Hometown saint shows ‘we too can be holy,’ says priest
Faithful pray at the tomb of St. Katharine Drexel following a March 3 feast day liturgy at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul. (Gina Christian)
By Gina Christian • Posted March 9, 2021
Despite having a “remarkable” personal story, a Philadelphia saint shows that “we too can be holy,” said Father Dennis Gill, rector of the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.
Father Gill was the principal celebrant and homilist at a March 3 liturgy honoring St. Katharine Drexel, a banking heiress who devoted herself to the education and evangelization of Blacks and Native Americans, while founding the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.
Novena, Mass set to honor ‘faithful, fervent’ Philly saint
Philadelphia-born St. Katharine Drexel will be honored with a March 3 Mass (preceded by a solemn novena) at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul. (National Shrine of St. Katharine Drexel)
By Gina Christian • Posted February 21, 2021
The Philadelphia Archdiocese will honor a hometown saint, while invoking her intercession to end racism and to increase devotion to the Eucharist.
The March 3 feast day of St. Katharine Drexel will be celebrated during a 12:05 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, to which her sacred remains and national shrine were relocated in 2018.