Parish History

Katharine Drexel was born November 26, 1858 in Philadelphia, the daughter of a wealthy family. After the death of her mother, Katharine was raised by her father and stepmother to believe that her wealth was simply a loan, which was to be shared with others.

Katharine was educated privately and traveled extensively in the United States and Europe. At an early age, she became keenly aware of the plight of Native and African Americans. In 1885, at the age of 27, Katharine established a school for Native American children in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Upon meeting Pope Leo XIII, Katharine inquired about a religious congregation to staff institutions, which she would finance. Pope Leo suggested that she become a missionary.

Katharine used her inherited wealth to build schools, supply food, clothing, new furnishings, and teacher's salaries for Native and African Americans. She was also successful in finding priests to serve their spiritual needs. Throughout her lifetime, she fostered and supported missions in the United States and Europe. In addition, she established and financially supported an estimated 60 schools.

Katharine began her religious training in 1889 with the Sisters of Mercy in Pittsburgh. On February 12, 1891, Sister Katharine Drexel pronounced her vows as the first Sister of the Blessed Sacrament and returned to her native Philadelphia. A year later the new order was moved to St. Elizabeth's Convent in Bensalem, where Mother Katharine gave "the gift of self" for the next 44 years.

Two years after suffering a heart attack, Mother Katharine relinquished her office as Superior General of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. She was 79 years old. She continued her Eucharistic adoration until her death on March 5, 1955, at the age of 96. Mother Katharine was interred in the crypt, which is now known as the Saint Katharine Drexel Shrine.

The Cause for Canonization of Mother Katharine Drexel was formally opened in 1964. She was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul I and was beatified in 1988. Katharine Drexel of Philadelphia acquired Sainthood on October 1, 2000.

John McKee was born in 1821 in Alexandria Virginia, the son of slaves. In 1842, John moved to Philadelphia where he met his future wife at her family's eatery. With money inherited from his father-in-law, John began his real estate dynasty with the purchase row houses in Philadelphia.

With the beginning of the Civil War, John would enlist and attain the rank of colonel in the Pennsylvania National Guard. Upon his return to civilian life, John would exchange rental opportunities in his Philadelphia row houses, for southern property, which had been given to freed slaves. Colonel McKee's real estate holdings included 4,000 acres in Atlantic County, 2,500 of those in Egg Harbor Township, as well as vast parcels of land in Philadelphia, Georgia, Kentucky, New York and West Virginia.

Much of the property acquired in Egg Harbor Township became known as McKee City. Though his vision of a namesake city never materialized, 18 homesteads were constructed along Reega and West Jersey Avenues.

Colonel John McKee died in 1902. A portion of his estate was left to the Most Reverend Patrick John Ryan, Archbishop of Philadelphia. The largest, the property at the intersection of English Creek and West Jersey Avenues was conveyed to the Bishop of the Camden Diocese by Court Order on March 9, 2001.

In 1987, three Catholic Egg Harbor Township residents contacted the Diocese of Camden regarding the establishment of a Catholic Church. Early attempts were disappointing, but perseverance prevailed. The Diocese was convinced of the need in our town for various reasons, among them, the growth in residents, the designation of our own Zip Code and the implementation of the 911 system, and The Current newspaper. A copy of The Current highlighted not only local activities, but also pointed out the religious briefs section that included all other major religious denominations in the Township but one. In September 1999, the Diocesan Board of Consultors recommended the establishment of a new parish and former Bishop McHugh approved.

The vision of many has now culminated into a spiritual community that we, the Catholic faithful of Egg Harbor Township, shall be the beneficiaries of.