Rev. Francis Akano
Administrator

 

St. Frances Cabrini Church
Mission: Bonanza
 

      
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was born in Italy on July 15, 1850, the ninth of ten children, only four of whom survived adolescence. The saint was herself born two months prematurely and  remained delicate all her 67 years.
      At the age of 17, she took religious vows and added Xavier to her given name of Francesca, to honor the great Jesuit missionary. Sister Frances Xavier taught at an orphanage in Codogno and was soon appointed as the Mother Superior there.  When the orphanage closed in 1880, the saint and six of her sisters founded the order of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
      After they had established several homes and schools in Italy, Pope Leo XIII sent the sisters  to New York to work with Italian immigrants. There Sister Cabrini founded an orphanage, the first of 67 institutions she established before her death in 1917.
      The saint was beatified on November 13, 1938, which become the date of her feast day.  She was canonized on July 7, 1946. In the old calendar the date of her death, December 22, is still marked as her feast day. St. Frances Cabrini was the first American citizen to be canonized.
     In 1931, her body was exhumed and now rests under glass at the altar of St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in Manhattan. She is the patron of immigrants.

PRAYER

     Almighty and eternal Father, Giver of all Gifts, show us Thy mercy, and grant, we beseech Thee, through the merits of Thy faithful servant, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, that all who invoke her intercession may obtain what they desire according to the good pleasure of Thy Holy will.(mention your request).
     St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, beloved spouse of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, intercede for us that the favor we now ask may be granted. Amen.