National Shrine
  
 

Come, Experience the Miracle of Faith!

The Shrine area, which holds the entombed remains of Saint Katharine Drexel, was built in 1949. The walls are of Brier Hill stone and the floor is flagstone. The bas relief of the angels above the tomb was designed by Mother Mary of the Visitation, SBS, and Kathleen Dorsey.

The Katharine Drexel story is told through an exciting collection of artifacts which include her unusual wheel chair that gave her much comfort as she was piloted around her room and in the corridors. Beautifully designed and colorful woolen-woven rugs were given to her by her Navajo friends from Arizona, who loved her as a Mother. There is a five minute video which makes Saint Katharine Drexel's life come alive. Pilgrims can pray, reflect and leave written intentions in the Apache Burden Basket located next to Saint Katharine's crypt. The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament pray daily for these intentions.

Mother Katharine was buried here on March 7, 1955.  She was raised to Sainthood on October 1, 2000.  Her tomb is directly under the main altar in Saint Elizabeth Chapel.

THE APACHE BURDEN BASKET

People who visit the burial site of Saint Katharine Drexel place their special needs/ requests in an open prayer basket. This basket symbolizes the openness in which God hears our prayers. Daily, Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament pray for people and their intentions who pray through the intercession of Saint Katharine Drexel.

Did you know you could e-mail prayer intentions?

E-mail us at skdshrine@comcast.net

Someone checks the mail every day. The intentions are transferred to intention slips and placed in the Apache Burden Basket at St. Katharine Drexel's
tomb. All intentions are acknowledged. On the
right are letters that we received in the past.

Wheel chair used by
Mother Katharine after she
suffered a heart attack
which forced her retirement
in 1935 at the age of 77.

African Mask

Pipe and Beaded Pipe bag Lakota (Sioux)

Pencil stub show how she lived her vow of poverty.