Feast Day of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal: A Peacemaker and Devoted Servant of the Poor
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Saint Katherine Drexel, born on November 26th, 1858, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is known as the patron saint of racial justice and philanthropy and American Indians. She dedicated her life to helping oppressed communities, particularly African American and Native American populations.
Born into a wealthy and well-connected banking family, Katherine used her resources to create a lasting impact. The family's wealth, however, did not prevent them from living out a serious commitment to their faith.
In 1889, she founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, an order of nuns committed to serving communities of color. The order built schools, missions, and churches throughout the United States, including Xavier University in New Orleans, the first Catholic university for African Americans. While traveling with her family through the Western U.S., Katharine witnessed the poor living conditions of the Native Americans. Eventually, while still a laywoman, she would give much of her own money to fund the missions and schools in these seriously deprived areas.
In February of 1891, Katherine Drexel made her first vows in religious life. She formally renounced her fortune and her personal freedom for the sake of growing closer to God in solidarity with the victims of injustice. In 1894, she purchased 1,600 acres in Rock Castle, Virginia, on which to build a boarding school for black girls. The school opened in 1899 as Saint Francis de Sales School.
Saint Katherine Drexel was the second American-born person to be canonized by the Catholic Church. She was canonized on October 1st, 2000, by Pope John Paul II.
Saint Katherine Drexel's feast day is celebrated on March 3rd, the anniversary of her death in 1955. Her legacy lives on through the many schools, missions, and churches established by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.
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