Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
The National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini will honor the life and legacy of America’s first saint with a birthday Mass at 4 p.m. on July 13.
The shrine is located in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood in a building that once housed Columbus Hospital. Cabrini and her Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus built the hospital as well as Assumption School on the Near Northwest Side and the Columbus Hospital Extension on the Near West Side. By the time she passed away at Columbus Hospital in 1917, she had established 67 schools, hospitals and orphanages around the world.
“The Shrine was built in 1955 as a testament to Mother Cabrini’s tireless work among Italian immigrants,” Executive Director Laurie Halaska says. “It focuses on a spiritual mission reflecting the ideals of Mother Cabrini by welcoming pilgrims from around the globe and in offering a place of prayer, worship, devotion, evangelization and reconciliation.”
This year’s birthday celebration coincides with the release of the biopic “Cabrini,” which has sparked renewed interest in Mother Cabrini and her shrine, according to Halaska. “The Cabrini film has truly brought Mother Cabrini’s story to life,” she says. “We’ve seen a significant increase in visitors who are inspired by her dedication and want to learn more about her life and work.”
The celebration will include a series of events designed to honor Mother Cabrini’s legacy and the impact she continues to have.
For details, click here.
