10 Facts About Katharine Drexel

Katharine Drexel's father married Emma Bouvier in 1860, brought his older children home, and had a third daughter, Louise, in 1863.

Katharine Drexel was consecrated titular Bishop of Dibona at the chapel at Eden Hall.

Katharine Drexel was awakened to the plight of indigenous American people during a family trip to the Western United States and was inspired.

In 1889, Katharine Drexel fulfilled that wish by entering a convent of the Sisters of Mercy and in February 1891, she founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People.

Katharine Drexel decided to establish the congregation to address the needs of Native Americans and African Americans in the southern and western United States, as well as the poor black communities.

Katharine Drexel served as first Superior General of the congregation and held that position until 1937, when illness made it necessary that she retire from active administration.

Katharine Drexel was canonized on October 1,2000, when her 1994 miracle of reversing congenital deafness in 2-year old Amy Wall was recognized.

Katharine Drexel was originally buried in Cornwells Heights, Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania.

The convent was sold and in August, 2018, Katharine Drexel's remains were transferred to a new shrine at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.

Schools St Katharine Drexel founded or funded include :.