City of Philadelphia - File #: 000287

• File #: 000287
• Version: 0
• Type: Privileged Resolution
• Status: ENACTED
• File created: 5/4/2000
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 5/4/2000
• Title: Commemorating the Canonization of Blessed Katherine Drexel and honoring the spirit and charity of Mother Drexel's works and their lasting effects on the Citizens of Philadelphia.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Mariano, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember Krajewski, Council President Verna, Councilmember Tasco, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Nutter, Councilmember Ortiz, Councilmember Clarke, Councilmember DiCicco, Councilmember Rizzo, Councilmember Kenney, Councilmember Longstreth, Councilmember O'Neill

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
5/4/2000	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED
5/4/2000	0	CITY COUNCIL	READ
5/4/2000	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced	Pass

Title
Commemorating the Canonization of Blessed Katherine Drexel and honoring the spirit and charity of Mother Drexel's works and their lasting effects on the Citizens of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, Blessed Katherine Drexel was born on November 26, 1858 to the family of a wealthy banker and philanthropist; and

WHEREAS, Beginning at the age of twelve, Katherine Drexel taught Sunday school at the family summer home in Torresdale and worked alongside her mother with the poor two days a week; and

WHEREAS, Upon the death of her mother Katherine Drexel felt the call to religious life;

WHEREAS, After her father's death in 1885, Katherine Drexel and her sisters visited Indian Reservations, built schools on reservations, supplied food, clothing, furnishing and salaries for teachers; and

WHEREAS, On November 7, 1889, Katherine Drexel received the religious habit and the name Sister Mary Katherine; and

WHEREAS, In 1891, she founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and in 1892 the order moved to Cornwell Heights, Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, Her missionary work began with the opening of a boarding school for African American students and continued with the opening of schools for Pueblo Indians and schools throughout the south and southwest United States and the founding of Xavier University in New Orleans; and

WHEREAS, Since her death in 1955, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament have continued upon her efforts for social justice; and

WHEREAS, The Cause for Canonization of Blessed Katherine Drexel was formally opened in 1964 by John Cardinal Krol and was continued by Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua; and

WHEREAS; On March 9, 2000 Pope John Paul II announced that he will canonize Blessed Katherine Drexel on October 1, 2000 in Saint Peter's Square in Rome; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we honor the occasion of the canonization of Blessed Mother Katherine Drexel and that we remember the lasting effects o...