About the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul:
The largest Catholic Church in Pennsylvania, the Cathedral offers much to see. It has a huge dome that is over 150 feet above the ground, there are magnificent paintings, many mosaics and stained glass windows.
There are also shrines to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, St. Joseph, St. John Neumann who was formally the Bishop of Philadelphia, and Our Lady of Guadalupe among others.
But there is another shrine recently added: The body of Saint Katherine Drexel is located here, having been re-located from the mother house in Bensalem, PA. and has now been dedicated as an official shrine.
About Saint Katharine Drexel:
Canonized fairly recently (2000), she is the second American-born Catholic Saint (Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first).
Born into a wealthy family, she was given an excellent example of charity by her parents, who gave generously to those less fortunate, and invited them into their home.
Katharine began donating to the Black and Indian people, and as her vision grew she founded an order to further her mission in life: The “Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Black and Indian Peoples”, now known simply as the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.
In 1894, she helped establish a school for Native Americans in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and other schools quickly followed. In 1915, she established Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
By time of her death in 1955, Saint Katharine ended up donating her entire fortune of almost $20 million to her cause.
We celebrate the Feast of Saint Katherine Drexel on March 3.
Finding the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul:
Address: 18th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Tel: +1 (215) 561-1313
Click here for the official website of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul in Philadelphia.
