Francesca Cabrini was born on July 15th 1850 in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, a small town of Lombardy not far from Lodi. The tenth of eleven children, Francesca was baptized on the same day.
She took her place with two sisters, Maddalena, age 17 and Rosa, age 15 and three brothers, Francesco, who was 9, Giuseppe Santo, a 7-year-old, and Giovanni Battista, 2. The parish records of Sant’Angelo list eleven children, seven of whom met early deaths.
Her mother, Stella Oldini, was a God-fearing woman of unshakable faith, as was also her father Agostino Cabrini. Both parents know how to pass on those timeless values which are the inheritance of every Christian.
Her family played an important role in the formation of Francesca’s personality. The loving atmosphere of the home developed in her an affectionate nature and a strong self-identity.
Francesca’s father had his livelihood in the land. Sant’Angelo, situated in the fertile “Low Country” of Lombardy, is irrigated by tributaries of the Po River. The young Francesca, who was raised closed to the land, became familiar with the region’s abundant fruits and flowers and she learned early to value nature. Throughout her life she would be acutely sensitive to cloud formations, birds, and the variegated hues and aromas of harvest.
A brief summary of the years 1850 – 1870 in which Maria Francesca Cabrini grew to maturity attests to the fact that the times were tempestuous. Rising political aspirations ushered in a decade of dissent. Even in the pastoral and relatively isolated setting of Sant’Angelo, the contending forces of liberalism and conservatism were locked in conflict.
With the polarization of Sant’Angelo’s townspeople, Francesca Cabrini was made acutely aware of the historical realities of her time. This awareness, influenced by the intense Christian piety of her immediate household, contributed to the development of a personality open to examining the broad social and religious currents of the day, while staunchly maintaining the traditional practices of faith inculcated in her from childhood.
~ excerpts from Mother Cabrini, “Italian Immigrant of the Century” by Sr. Mary Louise Sullivan, MSC pp. 1-18
Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, Colorado, marked the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with a weekend of meaningful events centered on faith, tradition, and community.
On June 27, Mass was celebrated in the Chapel of Cabrini Hospital Malvern to mark one of the most significant days on our local calendar, the Feast of the Sacred Heart. The Chapel was filled with representatives of departments and services Cabrini wide who witnessed the moving moment that Sr. Theresa Cervasio MSC, the only MSC Sister in Australia, renewed her religious vows in front of Fr. Tony Kerin, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and Cabrini Board director.
Today it’s happening in Asia, the Americas, Europe and Africa. Yes, on this Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Missionary Sister of the Sacred Heart, wherever they may be, are making new again their vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. No doubt, at some time of the day their thoughts will fly back to the very first time that they committed themselves to the love of Jesus in a very special way.
Despite the rain, last Saturday’s fundraiser was a beautiful, joy-filled evening that reminded us of the strength and love in our community. We celebrated 26 years of Cabrini Immigrant Service with this year’s theme of HOPE. Hope is a word that reflects not just what we feel for the future, but what we actively build together. In a time when many in our community face fear and uncertainty, hope is our refusal to give up. We gathered to celebrate our collective work, honor incredible leaders, raise support for immigrant justice, and commit to hope for a more just future for all.
by Him to take upon herself the sufferings of humanity, the injustices and oppression which their hearts endured. God worked within her almost like an ongoing osmosis in which the Spirit gave her life: “Francesca Cabrini was drawn by the Sacred Heart of Jesus who loves all as no one else has ever loved them. She confronted herself yearning to penetrate the depths of his words and attitudes. Led by the Spirit to humble attentiveness and response, Francesca Cabrini sought to comprehend the love of Jesus – His mercy toward sinners, His empathy with the poor, His compassion for sufferings of every kind.
Childhood needs more than just basic care; it needs experiences that awaken curiosity, spark dreams, and invite children to discover the world with new eyes. Guided by this belief, the Shekiná and Positive Parenting programs from Dispensario Madre Cabrini, along with the Chispa Modificado program from Dispensario San José, recently carried out two unforgettable activities that left a lasting impact on the children involved.
we not all feel the excitement in the air as we celebrate with the Church and the world the discernment and election of Pope Leo XIV? It is not yet 24 hours but already his words speak to us and cause to rise up within us a sense of expectant hope. I would like to share some of his words that have touched my heart and offer the world hope: