By Matthew Gambino • Posted February 20, 2019

The Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul welcomes all to celebrate the feast of St. Katharine Drexel on her feast day Sunday, March 3.

Two concerts of sacred music and a full schedule of weekend Masses and devotions will honor the saintly Philadelphia heiress who founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.

St. Katharine’s remains were transferred to a tomb at the cathedral last fall, thanks to a grant from the Connolly Foundation, from the former shrine at the sisters’ motherhouse in Bensalem. 

In an announcement Feb. 28, the tomb has been designated an archdiocesan shrine, and a new documentary film on St. Katharine is in development.

(Watch a video below:)

The principal celebration will take place in the basilica at the 11 a.m. Mass March 3, with additional Masses at 8 and 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. (in Spanish) and 6:30 p.m.

The Cathedral Choir will perform a concert in honor of St. Katharine prior to the 11 a.m. Mass, as well as prior to the Saturday evening 5:15 p.m. anticipated Mass on March 2.

The sacrament of penance and reconciliation will be available at 4:15 p.m. on Saturday, as well as 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.

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A solemn novena to St. Katharine will be offered Feb. 22 through March 2 with prayers following all the Masses celebrated in the cathedral and the chapel, all located at 18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia.

For more information about the tomb of St. Katharine Drexel at the Cathedral Basilica, see the website.