[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 23064]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                CANONIZATION OF MOTHER KATHARINE DREXEL

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I am here today to pay tribute to the legacy 
of Mother Katharine Drexel, who on October 1, just a few weeks ago, 
became the fourth American ever to be canonized by the Vatican.
  Katharine Drexel was born in 1859 into a very well-to-do family in 
Bucks County, PA. Early in life, though, she dedicated herself and her 
inheritance to work for social justice for African Americans and Native 
Americans.
  Mother Drexel's legacy reflects more than simply her commitment to 
the Catholic faith, though her faith was the inspiration for her life's 
work. Her activism expanded into the area of civil rights due to her 
understanding of the lingering effects of racism towards African 
American and Native Americans.
  Due to her commitment to eradicating the vestiges of racism, she 
founded the Blessed Sacrament for the Christian education of Native 
Americans and African Americans.
  In addition, throughout her life, she founded over 100 educational 
institutions for African Americans and Native Americans.
  The most famous school she founded is Xavier University in New 
Orleans. At the time, no Catholic university in the South accepted 
black students and Mother Drexel established Xavier University to fill 
this void.
  Along with her sisters, Mother Drexel inherited close to $14 million. 
Mr. President, $14 million in 1860 was a lot of money. Through her 
support of civil rights organizations such as the NAACP, and her 
numerous foundation schools, Mother Drexel donated more than $20 
million through her charitable work, a figure that in today's value 
exceeds a quarter of a billion dollars.
  The excellent management of her inherited estate also earned her the 
reputation as an accomplished businesswoman. Thus her social justice 
work in the late 1800s and early 1900s also made her a woman's rights 
activist.
  Although Mother Drexel passed away in 1955, her legacy continues 
today through the work of the Catholic order that she founded in 1891, 
an order that continues to carry out her vision of ending racial 
injustice.
  It is my hope that we will all join in acknowledging the work of 
those who have dedicated themselves to working for the needs and 
concerns of all Americans. Nevada is home to both Native Americans and 
African Americans. I find it, therefore, especially appropriate that I 
speak today in spreading across the Record of this Senate the 
tremendous contribution and legacy of this great American, Mother 
Katharine Drexel.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.




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