Parish History:

Katharine Drexel was born November 26, 1858 in Philadelphia, the daughter of a wealthy family. After the death of her mother, Katharine was raised by her father and stepmother to believe that her wealth was simply a loan, which was to be shared with others.

Katharine was educated privately and traveled extensively in the United States and Europe. At an early age, she became keenly aware of the plight of Native and African Americans. In 1885, at the age of 27, Katharine established a school for Native American children in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Upon meeting Pope Leo XIII, Katharine inquired about a religious congregation to staff institutions, which she would finance. Pope Leo suggested that she become a missionary.

Katharine used her inherited wealth to build schools, supply food, clothing, new furnishings, and teacher's salaries for Native and African Americans. She was also successful in finding priests to serve their spiritual needs. Throughout her lifetime, she fostered and supported missions in the United States and Europe. In addition, she established and financially supported an estimated 60 schools.

Katharine began her religious training in 1889 with the Sisters of Mercy in Pittsburgh. On February 12, 1891, Sister Katharine Drexel pronounced her vows as the first Sister of the Blessed Sacrament and returned to her native Philadelphia. A year later the new order was moved to St. Elizabeth's Convent in Bensalem, where Mother Katharine gave "the gift of self" for the next 44 years.

Two years after suffering a heart attack, Mother Katharine relinquished her office as Superior General of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. She was 79 years old. She continued her Eucharistic adoration until her death on March 5, 1955, at the age of 96. Mother Katharine was interred in the crypt, which is now known as the Saint Katharine Drexel Shrine.