Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will celebrate a mass honoring Blessed Katharine Drexel on her Feast day. More than 1500 people are expected to attend the mass, including members of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, the religious order Blessed Katharine established in 1891.

FEAST DAY MASS
12:00 p.m.
Friday, March 3, 2000
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia

The mass will celebrate Blessed Katharine Drexel's life and her continuing mission, which focuses on the poor among the Native American and African American people.

Cardinal Bevilacqua, Robert Gutherman and Amy Wall and her family will be available for interviews after the Mass
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
1:15 p.m.
Friday, March 3, 2000
Archdiocesan Office Center
9th Floor
222 North Seventeenth Street
Philadelphia

Katharine Drexel was born in 1858 in Philadelphia and died in 1955. Pope John Paul II beatified her on November 20, 1988, bestowing upon her the title of "Blessed." On January 27, 2000, the Holy Father decreed that the healing attributed to the intercession of Blessed Katharine Drexel of Amy Wall's hearing is miraculous. The decree is the last major step needed for the canonization of Blessed Katharine Drexel. The Vatican is expected in the near future to announce when Katharine Drexel will be canonized.

No interviews will be given in the Cathedral. Video cameras will not be permitted in the Cathedral during the Mass. A multi-camera feed will be provided via "mult-box" outside the Cathedral in the rear of the building. For more information on accessing this feed, please contact the Office for Communications at 215-587-3747. Still cameras and reporters will be permitted inside the Cathedral.

###

Contact
Catherine Rossi
Director
215-587-3747