Saint Katharine Drexel Shrine
1858–1955 St. Katharine Drexel Feast, March 3
The tomb of St. Katharine Drexel, foundress of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.
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Plan your own visit How long to stay, how to get there, what to see, and what to bring. Travel guideWhat happened here
The Story
St. Katharine Drexel was born in Philadelphia in 1858, the daughter of one of America's wealthiest banking families. Raised in a home where prayer and generosity to the poor went hand in hand, she grew troubled by the poverty and injustice endured by Native American and African American communities across the United States. During an audience with Pope Leo XIII in 1887, Katharine asked the pope to send missionaries to serve Native Americans. According to the well-known account, he replied by asking why she did not become a missionary herself. She entered religious life in 1889 and in 1891 founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, a congregation devoted to the Eucharist and to serving Black and Native American communities. Over six decades she poured her inheritance — estimated at some twenty million dollars — into founding schools and missions across the country, including Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, the first Catholic university in the United States established for Black students. She spent her final years in prayer at the congregation's motherhouse in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, where she died in 1955. Katharine Drexel was beatified in 1988 and canonized by Pope St. John Paul II on October 1, 2000. Her tomb was long a place of pilgrimage at the Bensalem motherhouse; in 2018, after the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament sold the property, her remains were solemnly transferred to the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, where pilgrims venerate her tomb today. Her life continues to speak to Catholics of Eucharistic devotion expressed in practical charity, and of the Gospel's demand for justice toward every human person.
How to read this account
Church Recognition
St. Katharine Drexel was beatified in 1988 and canonized by Pope St. John Paul II on October 1, 2000, one of the first American-born saints. In 2018 the Archdiocese of Philadelphia transferred her remains from the Bensalem motherhouse to the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, where her tomb is open for public veneration.
Catholic Teaching
Her shrine reflects the Church's veneration of the saints and their relics (CCC 1674) and the communion of saints (CCC 946–962), while her life shows how devotion to the Eucharist bears fruit in charity and in defense of human dignity.
Go Deeper
Visit the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament at https://www.katharinedrexel.org for her life story and canonization history; the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia maintains information on visiting her tomb. See also the Catechism on the communion of saints (CCC 946–962).
Useful before you go
Plan Your Visit
The Pilgrim’s Quick Card
- Ideal stay
- Half Day Allow 2-4 hours for the tomb, church, and prayer
- Best months
- Apr-Jun & Sep-Oct Usually the best balance of weather and crowds
- Nearest airport
- Philadelphia (PHL) About 30-45 minutes by road
- Language & currency
- English · U.S. dollar (USD) English availability varies; major shrines often assist
- Feast day
- March 3
- Accessibility
- Good Main shrine areas are generally manageable; verify locally
Plan the trip
How Long Should I Stay?
Half Day is a practical amount of time for Saint Katharine Drexel Shrine. Allow 2-4 hours for the tomb, church, and prayer.
- Minimum: Half Day for the principal shrine or church and personal prayer.
- Recommended: Half Day so you can include Mass, the main devotional focus, and time to explore without rushing.
- Extended stay: Add a second day for a slower pace and nearby sacred sites.
Pilgrim Tip: Leave at least one unscheduled block for quiet prayer; pilgrimage sites often become most meaningful after the checklist is finished.
Best Time to Visit
Best Overall
Apr-Jun & Sep-Oct
Usually the best balance of weather and crowds.
Peak Periods
Major feast days, school holidays, summer weekends, and organized diocesan pilgrimages can bring larger crowds. Book lodging and transportation earlier if your dates overlap a major celebration.
For a Quieter Pilgrimage
Choose a weekday outside the busiest holiday period and arrive early in the day.
Feast Day
March 3 can be a particularly meaningful time to visit, but expect larger crowds and special schedules.
Pilgrim Tip: Always check the shrine calendar before booking; the most spiritually rich dates are often also the busiest.
Getting There From the United States
Best Gateway: Philadelphia (PHL)
For most pilgrims traveling from the United States, Philadelphia (PHL) is the most practical arrival point. About 30-45 minutes by road.
From the airport, continue toward Bensalem, Pennsylvania by the most practical combination of rail, bus, rental car, taxi, or pre-arranged transfer. For remote shrines, a private transfer or rental car is often simpler than piecing together local connections.
Typical U.S. Routing
United States -> Philadelphia (PHL) -> Bensalem, Pennsylvania -> Saint Katharine Drexel Shrine
Our recommendation: Compare total travel time, not airfare alone. A slightly more expensive flight that removes a long ground transfer can make a pilgrimage much easier.
On the ground
Getting Around
You generally do not need a car once you are near Saint Katharine Drexel Shrine. The sacred site and its immediate historic center can usually be explored on foot, with local buses or taxis available for longer transfers.
A rental car is most useful if this stop is part of a wider regional pilgrimage.
Good to Know: Historic districts may restrict traffic or have limited parking, so check your lodging's arrival instructions in advance.
Where to Stay
Choose lodging in the most walkable part of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, ideally within a short walk or simple transit ride of Saint Katharine Drexel Shrine. That makes it easier to attend Mass and return for prayer without losing time in traffic.
Best For Pilgrims
- Historic-center lodging near the church or shrine
- Religious guesthouses when available
- Hotels near a major transit stop
- Accessible lodging if your group has mobility needs
Pilgrim Tip: Check the actual walking route, not just the map distance; old cities can include steep streets, stairs, or cobblestones.
Accessibility
The main worship and visitor areas at Saint Katharine Drexel Shrine are generally manageable for most pilgrims, though historic thresholds, paving, or side chapels may still create barriers. Accessibility services and entrances can change, so verify current arrangements before traveling.
Pilgrim Tip: If mobility is a concern, choose lodging and transportation that minimize unnecessary walking.
What to do
Most Important Things to Do
Venerate the Saint or Relics
The shrine at the motherhouse holds her tomb.
Allow: 30-60 minutes for prayer before moving through the rest of the site.
Attend Mass
If Mass is offered during your visit, make it the center of the pilgrimage rather than an add-on. Check the official shrine or parish schedule shortly before traveling.
Understand the Devotion
Read a short life of the saint before arriving, then pray for the grace to imitate the virtue most associated with that saint.
Explore the Church and Grounds
Look for the principal chapel, altar, crypt, museum, gardens, historic rooms, or pilgrimage route connected with the site. Allow another 45-90 minutes where available.
Pilgrim Tip: Arrive early or stay later than large tour groups when possible; the atmosphere is often much quieter.
Suggested Pilgrimage Itinerary
Half-Day Pilgrimage
- Begin at Saint Katharine Drexel Shrine and spend time in quiet prayer.
- Attend Mass if the schedule aligns with your visit.
- Visit the principal shrine, tomb, relic, apparition site, or historic chapel.
- Go to Confession when available.
- Finish with another short period of prayer before leaving.
Have more time? Add other churches and sacred sites in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.
Mass, Confession & Prayer
When the church is active, Mass is the best way to place the saint's witness within the life of the Church. Confession, Adoration, and devotions vary by community.
Use the current schedule provided by the shrine, parish, diocese, or religious community shortly before visiting.
Pilgrim Tip: Avoid building your itinerary around an old fixed Mass time. Liturgical schedules can change seasonally and on feast days.
Practical
What to Bring
Pilgrimage Essentials
- Rosary
- Small Bible or prayer book
- Written prayer intentions
- Journal and pen
- Reusable water bottle
Practical Items
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Small backpack
- Portable phone charger
- Modest clothing for churches
- Payment card plus a small amount of U.S. dollar (USD)
Pilgrim Tip: Pack lightly enough that you can spend the day walking and praying without managing unnecessary gear.
Before You Go
Before leaving:
- ✓ Check current opening hours
- ✓ Check Mass and Confession information
- ✓ Write down your prayer intentions
- ✓ Confirm airport and ground transportation
- ✓ Check the weather
- ✓ Pack comfortable walking shoes
- ✓ Confirm accessibility needs in advance
- ✓ Carry appropriate church clothing
- ✓ Leave room for quiet prayer
Most Important: Do not experience Saint Katharine Drexel Shrine only as a historic attraction. Make time for prayer, the sacraments when available, and the devotion or biblical event that gives the place its meaning.
Additional Information
The shrine at the motherhouse holds her tomb.
Official Information
Check the shrine, parish, diocese, or custodian's official website for current opening hours, liturgies, closures, and pilgrimage notices.
Currency
United States uses U.S. dollar (USD). Carry a payment card plus a small amount of local cash for offerings, small cafés, or local transport.
Local Language
English is the principal language for this destination. English availability varies, but major international shrines often have multilingual staff or printed material.
Religious Etiquette
Dress respectfully, silence phones during prayer and Mass, avoid photographing worshippers at close range, and follow any local rules around relics, tombs, confessionals, or restricted chapels.
Pilgrim travel note: Mass times, opening hours, costs, accessibility, and local conditions can change. Please confirm important details directly with the shrine and your providers before you travel. Travel Disclaimer
Travel with a group
Prefer to travel with a group?
No guided pilgrimages that include Saint Katharine Drexel Shrine are listed yet. Many parishes and dioceses organize their own trips, so ask at yours.
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Information & sources
Mass times, admission and travel requirements change. Confirm them with the official source before you visit.
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