St. Frances Cabrini

St. Frances Cabrini was born in Lombardi, Italy in 1850.  She was one of thirteen children who helped on her parent farm.  After the death of her parents, Frances continued to work on the farm with her brothers and sisters.

Frances Cabrini was one day asked by a priest to teach in an all girls' school.  She went to work at this school for six years.  Her Bishop saw her gift of working with children, and requested that she open a special place for poor children.  Frances founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart to take care of these children in schools and homes.  In 1889, she was urged by Pope Leo XIII to move to the United States with six nuns to work with Italian immigrants. 

Mother Cabrini arrived in New York, where she began her missionary work with Italian immigrants.  She became a U.S. citizen in 1909.  Frances used her strong faith in God and administrative abilities to open 60 orphanages, schools and hospitals.  Her work took her to several cities, including New Orleans and Chicago. Mother Cabrini passed away in Chicago in 1917.  At the time of her death, her missionary work had founded houses in England, France, Spain, South America and the United States.  Pope Pius XII signed the decree for her canonization on January 11, 1946.  She was the first American citizen to be canonized a saint.

Mother Cabrini is the patroness of immigrants.  Her feast day is November 13.