Lives of the Saints: 

St. Katharine Drexel, patron saint of philanthropists and racial justice (1858–1955)

When we think about caring for the poor, we may imagine ourselves helping at a food pantry or building houses in a foreign country. But how many of us consider giving away all of our money, let alone a fortune? That’s exactly what St. Katharine Drexel did.

Born in Philadelphia, the daughter of an international banker, Katharine was well educated, well traveled and well provided for. But seeing many of those close to her wrestle with sickness, Katharine realized that even a great deal of money could not protect those she loved. And she was no stranger to serving those in need-her family worked hard to use their wealth to serve the poor among them.

God used Katharine’s early life experiences to form her for what was to come. After learning about the terrible conditions most Native Americans lived in, Katharine became determined to make a difference. During a trip to Europe, the young woman had the opportunity to ask Pope Leo XIII to send more missionaries to the western United States to help the Indian missions. Surprisingly, the pope responded by encouraging Katharine to become a missionary herself.

Katharine dedicated her life to working with Native American and African-American populations, giving away her riches and becoming poor so she could better serve the poor around her. Along with her Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament-the order of nuns she founded-Katharine began schools and projects across the country to support communities that were often forgotten and discriminated against by most of society. In 2000, St. Katharine Drexel became the second recognized U.S.-born saint.