Family Faith Reflections from Chris

This week, I’d like you to meet one of our first American-born saints: Katharine Drexel. Her father was part owner of an international bank (“Drexel Bank”) and his family lived in luxurious comfort. Katharine had a good education and once had to read a book about the mistreatment of American Indians. It sparked in her a desire for restorative justice.
 
Using her father’s wealth and influence she arranged a trip to Rome and a meeting with Pope Leo XIII. There, she asked him to send missionaries to America to serve and care for the Indians who had been so unfairly treated. His answer? “If it means so much to you, why don’t you go do it?” So she did!


Katharine began by visiting the Dakotas and the Sioux Tribe, meeting with tribal leaders to better understand their lives and struggles. She saw that the reservations lacked good schools, so she used some of her father’s money to open new ones.
 
Soon Katharine recognized another community that wasn’t getting an opportunity to go to school: African American children. The children of freed slaves were not allowed to join “white” schools, so Katharine began opening schools all across the country just for them.


Eventually Katharine became a sister, establishing an order that would open schools for children that weren’t welcomed in schools anywhere else. Some people didn’t like her work, and some of their schools were attacked — even burned down!

Nevertheless, Katharine kept going. She worked with the NAACP to fight for better, safer jobs for black workers. She used her father’s name to get help from Pres. Franklin Roosevelt. Then, she opened the first American college for black students!
 

Katharine made a few mistakes along the way, but her hard work helped to improve the lives of thousands of children and their families. More than spending money, she spent her own time and her life among people who had been treated unfairly by others. She is an example of the Christian values of generosity and service, and the American values of justice and unity.


May we always work to live up to them as well.