Saints of SPCCS

The Call To Be Saints

At St. Peter Claver Catholic School, we believe every child is called to become a saint. Sainthood is the lifelong journey of knowing, loving, and serving God while striving to live as Jesus Christ taught us. The goal is Heaven before Harvard.'

We want our students to pursue academic excellence and discover their God-given gifts, but we teach them that success is more than college, careers, or accomplishments. Our greatest goal is eternal life with God.

Through prayer, the Sacraments, Scripture, the Beatitudes, service, and the lives of the saints, we challenge our students to learn like scholars, live like disciples, and serve like saints.

At St. Peter Claver, we prepare students not only for a successful future, but for the ultimate destination: Heaven.

Here are a few saints who inspire us daily to live and love like Jesus Christ.

St. Peter Claver SJ (our Namesake)

St. Peter Claver (1580–1654) was a Spanish Jesuit priest who dedicated his life to serving enslaved Africans in Cartagena, Colombia. He welcomed those who were suffering, defended their dignity, cared for their physical and spiritual needs, and shared with them the love of Jesus Christ.

He called himself “the slave of the slaves forever,” giving his life in service to people who had been forgotten and mistreated. His life reminds us that every person is created in the image and likeness of God and deserves dignity, compassion, and respect.

His feast day is celebrated on September 9.

The Legacy of St. Peter Claver

St. Peter Claver's life gives our school a model of:

Faith in Jesus Christ — keeping Christ at the center of everything we do.
Human Dignity — recognizing the God-given worth of every person.
Courage — standing up for what is right and responding to injustice.
Education — helping others grow in knowledge, faith, and purpose.
Service — giving ourselves generously to others.

His legacy is more than the name of our school—it is part of our mission.

We seek to form students who know they are beloved children of God, pursue faith and academic excellence, recognize the dignity of others, and live lives of service.

St. Peter Claver reminds us that education is not simply about what a student knows, but who the student becomes.

Our goal is to send forth young people who, like our patron saint, see a need, respond with compassion, and serve with courage.

See. Love. Serve.

St. Peter Claver, pray for us.

St. Katharine Drexel, SBS

(Born Catherine Mary Drexel; November 26, 1858 – March 3, 1955) was an American Catholic religious sister and educator. In 1891, she founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, a religious congregation serving Black and Indigenous Americans. Canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000, Drexel was the second person born in the United States to be declared a saint and the first who was born a U.S. citizen.

The Vatican cites a fourfold legacy of Drexel:

A love of the Eucharist and perspective on the unity of all peoples;
Courage and initiative in addressing social inequality among minorities;
Her efforts to achieve quality education for all;
Selfless service, including the donation of her inheritance, for the victims of injustice.

She is known as the patron saint of racial justice and of philanthropists. Pope Leo XIV sees her as an example of those who, during their lives, “discovered that the poorest are not only objects of our compassion, but teachers of the Gospel. It is not a question of 'bringing' God to them, but of encountering [God] among them.”

Her feast day is observed on March 3, the anniversary of her death.

St. Katharine Drexel's Visited SPCCS!

In 1899, Mother Katharine Drexel, as she was known at the time, gave $2,000 to support the educational initiative that was started by Louise Morell. That's about $57,000 in today's dollars. Saint Drexel also gave more money at later dates and visited St. Peter Claver Catholic School in 1904.

St. Katharine Drexel, pray for us.

The Saintly Six

The Saintly Six are six Black Catholics whose lives of faith, service, courage, and perseverance continue to inspire the Catholic Church in the United States. Their stories remind us that holiness is lived through love of God, service to others, and a commitment to justice and human dignity.

(left to right)

Venerable Augustus Tolton

The first publicly recognized Black Catholic priest in the United States, Father Tolton overcame racism and hardship to serve God and his people with humility and perseverance. His life reminds our students that obstacles should never prevent them from pursuing their God-given purpose.

Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman

A joyful Franciscan Sister, teacher, scholar, and evangelist, Sister Thea shared the beauty of Black Catholic culture and called the Church to greater unity and faith. Her joy, courage, and love for Christ remind us to celebrate our identity while living the Gospel boldly.

Venerable Pierre Toussaint

Born into slavery in Haiti, Pierre became a successful hairdresser in New York and used his resources to care for the poor and support charitable works. His generosity reminds us that true success is measured by how we serve others.

Venerable Henriette Delille

A New Orleans Creole woman who founded the Sisters of the Holy Family, Henriette dedicated her life to caring for the poor, elderly, sick, and enslaved. Her servant spirit reflects our call at St. Peter Claver to put our faith into action.

Servant of God Julia Greeley

Known as the “Angel of Charity,” Julia quietly cared for Denver’s poor, often giving away what little she had. Her life teaches our students that even the smallest acts of kindness can become powerful expressions of God’s love.

Mother Mary Lange

Founder of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, Mother Lange dedicated her life to educating and caring for Black children when opportunities for their education were severely limited. Her commitment to education connects deeply with our mission at St. Peter Claver to ensure every child has every opportunity to learn and realize success.

Our Connection to the Saintly Six

At St. Peter Claver Catholic School, the Saintly Six are more than historical figures. Their lives reflect the values we hope to cultivate in every student: faith, perseverance, service, courage, academic excellence, and love for others. Like our patron, St. Peter Claver, they show us that holiness means using our gifts to serve God and make a difference in the lives of others.

Saints of SPCCS

The Call To Be Saints

At St. Peter Claver Catholic School, we believe every child is called to become a saint. Sainthood is the lifelong journey of knowing, loving, and serving God while striving to live as Jesus Christ taught us. The goal is Heaven before Harvard.'

We want our students to pursue academic excellence and discover their God-given gifts, but we teach them that success is more than college, careers, or accomplishments. Our greatest goal is eternal life with God.

Through prayer, the Sacraments, Scripture, the Beatitudes, service, and the lives of the saints, we challenge our students to learn like scholars, live like disciples, and serve like saints.

At St. Peter Claver, we prepare students not only for a successful future, but for the ultimate destination: Heaven.

Here are a few saints who inspire us daily to live and love like Jesus Christ.

St. Peter Claver SJ (our Namesake)

St. Peter Claver (1580–1654) was a Spanish Jesuit priest who dedicated his life to serving enslaved Africans in Cartagena, Colombia. He welcomed those who were suffering, defended their dignity, cared for their physical and spiritual needs, and shared with them the love of Jesus Christ.

He called himself “the slave of the slaves forever,” giving his life in service to people who had been forgotten and mistreated. His life reminds us that every person is created in the image and likeness of God and deserves dignity, compassion, and respect.

His feast day is celebrated on September 9.

The Legacy of St. Peter Claver

St. Peter Claver's life gives our school a model of:

Faith in Jesus Christ — keeping Christ at the center of everything we do.

Human Dignity — recognizing the God-given worth of every person.

Courage — standing up for what is right and responding to injustice.

Education — helping others grow in knowledge, faith, and purpose.

Service — giving ourselves generously to others.

His legacy is more than the name of our school—it is part of our mission.

We seek to form students who know they are beloved children of God, pursue faith and academic excellence, recognize the dignity of others, and live lives of service.

St. Peter Claver reminds us that education is not simply about what a student knows, but who the student becomes.

Our goal is to send forth young people who, like our patron saint, see a need, respond with compassion, and serve with courage.

See. Love. Serve.

St. Peter Claver, pray for us.

St. Katharine Drexel, SBS

The Vatican cites a fourfold legacy of Drexel:

A love of the Eucharist and perspective on the unity of all peoples;

Courage and initiative in addressing social inequality among minorities;

Her efforts to achieve quality education for all;

Selfless service, including the donation of her inheritance, for the victims of injustice.

Her feast day is observed on March 3, the anniversary of her death.

St. Katharine Drexel's Visited SPCCS!

In 1899, Mother Katharine Drexel, as she was known at the time, gave $2,000 to support the educational initiative that was started by Louise Morell. That's about $57,000 in today's dollars. Saint Drexel also gave more money at later dates and visited St. Peter Claver Catholic School in 1904.

St. Katharine Drexel, pray for us.

The Saintly Six

The Saintly Six are six Black Catholics whose lives of faith, service, courage, and perseverance continue to inspire the Catholic Church in the United States. Their stories remind us that holiness is lived through love of God, service to others, and a commitment to justice and human dignity.

Venerable Augustus Tolton

The first publicly recognized Black Catholic priest in the United States, Father Tolton overcame racism and hardship to serve God and his people with humility and perseverance. His life reminds our students that obstacles should never prevent them from pursuing their God-given purpose.

Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman

A joyful Franciscan Sister, teacher, scholar, and evangelist, Sister Thea shared the beauty of Black Catholic culture and called the Church to greater unity and faith. Her joy, courage, and love for Christ remind us to celebrate our identity while living the Gospel boldly.

Venerable Pierre Toussaint

Born into slavery in Haiti, Pierre became a successful hairdresser in New York and used his resources to care for the poor and support charitable works. His generosity reminds us that true success is measured by how we serve others.

Venerable Henriette Delille

A New Orleans Creole woman who founded the Sisters of the Holy Family, Henriette dedicated her life to caring for the poor, elderly, sick, and enslaved. Her servant spirit reflects our call at St. Peter Claver to put our faith into action.

Servant of God Julia Greeley

Known as the “Angel of Charity,” Julia quietly cared for Denver’s poor, often giving away what little she had. Her life teaches our students that even the smallest acts of kindness can become powerful expressions of God’s love.

Mother Mary Lange

Our Connection to the Saintly Six