Saint Katharine Drexel Documentary To Air This Month

BENSALEM, PA — A documentary on the life of Saint Katharine Drexel, whose tomb in Bensalem was moved last year to Philadelphia, will air locally later this month.

"Saint Katharine Drexel: The Holy Heiress," a 30-minute documentary, will air at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, on ABC-6 out of Philadelphia. Encore presentations are scheduled for 1 p.m. and midnight on Sunday, March 31.

According to the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, "The Holy Heiress" focuses on the life and legacy of Drexel, from her early years growing up in Philadelphia, to her religious life dedicated to serving the needs of African Americans and Native Americans, and how she became a saint.

It also chronicles the moving and installation last year of her remains to a newly constructed tomb, now Archdiocesan shrine, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul from the Motherhouse of the Community she founded, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, in Bensalem.

Drexel's remains had been at the Bensalem shrine for 63 years. But declining numbers in the religious order had made maintaining the estate difficult.

Designated an Archdiocesan shrine last month, the relocated tomb, near the Drexel family altar inside the Cathedral’s main entrance, is open for visitation and prayer.

Those speaking in the documentary include sisters from the community she founded, biographers and others.

"The life and mission of Saint Katharine is a beautiful story of holiness," said the Rev. G. Dennis Gill, who appears in the documentary. "Through this program, viewers will learn more about her early life, her consecrated life and legacy, her holy and virtuous life and how she selflessly provided for the needs of African Americans and Native Americans."

The program was underwritten by the Connelly Foundation, with support from the Knights of Columbus.

Drexel was canonized on October 1, 2000, becoming the second American-born person ever to become a Catholic saint. Born into wealth as part of the Drexel family, she gave up her life of privilege to found the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1891.