The journey to Canonization came to fruition on October 1, 2000, at that time Pope John Paul II in Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City, at
the solemn celebration of Mass, proclaimed Mother Katharine Drexel, "Saint Katharine Drexel!"
Joy filled this historical moment when a Philadelphia heroine took
her place with the other Saints of the Catholic Church. Great
rejoicing also took place at the SBS Motherhouse and Shrine of
Saint Katharine Drexel in Bensalem, Pa., as well as throughout
the United States and Haiti.
The process of canonization for Katharine was begun by John Cardinal Krol who officially introduced her Cause in Rome in December 1964.
On January 26, 1987, Mother Katharine was declared Venerable.
The Vatican concluded that Robert Gutherman was miraculously
cured of deafness in 1974, upon his family's having prayed solely
to Mother Katharine. Katharine's beatification took place on
November 20, 1988.
October 1, 2000 saw the culmination of this journey after several boards investigated the second healing of Amanda (Amy) Wall and concluded that her cure from nerve deafness was truly miraculous.