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Thursday, September 28, 2000
The Southern Cross, Page 11
New saints’ order has Georgia ties...
O n October 1, Pope John Paul II will canon
ize 120 Martyrs of China. Among them
will be seven Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.
This Sisters were killed during the Boxer
Rebellion on July 9, 1900, along with two
Franciscan bishops, several seminarians and
dedicated lay Chinese.
The seven Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
(FMM) were in China just over a year when
they were imprisoned and put to death. These
Sisters came from Belgium, France, Italy and
the Netherlands. They eagerly accepted the call
to missionary work in China.
The approaching canonization of seven
Franciscan Missionaries of Mary is joyfully
anticipated by FMM all over the world. Begun
by Mary of the Passion in 1877, this religious
order now numbers over 8,000 Sisters of 73
nationalities who minister in 76 countries
throughout the world. They strive to share the
Gospel with all peoples and are ready to go
Left: The Franciscan Martyrs
everywhere, giving their services to those in
need irrespective of race, creed, culture or poli
tics.
The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary came to
the United States in 1903. Over the years,
Sisters from the USA have been missioned to
every continent, and sisters from other countries
have come to this country to work. In the words
of the order’s foundress, Sister Mary of the
Passion, “We have only one country, the whole
world is ours.”
In 1980 the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
came to the Columbus Deanery. Presently Sister
Lucie Kristofik ministers at Saint Francis
Hospital and Sister Philomena Fogarty is at
Christ the King Parish. In October two other
FMMs will join them, Sister Mary Petrosky and
Sister Gorza Beekawska.
A special Mass in honor of the canonization
of the seven sisters will be celebrated at Christ
the King Church, Hamilton, on October 4, the
Feast of Saint Francis, at 7:00 p.m.
...as does Saint Katharine Drexel
M other Katharine Drexel, who will be canon
ized October 1, has left a lasting legacy to
the Diocese of Savannah.
Among the many missions and schools that
directly benefited from her assistance were institu
tions in Macon, Augusta and Savannah.
Mother Katharine sent funds for the construction
of Saint Peter Claver School in Macon, and the
Blessed Sacrament Sisters—members of the reli
gious order she founded—are still present there. In
Savannah she contributed generously to the opera
tion of Saint Benedict’s School and helped to
finance the work of Mother Matilda Beasley’s
school and orphanage. In Augusta she sent finan
cial support to Immaculate Conception School.
Bom in 1858 to a wealthy family in Philadel
phia, Katharine inherited a sizable fortune from
her father, millionaire Francis Drexel. She used her
inheritance to help impoverished Native American
and African American groups by furnishing
schools, teachers and financial aid to communities
throughout the Eastern United States and in the
Midwest, as well as in the mral and urban South.
In the Diocesan Archives are copies of the letters
that passed between Mother Katharine and Bishop
Keiley, as well as her correspondence with Mother
Matilda Beasley. Her letters are evidence of a per
sonal interest, even addressing the question of
“rooms sufficiently large,” with “sufficient light
and ventilation” for the comfort of the school chil
dren. Noting that “more than half of (their) chil
dren of school age are practically without schools
to attend,” she called for increased effort to reach
out to the African American community in the
Diocese of Savannah.
In 1942 Bishop Gerald P. O’Hara presented an
award from the Catholic committee of the South to
her as “a valiant woman, a loyal daughter of the
church, an exemplary religious and one of
America's greatest women.” Mother Katharine
died on March 3, 1955. She was beatified on
November 20, 1988.
Bishop J. Kevin Boland will celebrate a Mass in
honor of Saint Catherine Drexel at Saint Peter
Claver Church, Macon, at 11:15 a.m, October 8.
He will also bless a new shrine in her honor.
Saint Katharine Drexel
For Mass times and locations nationwide,
call -800-Masstimes
(1-800-627-7846)
www.masstimes.org
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When death strikes, you know friends who understand can see you
through. You know we’re always here to help you through those
times of mourning. Please call on us any time—day or night.
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