Poor Handmaid Foundress Declared a Saint

Posted on November 1, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

Blessed Katharina Kasper was canonized on Oct. 14 by Pope Francis in Rome. She is now known as Saint Katharina Kasper. She founded the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ in 1851.

Canonization is the act by which the Catholic Church declares a person who has died a saint. Persons named saint are examples of following Christ and are worthy of imitation by the faithful.

According to information released by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, she is known as Catherine Kasper in the U.S. where a facility in Donaldson bears her name. She died on Feb. 2, 1898. Because of her exemplary work with the poor, sick, and the children and her following of the life of Christ, the Catholic Church named her Blessed Katharina Kasper in 1978 until her canonization last month.

A Mass of Thanksgiving to celebrate the canonization of Saint Katharina Kasper will be held in the Ancilla Domini Chapel at The Center of Donaldson on Sunday, Nov. 4 at 11 a.m. ET. A reception will follow in Cana Hall. Everyone is invited to attend.