National Shrine of St. Katharine Drexel

National Shrine of St. Katharine Drexel is a Catholic Shrine located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

On August 2, 2018, Saint Katharine Drexel’s sacred remains were translated from the Motherhouse of the Community she founded, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, to the Cathedral Basilica. The newly constructed tomb, located near the Drexel Family altar on the left as you enter the Cathedral, is open for visitation and prayer.

Saint Katharine Drexel entered religious life with the intention of establishing a new congregation that would serve Native Americans and African Americans, focusing on their conversion to the Catholic religion. Her purpose was driven by her profound devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. She would also accept a fourth vow of service to the "Indian and Black Races" in addition to the three vows of Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience. During her time in the Novitiate, Katharine focused intently on her religious development and even succeeded, yet she frequently pondered on her trips to Native Americans and Sioux Chief Red Cloud. Her novice director, Mother Mary Inez, RSM, guided her toward her objective and also assisted in the formation of ten novices and three postulants who would journey with her to their own Novitiate in Cornwells Heights, Pennsylvania. The Foundation of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament became a reality on February 12, 1891, when Mother Katharine took her vows in front of Philadelphia's Archbishop Ryan.