St. Peter Claver Church
The St. Peter Claver Parish Library in Lexington, KY, was dedicated to St. Katharine Drexel on Sunday, March 4, 2018. Our Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv, blessed the facility. The parish selected this date for the dedication because her Feast Day is March 3.
Katharine Drexel was a Philadelphia socialite who chose to use her inheritance to aid African-Americans and Native Americans in their pursuit of education. She is known for donating her money to create various organization, churches, and colleges, including Xavier University in New Orleans, LA.
St. Katharine is extremely important in the history of our St. Peter Claver Parish because she donated $8,000 to build the church, which has a predominantly African-American congregation. St. Katharine Drexel stated that this money would have to be returned, with interest, should that church ever stop being a church for people of color.
