Katherine Drexel's Habit
In 1889 Bishop O'Connor agreed Katharine was called to be a
religious, but in spite of her preference for a cloistered life, he
urged her to found a congregation to work with the Black and
Indian peoples. She hesitated, but, after taking it to prayer,
accepted this as her vocation.
She pronounced her vows as the first Sister of the Blessed
Sacrament on February 12, 1891. She and thirteen companions
moved into St. Elizabeth Convent in Bensalem in 1892. On the
property they had erected a boarding school for black children
that was connected to the chapel by a covered walk.
By 1894 young SBS were in St. Catherine Indian School in
Santa Fe; in St. Francis de Sales School in Virginia in 1899; and
in 1902 in St. Michael Indian School on the Navajo Reservation
in Arizona. Gradually other boarding schools sprang up on
reservations. In day schools the Sisters taught elementary and high school levels in urban and rural areas of the Northeast, the Midwest,
the Southwest and the South.
In 1917 a school to prepare teachers was established in New Orleans. By 1925 it received a charter as Xavier University of Louisiana.
A severe heart attack in 1935 curtailed St. Katharine's missionary travels. Although for about 20 years she lived in prayerful retirement, her love and interest in the missions continued until her death on
March 3, 1955.
St. Katharine was the last of the three Drexel sisters to die. The
estate of Francis A. Drexel then was distributed to the charities listed
in his will.
Katherine Drexel's Habit
In 1889 Bishop O'Connor agreed Katharine was called to be a
religious, but in spite of her preference for a cloistered life, he
urged her to found a congregation to work with the Black and
Indian peoples. She hesitated, but, after taking it to prayer,
accepted this as her vocation.
She pronounced her vows as the first Sister of the Blessed
Sacrament on February 12, 1891. She and thirteen companions
moved into St. Elizabeth Convent in Bensalem in 1892. On the
property they had erected a boarding school for black children
that was connected to the chapel by a covered walk.
By 1894 young SBS were in St. Catherine Indian School in
Santa Fe; in St. Francis de Sales School in Virginia in 1899; and
in 1902 in St. Michael Indian School on the Navajo Reservation
in Arizona. Gradually other boarding schools sprang up on
reservations. In day schools the Sisters taught elementary and high school levels in urban and rural areas of the Northeast, the Midwest,
the Southwest and the South.
In 1917 a school to prepare teachers was established in New Orleans. By 1925 it received a charter as Xavier University of Louisiana.
A severe heart attack in 1935 curtailed St. Katharine's missionary travels. Although for about 20 years she lived in prayerful retirement, her love and interest in the missions continued until her death on
March 3, 1955.
St. Katharine was the last of the three Drexel sisters to die. The
estate of Francis A. Drexel then was distributed to the charities listed
in his will.