St. Katharine Drexel, March 3
Heiress to a Philadelphia banking fortune, Katharine Drexel (1858-1955) gave it all away to found the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. She opened schools and missions for Native Americans and Black Americans, including Xavier University in New Orleans. She was canonized in 2000.
On the U.S. liturgical calendar, March 3 is an optional memorial: Saint Katharine Drexel, virgin.
Other saints on March 3
- St. Cunigunde, empress (1033)
- St. Winwaloe, abbot of Landévennec (6th century)
Name days on March 3
In countries that keep name days, March 3 is the day for people named Katharine and Cunigunde. These names come from the same saint, as variants, nicknames or forms used in other languages.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Katharine | March 3 |
| Cunigunde | March 3 |
March 3 on the calendar
March 3 is the 62nd day of the year (the 63rd in a leap year), with 303 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | Wednesday |
| 2028 | Friday |
| 2029 | Saturday |
| 2030 | Sunday |
Keeping March 3
March 3 falls in winter. As an optional memorial, each parish or priest may choose whether to celebrate it. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Katharine and Cunigunde, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around March 3
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| February 29 | St. Oswald of Worcester |
| March 1 | St. David of Wales |
| March 2 | St. Agnes of Bohemia |
| March 4 | St. Casimir |
| March 5 | St. John Joseph of the Cross |
| March 6 | St. Colette |
The day before, March 2, is the day of St. Agnes of Bohemia. The day after, March 4, belongs to St. Casimir. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.