Diocese of New Hampshire. St. Katharine Drexel (1858-1955) is the founder of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and is known for founding schools and missions to serve blacks and Indians. Sometime later, we got a call from our Archdiocese of Philadelphia, wanting us to come in to tell the story again. But he told us that if my body continued to heal, he wouldnt have to. Sister Marie Celine told her teenagers about the woman in the black robe who had befriended Sioux Chief Red Cloud, about the slight but energetic nun who had overcome the hostility and indifference of society and the Church to establish an amazing network of schools, churches and missions specifically for blacks and Native Americans, about the zealous visionary who was almost a century before her time in demanding civil rights for all. Some of my brothers had done work at the motherhouse of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, where we lived. Give a Gift SubscriptionBless friends, family or clergy with a gift of the Register. I grew up in a big Catholic family with 11 children. St. Katharine Drexel (1858-1955) is the founder of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and is known for founding schools and missions to serve blacks and Indians. St. Katharine Drexel was born on November 26, 1858. She died on March 3, 1955. Instead, she was reluctantly persuaded to allow workers to affix wheels on a wooden chair from the motherhouses auditorium. When widows or lonely single women were too proud to come to the Drexels for assistance, the family sought them out, but always quietly. ), the powerful chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, bemoaned the amendment because it allowed big corporations to shield income with creative accounting methods. She believed that everyone was a child of God.. If you have books at home that you have read, please bring them to Mass with you over the next two weekends and leave them along the side wall in the Brockway Room. She belongs to the Church. Not long after, I went into the hospital for an exploratory operation. 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time: A King on a Donkey, New Catholic Hospice Tries to Ease Pain, Help Patients Get to Heaven. I leave you with the following prayer: Havea blessed, happy and safe Labor Day weekend! Francis Drexel crafted his will carefully. My purpose in writing is to remind you that the Mass for Sunday, April 19, will again be live-streamed on the parishs Facebook page. Way back in 1891, she was a pioneer for the most downtrodden and the poorest of the poor. Her decision rocked Philadelphia social circles.The Philadelphia Public Ledger carried a banner headline: Miss Drexel Enters a Catholic ConventGives Up Seven Million.. The miracle being that two of the bones in your right ear had been miraculously restored and you could hear normally without any pain. And youre still practicing your faith today. We are a welcoming Catholic community called by God to live out the message of Christ in love and service to all people. She believed in quality education for all. It is a privilege for me to lead you on that pilgrimage of faith. Her blog, Talking Like A Girl, is currently being restructured. She was working for the advancement of integration, and she made that so clearly a mission of the Church, not just a social policy. I just remember it was an overwhelming experience. Your email address will not be published. People asked me what he said to me, or I said to him, and I dont recall. His daughters controlled the income from the estate, and upon their deaths, the Drexel inheritance would flow to their children. She speaks to Christian womens groups on the issues of motherhood, home schooling and raising a child with special needs. Famous Religious Figures Saint Katharine Drexel Saint Katharine Drexel used her personal fortune to fund schools for Native Americans and African Americans.