Saint Katharine Drexel (1858–1955) was an American heiress, philanthropist, and religious sister who dedicated her life and fortune to the service of Native American and African American communities. Born into a wealthy Philadelphia banking family, Katharine was deeply influenced by her parents' strong Catholic faith and commitment to charity. After witnessing the injustices faced by marginalized communities, she felt called to action. During an audience with Pope Leo XIII in 1887, she asked him to send missionaries to help Native Americans. The Pope challenged her instead, saying, “Why not become a missionary yourself?” This encounter transformed her life, leading her to enter religious life and devote herself entirely to education and racial justice.

In 1891, Katharine founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, a religious congregation focused on serving Native and African American communities. Using her vast inheritance—estimated at around $20 million—she established more than 60 schools across the United States, including Xavier University of Louisiana, the first Catholic historically Black college. Despite facing racism and opposition, she remained steadfast in her mission, advocating for educational opportunities and fighting against discrimination. Her work was not only about charity but also about systemic change, ensuring that disenfranchised communities had access to quality education and religious instruction.

Katharine Drexel continued her work tirelessly until ill health forced her into retirement in 1935. Even then, she dedicated her remaining years to prayer and spiritual reflection. She passed away on March 3, 1955, at the age of 96. In recognition of her lifelong service, she was canonized a saint by Pope John Paul II in 2000, becoming only the second American-born saint at the time. Her legacy endures through the institutions she founded and the ongoing work of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.