For nearly a century, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (S.B.S.) have been at the core of the achievements and student successes at Xavier University of Louisiana. The religious order, established by St. Katharine Drexel when she took her vows in 1891, would help her found the nation’s only historically Black and Catholic university when Xavier’s College of Arts and Sciences was affirmed in 1925. Now, as Xavier prepares to celebrate its centennial, a timely tribute to the S.B.S.’s work is set to be displayed at the university’s Art Gallery on the first floor of the Administration Building, located at 1 Drexel Drive in New Orleans, LA 70125. From February 19 to March 30, 2024, the exhibit “Lighting the Path” will explore the work of these women who tirelessly gave of themselves to fulfill their vows of service to Black and Native American people, seeking racial equity through the uplifting power of Catholic education. An opening reception will be held on February 19 at 5 p.m. in the Art Gallery.

 

“Lighting the Path” will feature rarely-seen photographs, historical papers, artifacts, memorabilia, and works of art from the Xavier University of Louisiana Archives and Special Collections. Among the featured items will be the Thomas Mundy Peterson Medal, crafted to honor him as the first African American to vote in an election under the then-newly enacted provisions of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution. The gallery will be open Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., except holidays.

 

“For generations, the S.B.S. has been instrumental in the education, leadership, and faith guidance of thousands of Black and Native American students,” said Vincent Barraza, archivist at Xavier University of Louisiana, whose research efforts were instrumental in the exhibit’s curation. “It is thrilling to display rarely seen historical ephemera from the [Xavier University of Louisiana] Archives & Special Collections in such a thought-provoking and reflective exhibit, and we look forward to commemorating the extensive and essential work they undertook, even in the face of animosity.”

 

 

Ahead of her time, St. Katharine Drexel, then Mother Katharine, worked with her Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament to bring education to those denied equity due to the sin of racism. St. Katharine gifted the university its great mission to promote a more just and humane society by educating its students to become the next generation of leaders in a global society, and for decades, the Sisters instilled it in every pupil who walked the campus. The powerful legacy they and St. Katharine left the institution is its guiding light into another century of service.

 

Along with seldom-seen art pieces, historical papers will offer a rare glimpse at works prepared for Mother Katharine Drexel by Xavierites during her recovery at the motherhouse in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.

 

“The uniqueness of this [exhibit] is how it manages to interweave all of these different elements– photographs, art, and artifacts, to weave a story of the strength of these women who quietly went about their work for Christ that was often on the cutting edge of the cultural, academic and social norms,” said Anne Collins Smith, curator and director of the Xavier University Art Gallery.

 

“Lighting the Path” is a collaborative effort of the Xavier University of Louisiana Art Department, Archives and Special Collections, and Office of Institutional Advancement. All are welcome to attend the opening reception on February 19 and celebrate the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and all their work in building the great history of Xavier University of Louisiana.