[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 123 (Thursday, October 5, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9939-S9940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      MOTHER KATHARINE DREXEL: A TEACHER TO SOME, A SAINT TO MANY

 Mr. BREAUX. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life of 
Mother Katharine Drexel. Born into one of the wealthiest families in 
America in 1858, Mother Katharine turned down a life of privilege to 
start the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1891. She dedicated her 
life to building a brighter future for underprivileged African-American 
and Native American children.
  In honor of her hard work and dedication to the disadvantaged and 
disenfranchised, on October 1--just 45 years after her death--Pope John 
Paul II canonized Mother Katharine into sainthood, the highest 
recognition a Catholic can receive. She is the fifth American to reach 
this honor, and only the second who was born in America.
  The prestigious Xavier University of Louisiana owes its entire 
existence to Mother Katharine Drexel. When founded in New Orleans in 
1925, Xavier's mission was to prepare its students for positions of 
leadership. Today, Xavier is widely recognized for sending more 
African-Americans to medical school than any college in America. Its 70 
percent medical and dental school acceptance rate is almost twice the 
national average, and 93 percent of those who enter these programs earn 
their degree.
  Xavier also ranks first nationally in the number of African-American 
students who earn degrees in biology, physics, pharmacy and the 
physical sciences. In fact, since 1927 Xavier has graduated nearly 25 
percent of the black pharmacists practicing in the United States.
  Thousands of Xavier's graduates are prominent scientists, scholars, 
musicians, and community leaders in Louisiana and across the country. 
Notable graduates include Department of Labor Secretary Alexis Herman, 
and retired, four-star Air Force General Bernard Randolph, former head 
of the Space and Defense Systems Command.
  Proof of Mother Katharine's superior works lies in the achievements 
of three of her former students. One of Mother Katharine's students at 
Xavier was a young man who shined shoes, but wanted an education. 
Today, Dr. Norman Francis is president of Xavier University and a 
nationally recognized leader in higher education.
  Another of her former students, Lionel Hampton, found his gift for 
music under Mother Katharine's tutelage at Xavier. Hampton later earned 
platinum and gold records, and became the first African-American to 
play in the Benny Goodman Band. Hampton joined another jazz great and 
New Orleanian, Louis Armstrong, to play for Pope Pius XII.
  Mother Katharine also spread her goodwill elsewhere across the 
country. When Marie Allen entered Mother Katharine's St. Michael's 
Indian School in Window Rock, Arizona, she was an impoverished young 
child who spoke no English. Today, Dr. Marie Allen heads the Navaho 
Nation Special Diabetes Program to educate Native Americans about 
diabetes, a deadly disease that plagues American Indian reservations. 
Even more, over the past 10 years, 90 percent of students graduating 
from St. Michael's Indian School have gone to college.
  These are just three examples of the multitude of students who have 
been inspired to greatness by Mother Katharine Drexel. In the midst of 
a hostile

[[Page S9940]]

culture, she used kindness and compassion to fight injustice and 
indignities, and in the process forged a brighter future for America's 
poor and underprivileged.
  When Katharine Drexel died at the age of 97 in 1955, more than 500 of 
her disciples were teaching in 63 schools on American Indian 
reservations and in African-American communities. This is a true 
testament to her ability to inspire and lead.
  History is full of truly remarkable people whose individual acts of 
kindness have left an indelible mark on our hearts, our souls and our 
conscience. Mother Katharine Drexel is no different. Her actions are a 
true testament to the power of strong religious faith and a moral 
obligation to those less fortunate.
  On behalf of the thousands of people around the world who have been 
touched by her work, I pay tribute to the life and work of Mother 
Katharine Drexel. She may have been a teacher to some, but Mother 
Katharine is a saint to many.

                          ____________________