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
. 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.
Thus, it was here, at the Mother Cabrini Shrine, nestled in Golden, at the foothills of the Rockies, that Cabrini University alums embarked upon a pilgrimage. It was the first time that such a trip had been organized by the CAVS Alumni Association, and we were delighted that ten alums – spanning many years of graduation – embarked on travels to Colorado to walk in the footsteps of Mother Cabrini.
Mother Cabrini Shrine was filled with joy as we celebrated the 80th anniversary of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini’s canonization. We were especially delighted to welcome members of the Cabrini University alumni community, who spent the weekend on pilgrimage, retracing Mother Cabrini’s footsteps and deepening the bond we share in her mission.
On Tuesday morning, we joyfully began our weeklong celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the canonization of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini with a beautiful Mass celebrated alongside the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, our staff, volunteers, and members of the Mother Cabrini Shrine community.
Following Sister Theresa’s renewal, Cabrini staff and volunteers affirmed our commitment to carry on our shared mission, celebrate Mother Cabrini’s life as our inspiration, and bring God’s love to the world by providing exceptional care for our patients, the community and each other.
The celebration began in partnership with the Archdiocese of Denver as Catholics joined others across the nation in the Consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The day included Adoration, confessions, a bilingual Liturgy of the Word, the Consecration Prayer, a procession, and benediction.
d to the beauty of the celebration.
A huge tent was already set up on the lawn for the Cabrini Immigrant Services fundraiser scheduled for the next day, so we ate fresh-grilled hot dogs and hamburgers beneath it. Then God did something utterly magnificent: He sent a rainstorm. It was tremendous, stupendous, and utterly irresistible. The 25+ children squealed with glee and, almost as one, darted out onto the grass to dance in the rain. They ran in circles. They raced in and out of the tent, shouted to each other, held their mouths open to the sky to drink in the gift. It was joy, pure joy.
In the mid-afternoon of Tuesday 14 April, a call came to me from Cabrini Malvern Reception. A lady named Elizabeth was asking to see me.
Ciao from Italy! This April, members of the Mother Cabrini Shrine Colorado community participated in a pilgrimage across Italy, following in the footsteps of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and visiting places central to her life and mission.
They spent time in Rome visiting with MSC General Superior Sr. Eliane Azevedo da Silva and Councilors Srs. Patricia Godoy and Gilda Mendoza Argueta as well as visiting Sant’ Angelo Lodigiano, birthplace of Mother Cabrini and Codogno, where Mother founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.