Leo Luke Marcello This newest entry in the 15 Days of Prayer series introduces readers to Saint Katharine Drexel the Philadelphia socialite who became a nun and missionary to the poor and oppressed Follow in the footsteps of Saint Katherine Drexel Born in 1858 into a socially prominent Philadelphia family Katharine Drexel seemed destined to lead the life of a debutante Instead from the age of 33 until her deat in 1955 she dedicated her life and a fortune of 20 million dollars to the material and spiritual well being of black and native Americans She founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament which had 500 Sisters teaching in 63 schools throughout the country by the time of her death Mother Drexel helped open the first mission school for Indians in Santa Fe New Mexico in 1894 Other schools soon followed for Native Americans west of the Mississippi and for blacks in the American South She also founded Xavier University in New Orleans For Katherine Drexel sharing