Hometown Saint: Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in Philadelphia
...these schools. While still a lay person, Katharine’s generosity enabled a Sunday school for African-American children to open at 832 Pine Street in 1888. In 1892, that operation became St. Peter Claver’s Parish, the city’s first Roman Catholic Parish for African-Americans, located at 12th and Lombard Street. Many of the
St. Peter Claver
...tinue to play an important part in the lives of Black Catholics until its closure in 1985.[13] Despite the church’s closure, the spirit of the parish lived on through the St. Peter Claver Center for Evangelization which was based out of the rectory. [1] Letter to Katharine Drexel, 3/26/1889, MC
Cardinal Dougherty and His Golden Jubilee
...f over 100 new parishes, Catholicism flourished in the Archdiocese and the number of Catholics continued to increase. Halvey_483 Dougherty’s Golden Jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood was seen as a way to honor his work in expanding the Church as well as celebrating Catholic life in the city.
Philadelphia’s First Bishop
...p Egan suffered ill health for many years, with symptoms suggesting tuberculosis. His poor health was exacerbated by the almost yearly outbreaks of yellow fever in Philadelphia. During these outbreaks, over half the city residents fled to the country, and churches and gathering places were nearly empty. Streets were piled