Not Home. Come Home.

St. Katharine Drexel was the second American-born saint to be canonized by the Catholic Church. She was an American heiress with a large fortune, which she spent lavishly – though not the way you might expect... Instead of spending her money on selfish gains, she spent her fortune serving those who were struggling to get an education and needed support.

Her generosity sprang from a robust understanding of the power of the Eucharist. The divine meal "filled [her] up" when she was empty, enabling her to pour out the oil of her life on the feet of the afflicted, and in doing so, on the feet of Christ. “My sweetest Joy is to be in the presence of Jesus in the holy Sacrament,” she said.

Born in 1858 to a wealthy family in Philadelphia, St. Katharine Drexel was raised to see and love those around her who were under-resourced. Her parents were dedicated followers of Christ, with rich prayer lives and generous hearts. They frequently opened their home to those in need in their community, giving out food, clothes, and money to help with rent payments. Largely due to her parent's servant-shaped lives, Katharine grew up with an understanding of financial success that was shaped by an awareness of the Kingdom of God.

Though she lived comfortably, Katharine was acquainted with suffering of her own. When she was very young, she lost her mother to cancer and a year later, her father passed away. In keeping with his selfless life, he donated part of his large estate to charities, leaving the rest to his daughters, who then gave most of it away as well. At the age of 14, Katharine felt called to become a nun and wrestled with the idea of living a life of religious poverty. She continued to rely on the Lord for strength as she sought to discern where He was leading her.

During a trip to Europe, she and her sisters met with Pope Leo XIII and asked him to send missionaries to Native American communities. He replied to Katharine, “Why not, my child, yourself become a missionary?” At first, Katharine was apprehensive and afraid of what this path might hold for her. She sought God’s will through prayer, spiritual direction, and meeting with Christ in the Eucharist.

At 33 years old, Katharine made the decision to dedicate her life and fortune to missionary service in Native American and African American communities. She founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, where together they pledged their lives to service. She and her sisters:

• Founded Xavier University of Louisiana, the only historically Black Catholic university in the United States 

• Opened schools for Black students along the southern U.S. border 

• Visited Native American reservations to learn about their poverty

• Began schools for Native Americans west of the Mississippi 

• Lobbied newspapers to stop identifying African American suspects by race

• Pushed for anti-lynching legislation.

By the end of her life, Katharine had founded one hundred forty-five missions and over sixty schools. She retired at the age of 77 after suffering a heart attack. She spent the rest of her life in advocacy through prayer until her death in 1955.

Her life embodied the idea of “living the Eucharist” in service to others. Many homeless shelters have been founded in her honor, carrying out her legacy to serve the least of these. They provide food, shelter, advocacy, education, and best of all, the opportunity to share in the Eucharist. St. Katharine Drexel truly carried out the words of Matthew 25:35:

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in…”