Philadelphia, Pa., Jul 26, 2018 / 14:09 pm
The relics of St. Katharine Drexel, along with her original tomb, will be translated to the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, and the public will be able to visit her remains when the tomb opens in September.
St. Katharine Drexel and her family attended Mass at the Cathedral Basilica when she was a child.
Previously, St. Katharine Drexel' body was buried at the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament Motherhouse and Shrine in Bensalem, Pa. That shrine closed at the end of 2017, about 18 months after the sisters announced that they intended to sell the property. The smaller number of sisters found it difficult to maintain the relatively large property.
"The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament have once again given the faithful of the Archdiocese a tremendous gift," said Fr. Dennis Gill, rector of the Cathedral Basilica. "With the new opportunity to honor Saint Katharine at the Cathedral, even more people will be exposed to her extraordinary life and example. It is our fervent hope that others will be inspired and continue her important work among Native Americans and African Americans."