The Reverend Mother Katharine Drexel: An American Saint

erin brown
Aug 8, 2017 · 4 min read
Shrine of Saint Katharine in Bensalem, PA — photo from katharinedrexel.org

Do you ever wonder why some things are named what they are?

One of the streets here in town and in OKC is named Drexel. I heard once that it was named after a nun and I remember thinking “What’s that about? Most of our street names are presidents, military heroes, types of trees, etc. So where does a nun fit it?” One day at work I stumbled across a folder with the name Drexel on it.

The Drexel family was well-known for their wealth and generosity. They donated to numerous organizations across the nation. Katharine Drexel in particular shocked the members of wealthy high society when it became public knowledge that she was taking her vows and becoming a nun. Not just any nun, a missionary nun, working to improve the lives of Native Americans and African-Americans in the West.

The Reverend Mother Katharine Drexel (1858–1955)

Katharine hailed from one of the wealthiest families in the United States. Her grandfather ran a wealthy banking house and supported numerous philanthropic endeavors. Upon his death, his sons (Anthony and Francis) continued his philanthropy but shifted the banking house to an investment firm, developing close ties with companies like JP Morgan and Chase as well as companies across the pond.

Anthony Joseph Drexel (1826–1893) Katharine’s Uncle, founded Drexel University in Pennsylvania. He’s also credited by some for making Wall Street a financial powerhouse.— from Drexel.edu

“The house of Drexel & Co. came generously to the support of the public credit at critical periods.”

Francis Drexel had three daughters, Katharine, Elizabeth, and Louise. Each sister goes on to lead extraordinary lives, continuing the families philanthropic tradition. The three often traveled together and all three were dismayed at the level of poverty they witnessed on Native American Reservations on a trip to South Dakota. The three sisters started supporting more charitable organizations to help minority populations around the country. Upon their father’s death, they inherited a vast sum of money, today’s equivalent would be around $400 million.

Temporary housing for the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Once a private home owned by the Drexel family.

Katharine gave up her portion of the inheritance for her own personal use by funneling it to fund a variety of charities. She later used some of the money to found the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.

“The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament has a twofold purpose: the devout honor and service of Our Lord in the Eucharist and the elevation of the Divinity of Jesus Christ to Native Americans and Black Americans through apostolate of prayer and work.”

One of the sister’s first mission was to reopen the St. Catherine Indian School in Santa Fe, NM in 1894. Slowly, they supported the opening of numerous missions, schools, boarding houses, and clinics to serve African-Americans, Native Americans, children, and single women around the country.

In Oklahoma, the St. Patrick’s Mission, established near the Anadarko Agency in 1892, operated continuously until 1966. It was started by the Benedictine monks at Sacred Heart in the Potawatomi Nation. This was the first Catholic effort on behalf of the Plains Indians of Oklahoma and funded, in part, by Katharine Drexel with support from the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. — Oklahoma Encyclopedia of History and Culture

In 1893, Father Felix DeGrasse petitioned for the opening of two black schools in the Langston area. Both were approved, opening three years later with full funding from Katharine Drexel. Father Anciaux of Langston, with the help of the Benedictine sisters group in Guthrie, also received financial support from Mother Katharine to construct a chapel for the black families at Towhee.

Mother Katharine visited Guthrie in 1902. During this trip she quietly visited all the schools and organizations, including the local hospital, she helped fund and praised the Catholic community here for all their good works. She may not have been from Oklahoma but she supported Oklahoma and its people, helping them survive the financial hardships of trying to build a life out of red dirt.

Guthrie Leader Newspaper June 30, 1902

Across the country, the Reverend Mother Katharine Drexel established 145 missions, 50 schools for African Americans, 12 schools for Native Americans and Xavier University, the only historically black Catholic college in the US, but her influence and support for people and organizations are incalculable. In March of 2000, Pope John Paul II approved Katharine Drexel for sainthood in recognition for her immeasurable generosity, unwavering faith, and good deeds.

Tomb of Saint Katharine Drexel — photo from katharinedrexel.org

If you want to learn more about her, check out these sources.

Katharine Drexel: The Riches to Rags Life Story of an American Catholic Saint

St. Agnes School of the Choctaws

Saint Katharine Drexel Mission Center and Shrine in Bensalem, PA

Holy Family Cathedral School in Tulsa, OK

erin brown

Written by

mom, historian, want-to-be traveler, creative, designer, bibliophile, story-teller, speaker, decent writer in the making, constantly curious and lover of shoes.

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