Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Bringing Christ's love to the world
Pier Giorgio Frassati, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, a Guardian Angel, Theresa of Lisieux and several others joined no other than an almost 2 year-old Mother Cabrini at St. Frances Cabrini Shrine’s first All Saints Costume Party. We made halos, talked about what a saint is, and lit candles in prayer for help to become saints. Very fun!
November 13 is both St. Augustine’s birthday and Mother Cabrini’s Feast Day
Sponsored by the Office of Mission and Ministry, the Mother Cabrini Institute on Immigration, and the Augustinian Institute, this celebration will raise consciousness about the founding spirit of Villanova, linking together the lives and ministries of these two great saints.
Villanova was founded by the Augustinians to bring the central values of St. Augustine – Truth, Unity and Love – into higher education. It was born in the midst of anti-immigration riots of Philadelphia in the 1840’s. As such, it was a university formed to raise up the hopes and dreams of Irish immigrants marginalized in the society of their time. Almost 50 years later, Mother Cabrini came to the United States to raise up the hopes and dignity of Italian immigrants, another marginalized group in American society. She is the first U.S. citizen to be declared a saint and is the patron saint of immigrants in the Church.
Both Augustine and Mother Cabrini were migrants themselves and understood how people are treated when they are the “others.” Pope Leo reminds us that “A litmus test for social justice today is the treatment of migrants, refugees and those forced to move due to poverty, violence, climate change and environmental disasters.” (MH 81). Through Mission Week, we hope to underscore that value and see that Villanova’s roots are tied to that challenge.
The week has celebrative, reflective and action-oriented activities.
Date and Time
Event
Description
Monday, November 9
6:00 p.m.
Location TBD
Hygiene Kit Assembly
Assemble hygiene kits for immigrants organized in partnership with the Villanova Refugee Empowerment (VRE) student group.
Tuesday, November 10
7:00 p.m.
Connelly Cinema
Cabrini film screening
Watch the film Cabrini about the life and times of Mother Cabrini and the immigrants in New York. Receiving stellar reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is inspirational and uplifting. Stay until the end of the movie for a chance to win Wawa gift cards. RSVP.
Wednesday, November 11
11:30 a.m.
Speakers Corner, Falvey Library at Maggitti Hall
Talk: Pope Leo and Migrants by Fr. Art Purcaro
Talk on “Pope Leo and Migrants” by the Rev. Art Purcaro, OSA, a longtime dear friend of Pope Leo’s, as he shares his unique insight about our Villanova alumnus.
Wednesday, November 11
6:30 p.m.
Location TBD
Panel: From Arrival to Belonging
The Villanova Refugee Empowerment student group hosts a panel titled: “From Arrival to Belonging.”
Wednesday, November 11
7:00 p.m.
Cabrini Campus Sacred Heart Chapel
Mass for Peace
Mass for Peace, including a special focus on immigrants.
Thursday, November 12
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
St. Rita’s Hall Community Room
Talk: Careers in Immigration Legal Services
Robyn Lieberman, of the Mother Cabrini Institute on Immigration will host a talk on “Careers in Immigration Legal Services.”
Thursday, November 12
5:00 p.m.
Ortiz Hall, Room 210
Dinner for faculty
and staff with
Dr. Kathleen Sprows Cummings
Dinner for professors and administrators teaching or researching immigration related themes with Dr. Kathleen Sprows Cummings of Notre Dame.
Friday, November 13 – Birthday of St. Augustine and Feast Day of Mother Cabrini
Friday,
November 13
12:05 p.m.
St. Thomas of Villanova Church
Mass and Procession
Mass in St. Thomas of Villanova Church, followed by a procession in support of immigrant justice. It starts at the Church, makes a stop at the Peace Pole in front of St. Rita’s Hall, and ends at Vic Maggitti Hall.
Friday,
November 15
1:00 p.m.
Speakers Corner, Falvey Library at Maggitti Hall
Talk: Dr. Kathleen Sprows Cummings
Academic talk “Embracing the World: The Mission and Legacy of Mother Frances Cabrini,” by Dr. Kathleen Sprows Cummings of Notre Dame University. Approved for ACS credit. RSVP
Additional ALL WEEK Activities
Monday-Thursday, Nov. 9-12: Join us in all the different Colleges and Law School, as well as numerous campus offices, for the celebration of these two saints with cupcakes and birthday cake to mark St. Augustine’s birthday.
Monday-Friday, Nov. 9-13: Campaign to collect mittens, hats and scarfs for poor immigrant children in the local schools. Collection bins are located on campus at the Connelly Center, Bellisini Hall and the new Falvey Library at Vic Maggitti Hall.
Monday-Friday Nov. 9-13: Tabling for political action in front of the Oreo between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The present migration phenomenon means there is a need for comprehensive and just immigration reform. Sign postcards to be sent to elected representatives asking for these changes in present law.
~ excerpts from an article by Ignatian Solidarity Network Staff
Students from Catholic campuses throughout the US gathered in Chicago from October 2 – 4th for the Cabrini Student Organizing Summit on Migration, a weekend hosted by the Ignatian Solidarity Network (IHN). The summit was named in honor of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, and the objective of the summit was to equip students to organize for migration justice.
A framework of five stages guided each session: Encounter, Disruption, Reimagining, Prophetic Action and Reflection. Students were asked to name an issue they wanted to address on their campus and to identify which stage felt most clear and which was most challenging.
As representatives of their schools and communities, each participant brought differing reasons for their interest in migration justice.
Sr. Evarlyne Ndeti, MSC, currently, a student at Loyola University in Chicago attended the conference. Loyola University Chicago has two efforts underway. One team will organize two students from each graduate school to identify needs in their communities, particularly among immigrant, international and multilingual students and will bring a collective proposal to graduate councils and university departments.
The next step comes soon. ISN’s Cabrini Week of Action for Migration Justice runs November 8-16, 2026, in celebration of St. Frances Cabrini’s feast day, inviting Catholic high schools and colleges to pray, learn, and act on behalf of immigrants and refugees. Suggested activities include vigils and Circles of Silence, educational events, postcard writing to elected officials, and resource drives for migrant-serving organizations. The week culminates on Monday, November 16, when students attending the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in Washington, D.C., gather on Capitol Hill for Advocacy Day. ~ with thanks to Sr. Bernadette Anello, MSC for sharing this account.
Colorado celebrates Frances Xavier Cabrini Day on the first Monday of October, a state holiday established in 2020 to honor St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and her remarkable legacy of faith and service. Colorado is the first state in the nation to establish a paid state holiday honoring a woman.
Mother Cabrini Shrine was filled with joy as we celebrated Cabrini Day and welcomed newly installed Archbishop James Golka for his first official visit. During his homily, Archbishop Golka reflected on Mother Cabrini’s extraordinary witness, saying that if the world had 100 more Mother Cabrinis, our faith and the Church would grow in ways we could hardly imagine.
He also introduced a joint statement on migration signed by Archbishop Golka, Bishop Jorge Rodríguez and other Christian leaders throughout Colorado. The statement, affirming the dignity of migrants and refugees, was intentionally released on Cabrini Day—a particularly meaningful connection to Mother Cabrini, Patroness of Immigrants.
Following Mass, the celebration continued with the Festival of Nations, filling the Shrine with food, music, dance and traditions representing the many cultures of our community. ~ submitted by JoAnn Seaman, Executive Director, Mother Cabrini Shrine, Golden, Co
Read the Joint Statement | Read the Denver Catholic Article | See Photos
Colorado celebrates Frances Xavier Cabrini Day on the first Monday of October, a state holiday established in 2020 to honor St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and her remarkable legacy of faith and service. Colorado is the first state in the nation to establish a paid state holiday honoring a woman.
Mother Cabrini Shrine was filled with joy as we celebrated Cabrini Day and welcomed newly installed Archbishop James Golka for his first official visit. During his homily, Archbishop Golka reflected on Mother Cabrini’s extraordinary witness, saying that if the world had 100 more Mother Cabrinis, our faith and the Church would grow in ways we could hardly imagine.
He also introduced a joint statement on migration signed by Archbishop Golka, Bishop Jorge Rodríguez and other Christian leaders throughout Colorado. The statement, affirming the dignity of migrants and refugees, was intentionally released on Cabrini Day—a particularly meaningful connection to Mother Cabrini, Patroness of Immigrants.
Following Mass, the celebration continued with the Festival of Nations, filling the Shrine with food, music, dance and traditions representing the many cultures of our community.
Read the Joint Statement | Read the Denver Catholic Article | See Photos
Following an unforgettable week of prayer, service, leadership formation, and fellowship, ten Cabrini High School New Orleans student leaders recently returned from the inaugural Cabrini High School Leadership Summit at the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, Colorado
. Representing Student Council and Campus Ministry, the students journeyed to one of the most sacred places in the Cabrinian world, where they immersed themselves in presentations, discussions, and service-learning experiences centered on compassionate leadership, missionary discipleship, and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Leadership workshops challenged the students to reflect on questions such as What Is the Cabrinian Charism?, What Does It Mean to Be Called to Lead Like Mother Cabrini? and How Can We Lead with Courage, Compassion, and Faith as the Apostles Did? Inspired by these discussions, the students also prayerfully planned the upcoming year for Student Council and Campus Ministry with renewed enthusiasm and a deeper sense of purpose of what their roles as student leaders mean to school’s success.
The summit extended far beyond the classroom. Students hiked Mother Cabrini’s mountain, climbed the Stairway of Prayer to the Mount of the Sacred Heart, and visited the miraculous spring that has flowed since Mother Cabrini instructed the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to dig where she trusted God would provide water. Along the way, they witnessed hundreds of pilgrims from across the country making the same climb in search of hope, healing, and renewal. For students who already live the Cabrinian mission each day in New Orleans, seeing the worldwide reach of Mother Cabrini’s legacy firsthand was profoundly moving. The experience helped them recognize that they are part of a global family carrying forward the same mission begun by Mother Cabrini more than a century ago.
Throughout the week, shared prayer, meaningful conversations, service, laughter, and moments of quiet reflection strengthened not only the students’ faith but also the bonds they share as leaders. The experience opened their hearts even further to faith-filled leadership and inspired them with the same missionary zeal, boldness, and unwavering courage that fueled Mother Cabrini’s remarkable work. They returned with a forward-focused commitment to serve their classmates with humility, joy, and Christ-centered leadership throughout the coming school year.
The Leadership Summit is one component of Cabrini High School’s expanding commitment to leadership formation. The initiative began this summer with the inaugural Cabrini Leadership Academy for rising seventh-grade girls and will continue throughout the 2026-2027 school year with a monthly leadership speaker series for all Cabrini students. Inspired by Mother Cabrini’s conviction that “The world is too small,” these experiences are forming a new generation of Cabrinian women who understand that true leadership begins with faith and finds its purpose in serving othersImages:
We also put together several reels highlighting each day’s activities. Links to social media:
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DXwn4qnXD
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BwU97ZvUu/
At the National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago, we had a variety of ways in which to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Canonization and the birthday of Mother Cabrini.
We hosted a children’s choir from St Mary of the Lake – Our Lady of Lourdes and had a rousing gospel choir from St. Simon of Cyrene Parish.
Fr. Corey Brost, Executive Director of Viator House for Immigrants spoke on the Catholic Church and Immigration.
We had an ethnic food tasting representing Poland, Puerto Rico, Hispanic, Italian and Filipino. And on Sunday, we had a beautiful Mass followed by a dove release in our garden.
What varied and festive ways in which to observe such august occasions.
This year, on the occasion of Mother Cabrini’s birthday, it seems fitting to reflect upon the remarks delivered by Pope Leo XIV when he recently visited Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Mother Cabrini’s birthplace. ~ excerpts from Vatican News and www.cabriniworld.org
“I am here to pay tribute to Mother Cabrini, Patroness of Migrants and the first Saint of the United States of America, who was born here in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano in 1850 and died in Chicago – my hometown – in 1917.
When the time came to make the decisive choice regarding the “direction” her religious institute’s mission should take, she wanted the Pope to be the one to point the way. And Pope Leo XIII was clear: “Not to the East, but to the West,” in service to the thousands of Italian emigrants in America.
Through these words, Mother Cabrini interpreted the signs of the times and understood that her dream of going to China, following in the footsteps of St. Francis Xavier, was to be realized wherever the need was greatest at that moment.
But dear sisters and brothers, when we look at the world today, what are we to say? That “sign” – that is the phenomenon of migration – has entered a different phase, one that is certainly more complex, yet no less capable of challenging the Church.
Let us ask ourselves: if Mother Francesca were alive today, what would her missionary spirit tell her? Or rather, what would the Heart of Christ say to her heart – that of a woman consecrated to Him and to the service of His kingdom? And what would a Pope like Francis – who, as the son of Italian immigrants, had made service to migrants one of the key priorities of his pontificate – ask of her?
Brothers and sisters, what could be more relevant today than this charism? I say this here before the relic of Mother Cabrini’s heart, brought from the Motherhouse in Codogno. I say this as I greet and thank with affection her spiritual daughters, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred heart of Jesus. What could be more relevant today than a missionary charism dedicated to serving migrants?
I therefore take this opportunity to make an appeal, especially to young people: get to know Saint Frances Cabrini! Read her writings, filled with passion for Jesus and for the mission: her letters, her travel journals, and the notes from her retreats. Anyone who gets to know Mother Cabrini is captivated by her.
May Saint Cabrini help you to be in love with Christ, and witnesses to his Gospel with a dynamic and generous spirit, in service to the poorest.
Finally, I pray to the Lord for the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in all their communities: May God bless them and renew them in their fidelity to Mother Cabrini’s charism.” ~ www.cabriniworld.org
To read the full text of the remarks of Pope Leo XIV and to view the video of his visit to Sant’ Angelo Lodigiano, please click here
We share excerpts from her letter.
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
May the Peace of Christ reign in your hearts!
In the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Mother Cabrini’s canonization, we thank God for the wonders of His Love for us, as heirs to a legacy that was born with the spirituality of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Thus, the words of Pope Pius XII in the canonization holy on July 7, 1946 are very relevant:
“This wonder, which frequently occurs by the disposition of Divine Providence
in the annals of the Church, today especially proves comforting at a time when men are in greater need than even of the splendor and fruit of holiness. Not only the Sisters, but, everyone has reason to observe and imitate the virtues of Frances Xavier Cabrini.”
With canonization, everything changes. Mother Cabrini belongs to the Church, to all the faithful and becomes a model of life sanctified by God.
Saint Cabrini, with her heart without borders, is a model of virtue and missionary spirit.
Declared ‘Universal Patroness of Immigrants’ by Pope Pius XII in 1950 and recognized by him in a pontifical audience as a “heroine of modern times.”
On the occasion of the centenary year of St. Cabrini – 2017 – Pope Francis emphasized her prophetic character. She had the intuition, in her time, that the modern era would be marked by enormous migratory flows and by men, women and children fleeing for a better future and for peace.
And, crowning this year 2026, Pope Leo XIV visited the city of Sant’ Angelo and in his speech, he expressed his affection and admiration for Mother Cabrini:
“I am here to pay tribute to Mother Cabrini, Patroness of Immigrants, the first Saint of the United States of American, born here in Sant’ Angelo Lodigiano and died in Chicago, my hometown.
Brothers and Sisters what is more current than this charism? I say it here, before the relic of Mother Cabrini’s heart. I say it while greeting and thanking with affection her spiritual daughters, Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. What is more current than a missionary charism that places itself at the service of migrants?
I take this occasion to launch an appeal, especially to young people: get to know St. Frances Cabrini. Read her writings, full of passion for Jesus and for the mission; her letters, her travel diaries, the notes from her retreats. Whoever knows Mother Cabrini is captivated by her.”
I believe that these words are an encouragement to be faithful to the legacy of Saint Cabrini for humanity in these current times.
And may our whole being and acting be for the Greater Glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as it was for our dear Mother Cabrini.
With love,
Sr. Maria Eliane Azevedo da Silva, MSC
General Superior
To view a video of the Pope’s visit to Sant’ Angelo Lodigiano please click here
On June 20, 2026, Pope Leo XIV made a pastoral visit to the town of Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, the birthplace of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. During the visit, he prayed in the parish church dedicated to St. Cabrini, venerated a relic of her heart, and reflected on her example of faith, missionary zeal, and service to immigrants and the poor.
“I am here to pay homage to Mother Cabrini,” the Pope told all those gathered in the church for his visit. Pope Leo praised Mother Cabrini as a model for Christians today, especially for her compassion toward migrants and those on the margins of society. He encouraged young people to learn about her life and writings, highlighting her courage, trust in God, and dedication to serving those in need.
Even as a child, Mother Cabrini desired to go to China as a missionary, but, at the urging of Pope Leo XIII, he encouraged her instead to serve her Italian countrymen in the United States where they were living in dire conditions. Pope Leo XIV described this decision to change her lifelong plans as “a profound example of reading the ‘signs of the times.’” The pontiff pointed to the fact that Mother Cabrini realize that her missionary dreams were not to be fulfilled in China, but rather, where the need was the greatest.
The Pope noted that migration remains one of the most pressing realities facing nations and the Church, although much more complex than in Cabrini’s time.
“If Mother Frances were living today,” he asked, “what would her missionary soul say? What would the Heart of Christ say to her heart?”
The answer, he continued, lies in the spiritual source that animated every aspect of Cabrini’s life: the love of Christ revealed in His Sacred Heart.
~ excerpts from Vatican News website
The Pope’s visit was an auspices moment for the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. General Superior Maria Eliane Azevedo da Silva, MSC, and General Councilors Sr. Gilda Mercedes Mendoza Argueta, MSC, Sr. Stella Maris Elena, MSC, and Sr. Patricia Godoy, MSC and many more Missionary Sisters were in attendance in the Basilica of Saint Antonio Abate and St. Francesca Xavier Cabrini.
The visit underscored the Pope’s continuing emphasis on welcoming migrants and caring for the vulnerable, themes that were central to Cabrini’s ministry and remain important in the Church’s mission today.
For Catholics, the visit was a reminder of Mother Cabrini’s enduring legacy as a missionary saint whose faith and charity continue to inspire the Church around the world.
To learn more and to view videos of the Pope’s visit, please click here