Xavier University Honors Foundress St. Katharine Drexel for 25th Anniversary of Canonization

St. Louis Cathedral was overflowing with students, faculty, alumni and friends of Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) as they gathered to pay tribute to university foundress Saint Katharine Drexel with a special Mass celebrating the 25^th anniversary of her canonization on Oct. 1 at 3 p.m.  Archbishop Gregory Aymond was the celebrant.
 
Saint Katharine Drexel passed away in1955 at the age of 96, was declared venerable on Jan. 26,1987 and following a pair of miracles, was canonized by Pope John Paul II on Oct. 1, 2000.
 
The Mass in honor of Saint Katharine Drexel was beautifully scored with music performed by XULA’s chorus and concert choirs under the direction of John Ware and the K4K in Harmony String Quartet also performed. Mass ended with announcements from President of XULA, Dr. Reynold Verret and the singing of the school’s alma mater followed by a second line out of the cathedral and around Jackson Square.
 
“Some stories need to be told more than once, this is especially true when we reflect upon the life, vocation and faith of Saint Katharine Drexel,” said Archbishop Aymond during his homily. “In her lifetime, she very carefully listened to Jesus talking not to her ears but to her heart, we need to hold her up as an example to live by.”

As the nation's first and only Catholic historically Black college in the United States, XULA was founded in 1925 by Saint Katharine Drexel and her Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament marking 100 years since she founded the university.

Over its history, the university has educated many of the nation’s most prominent African American educators, artists, scientists, doctors, politicians, attorneys, activists, Catholic clergy and other public figures.
 
“Today is the 25^th anniversary of her canonization in Rome and we should ask the question what does her life say to you and me?” Archbishop Aymond said. “She wants to tell us something, and God wants to tell us something through her. St. Katharine Drexel stands as an example of knowing Jesus and using her gifts and acting in his name.”

“She calls us to see the face of Christ in others,” he added. “She fought racism and injustice in our society by words and action. She saw the people who were neglected and prejudiced against and knew God was calling her to do something about it and so she acted on her prayers and concern for racial equality and saw Jesus in those who suffered social injustice especially those in the African American community”

Saint Katharine Drexel was born in Philadelphia on Nov. 26, 1858, into a wealthy family, but was led to a life of missionary work in a private meeting with Pope Leo XIII in Jan. 1887.
She entered the Sisters of Mercy but later laid the foundation for her own religious order, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Hers was a calling focused on extending Christ’s compassion to people on the margins of society – particularly Black and Native American people. She founded the order in 1891, locating it in Philadelphia’s Torresdale section.

In addition to opening Saint Katharine Drexel High School and XULA, Saint Katharine Drexel’s educational ministry grew to serve the marginalized in 21 states and Washington, D.C.
“Given the fact that we know she was born into a wealthy banking family, she could have lived a very comfortable life, instead she heard in her heart God calling her to hear the cry of the poor and to do something about it and give herself to charity and others,” Archbishop Aymond said. “She had a missionary heart and saw the face of Christ in the poor and lonely and those who needed spiritual support.”

He added, we are blessed by her life and founding XULA and Saint Katharine Drexel High School in our diocese that continues her mission to this day.

According to XULA Provost Dr. Marguerite S. Giguette in an article she wrote for the Bucks County Herald, “I have the privilege of witnessing the transformational power of higher education – particularly for students of color who, for far too long, were not provided access to the education they deserved.”
“I am often reminded that while learning in an integrated environment is the norm today, it was once almost unheard of – that is, until 100 years ago when Katharine Drexel ventured from her hometown of Philadelphia to the Jim Crow South to establish Xavier, the nation’s only Black and Catholic University and a leading HBCU,” she added.

“The buildings stand tall on the campus of Xavier University and the get taller every day it seems, but she stands taller than all the buildings. She stands with a heart that heard Christ she stands with a mind and life that still serves people to this day; therefore, these schools and her life are a model for our times today,” Archbishop Aymond said.