The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Canonization of Philadelphia native Saint Katharine Drexel with multiple events this year. The observance of this Canonization Jubilee in the Archdiocese will begin with the Feast of Saint Katharine Drexel on Monday, March 3, 2025, during the 12:05 p.m. Mass.
Monday, March 3, 2025
12:05 p.m. Mass
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Additional celebration opportunities include the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament Gala on April 27, 2025 at 3:00 p.m., the Concert and Social at the Cathedral Basilica on September 28, 2025 at 3:00 p.m., and the Archdiocesan Solemn Mass with Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez on October 5, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.
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Editor’s Note: Saint Katharine Drexel was canonized on October 1, 2000. She is the second American-born person ever to be canonized. Born into wealth as part of the Drexel family, she gave up her life of privilege to found the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1891. She dedicated her life to serve the needs of African Americans and Native Americans, and inspired many women to follow her example as consecrated Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.. Today, the Sisters continue to serve in elementary and secondary schools, as well as at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, the first Black Catholic university in the U.S. They are also involved in a variety of other services including pastoral and spiritual ministries, social services, counseling, religious education, and health care, primarily but not exclusively among Black and Native American peoples.
In May 2016 the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament announced their decision to sell the Motherhouse property in Bensalem where the shrine to Saint Katharine was previously located, along with other property in Virginia. At that time the Sisters asked the Archdiocese to create a sacred space for Saint Katharine’s remains. The Archdiocese agreed to create a space for her tomb at the Cathedral Basilica. This tomb sits immediately adjacent to the Drexel altar donated to the Archdiocese by the Drexel family.
To learn more about Saint Katharine Drexel and the shrine, please visit here.
The Cathedral Basilica is a Sacred Jubilee Site and provides the clergy and faithful the opportunity to obtain the gift of the Jubilee Indulgence. For more information, please visit here.
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
ArchPhilly
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Contact:
Ellen Gallagher
Communications Coordinator
215-587-3747 (office)