News and Events

Jubilee Year in Honor of Mother Cabrini

This photo of Mother Cabrini was taken at the opening of Columbus Hospital in 1905. (National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini)
The fresco painting represents Mother Cabrini’s arrival to the United States in New York City where she first was sent to help immigrants. (National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini)
This Sacred Heart statue represents Mother Cabrini’s devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. (National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini)
The National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago celebrates the kickoff of a jubilee year with a Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Robert Casey, vicar general, on Nov. 13, 2021. The jubilee year is in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the canonization of Mother Cabrini, who ministered and died in Chicago. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
The National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago celebrates the kickoff of a jubilee year with a Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Robert Casey, vicar general, on Nov. 13, 2021. The jubilee year is in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the canonization of Mother Cabrini, who ministered and died in Chicago. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
The National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago celebrates the kickoff of a jubilee year with a Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Robert Casey, vicar general, on Nov. 13, 2021. The jubilee year is in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the canonization of Mother Cabrini, who ministered and died in Chicago. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
The National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago celebrates the kickoff of a jubilee year with a Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Robert Casey, vicar general, on Nov. 13, 2021. The jubilee year is in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the canonization of Mother Cabrini, who ministered and died in Chicago. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
The National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago celebrates the kickoff of a jubilee year with a Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Robert Casey, vicar general, on Nov. 13, 2021. The jubilee year is in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the canonization of Mother Cabrini, who ministered and died in Chicago. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Mother Cabrini Mass and Statue Dedication Celebration

October 15, 2022
12 p.m.
Mass followed by unveiling ceremony and reception
Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State St., Chicago 

The life and legacy of Mother Cabrini will be celebrated at Holy Name Cathedral with a Mass and unveiling of bas-relief with relic and newly commissioned statue. The principle celebrant and homilist for the Mass will be Bishop Daniel Turley, OSA, Bishop Emeritus of Chulucanas, Peru. The rector of the cathedral Very Rev. Gregory Sakowicz will bless and dedicate the statue in the garden after Mass. Principle concelebrants include priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago and religious communities with ties to Mother Cabrini’s mission and missionary zeal. 

The Mother Cabrini Mass can be watched via livestream here.

Jubilee Year in Honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Canonization of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, November 2021-2022

To mark the 75th anniversary of the canonization of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, known by many as Mother Cabrini, the National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, located in Lincoln Park, launched a jubilee year on Nov. 13, 2021. The year includes a plenary indulgence for those who make a pilgrimage to the shrine or to Holy Name Cathedral, walk through its holy door and complete the necessary requirements.

PAST EVENTS

About St. Frances Cabrini

Born two months premature to a large family in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, in the northern part of Italy, on July 15, 1850, Francesca Cabrini was in delicate health most of her life.

From an early age Francesca Cabrini was fascinated by missionaries who spoke of their experiences of spreading the Word of God in the East. Hearing these stories, she wanted to become a missionary but had been rejected by existing religious communities because of her poor health. However, a local bishop recognized her zeal and energy, and encouraged her to start her own religious community.

After founding the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, she spent some years developing the order and expanding their missions throughout Italy. She founded several schools, orphanages and supervised a hospital in her home country.

It was Pope Leo XIII who said to Mother Cabrini, “Not to the East, but to the West.” In 1889, Mother Cabrini and six of her sisters embarked for America with 1,500 other immigrants bound for New York City.

They delivered basic education, health care and spiritual guidance to poor Italian communities across the United States.

In 1899, Mother Cabrini traveled to Chicago, where she founded and taught at Assumption School and later opened Columbus Hospital in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.

On Dec. 22, 1917, Mother Cabrini died at Columbus Hospital at age 67. In 1928, Cardinal George Mundelein verified two miracles attributed to her, and on July 7, 1946, Pope Pius XII proclaimed Mother Cabrini a saint, making her the first American citizen saint.

From the National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini’s website. For a more detailed biography, please visit: https://www.cabrininationalshrine.org/timeline-and-her-life-s-work