The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-14
MISS nRExEL,s FINAL VOWS.
Her Immense Wealth TO he Devoted TO
the New Catholic Order of the
blessed Sacrament.

Blessed Sacrament.
Dispatch 10 the Ne,o York SIM, 19M.
PiTrsBunG, Feb. 12.-Miss Kate Drexel,
or Sister Catherine, made her final re-
ligious profession and took the veil of the
new Roman Catholic Order of the Blessed
Sacrament at Z o'clock this morning In
the chapel of Mercy Convent. The cere-
mony was private, only the church dig
ntaries, Sisters of Mercy and novices OF
the new order, and w. III. Smith, Sister
GATHERINGS brother-in-law, being present.
Archbishop Ryan of Philadelphia received
the VOWS, and Bishop Phelan celebrated
mass. Sister Catherine arose after the
Gospel was sung and was led by the SUI
nerioress and assistant to the crate, where
She knelt and was interrogated by Arch
bishop Ryan, who asked:
"My child, what do you demand"
81 will pay my VOWS TO the Lord, in the
sight of His people, In the courts Of the
house of the Lord" was the answer in u
low-toned voice.
Then followed the reading of the pray
ers prescribed for the occasion and the
administration of the Holy Communion.
The Archbishop then rcappeared, and
when that part Of the ritual was reached
where the VOWS were administered Miss
Drcxel repeated the following profession:
I'm the name of our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ, and under the protection of
His immaculate mother, Mary, ever
Virgin, /, Katharine Drexel, called in re-
ligion Sister Mary Catherine, do vow and
promise to God, poverty, chastity, and
obedience, and TO devote my life 60 the
service of the Indians and the colored
race, and the prosecution until death Of
the duties of the Order of the Blessed
Sacrament, according to its approved rule
and constitution, under the authority and
Right Reverend Father In God, John J..
Ryan"
Sister Catherine during the ceremony
was dressed in bridal dress of white,
but after she had taken her vow she put
on the garb of the new order, OF which she
Will be Mother Superior. The dress is Of q
coarse black material, with the coife and
CAMP similar to the Order of the Sisters OF
Mercy. The black veil is somewhat
shorter. and the cncture is white cord.
After the ceremony there came a repast
of bread and black coffee, of which all
| present partook. Among the clergy pres
ent were Bishop Manly Of Helena Mont;
| Right Rev. III. Dereggo, Chancellor of the
diocese, Rochester, N. Y; Rev. DR.. Wall of
st. Paul's Cathedral Father Stephanie OF
the Catholic Indian Bureau, Washington,
ID. c.; the Father Provincial of the Holy
| Ghost College, Fathers Murphy, Griffin
and McDermott of the same institution,
and Father Conway OF the Cathedral, who
was master of ceremonies.
Sister Catherine has been on q retreat
in the convent for ten days. None of the
noviccs who are in the convent is pre-
pared yet to take the final VOWS, and
until some of them are ready to become
nuns, Sister Catherine will remain where
she is Her principal convent near Phil
adelphia will not be ready for some time
| yet She is desirous to more fully ma
ture her plans in the place where she ha'
gained her first experience in the labor
and duties of q nun. 1t may be si,
months before Miss Drexel goes fortl
with her little band of workers. Ac
cording to Mother Neri of Mercy Convent
Sister Catharine, as Superior of the new
order, will retain control of her immens,
income, which she will hold in trust fo
the benefit of the new order. The garl
of the Sistcrhood differs slightly from tn,
habit adopted by the Sisters Of Mercy.
The convent at Andafusia, Pa, on tn
line of the Pennsylvania Railroad, be
tween Benton and Philadelphia, is to b
the mother house of the new order.