Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Colorado Celebrates Cabrini Day

October 9, 2024

This year, on October 7th, Mother Cabrini Shrine in Colorado celebrated Cabrini Day, a holiday dedicated to the remarkable life and legacy of Frances Xavier Cabrini. Recognized as the first woman in the United States to be honored with a paid state holiday, this special day was made possible through a bill signed into law in 2020 by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis.

The Shrine hosted a variety of engaging events for all ages during the Cabrini Day festivities. A pop-up museum showcased several artifacts, providing a unique window into Mother Cabrini’s life and work. Additionally, a noon Mass was celebrated with ten members of our clergy, Missionary Sisters and Shrine staff, local elementary school children, and many others who gathered to pay tribute to St. Frances Cabrini’s inspiring contributions to Colorado and the world. The celebrations continued with a captivating screening of “Cabrini,” the movie, held within the tranquil atmosphere of the chapel.

Blessed with beautiful autumn weather, the atmosphere at Mother Cabrini Shrine was warm and inviting, reflecting the community spirit that Mother Cabrini held so dear. Cabrini Day serves as a powerful reminder of her lasting impact and the Shrine’s ongoing commitment to sharing her story and providing a unique, peaceful environment for visitors to experience God’s loving presence.

October 2nd is Mother Cabrini Day in Colorado

September 14, 2023

Have you been to Mother Cabrini Shrine lately? Come and celebrate Cabrini Day with us! On Monday, October 2nd, we will have a special Cabrini Day Mass at 12 noon in our newly renovated chapel. This is a great opportunity to attend Mass, walk the steps, visit our gift shop, light a candle in the grotto chapel, and spend some time on the beautiful grounds that honor Mother Cabrini and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Mother Cabrini dedicated her life to helping the poor, the sick, immigrants, and those in most need. Her story is rich with determination and grit and an unshakable faith in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Cabrini Day is about her story, and we are eager for people to continue to learn of it and be inspired by her life and all that she accomplished.

In March of 2020, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed into law HB 1031 establishing Frances Xavier Cabrini Day as a Colorado State Holiday. It is the first paid holiday in the nation that recognizes a woman, and is observed on the first Monday in October.

Chapel Dedication

With great joy and gratitude, we will celebrate the rededication of our chapel following the remodel and renovations that have taken place over the last ten months.

The chapel will be rededicated on Saturday, November 18 at 4:00 p.m. Fr. John Lager, O.F.M. Cap. Has been granted a special mandate to perform the rededication since neither Archbishop Aquila or Bishop Rodriguez are available.

We look forward to a wonderful week of celebrations starting with the Feast of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini on November 13, the Gala on November 17 and the chapel dedication on November 18th.

Mother Cabrini Celebrated and Honored in Colorado

October 8, 2020

Our hearts were filled with joy when we learned of the decision of the State of Colorado to dedicate an annual holiday on the first Monday in October to Mother Cabrini, the Patron Saint of Immigrants, [especially during] this Hispanic pride month! We felt even more joy when the Hispanic people themselves took the initiative to celebrate Cabrini Day at the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, CO – in a manner, of course, in compliance with the norms dictated by the pandemic.

It was a beautiful and heartfelt celebration in which our Bishop Jorge Rodríguez spoke to us, as Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, of our commitment as daughters of the great Mother Cabrini in today’s world. In his remarks he said, we pray in the Eucharist to our ‘dreamers’ who have DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and to the four of the fifteen countries with TPS (Temporary Protected Status) who are in danger of having to leave our country soon. We also remember the children who have lost their lives trying to reach this country, that one day the doors will be opened to so many.

At the celebration, there was the presence of the Consuls of El Salvador and Peru along with the participation of the Provincial of “Friar Servants of Mary” and the parish priest of “Nuestra Señora Del Monte Carmelo”, a parish where Mother Cabrini first arrived in Colorado with our sisters.

The Mexican folklore could not be missing! It was an afternoon full of color, gratitude, and hope in the Patron Saint of Immigrants. There was a beautiful cake with the image of Mother Francesca Cabrini and a toast in honor of our immigrants and refugees from all over the world.

At the Shrine there was also a ‘Cabrini Church’ – a caravan of cars that let it be known through several streets of nearby towns that we were celebrating this great woman. The school children met us with banners emblazoned with the Patron Saint of Immigrants and shouting full of sincerity and hope: PRAY FOR US!

We do not doubt that if Mother Francesca were alive today, she would be walking with this Hispanic town in the State of Colorado.

May this event be an opportunity for many more to draw closer to the person of Mother Cabrini and for many young women to feel inspired to respond like Mother Cabrini to the Lord, who calls them to follow Him.

Frances Cabrini Day Makes Its Debut

October 8, 2020

As many know by now, Monday, October 5 was the inaugural Frances Cabrini Day in the state of Colorado. Earlier this year, Governor Jared Polis signed into law House Bill 1031, which designates a paid state holiday named after St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. Cabrini Day is also the first paid state holiday named for a woman. While the Missionary Sisters and the Shrine were not a part of the legislative development of Cabrini Day, we were eager to celebrate our beloved saint and share her legacy.

The first Cabrini Day at Mother Cabrini Shrine was a joyous, beautiful Colorado fall day. Even during these challenging days of Covid-19, many first time and returning visitors alike came to the Shrine wearing their masks, and while social distancing were able to celebrate and honor Mother Cabrini and learn more about her life of love and service and her dedication to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

In a touching message on Cabrini Day, Frances Owens, the former First Lady of Colorado, commented:
Mother Cabrini is special in our family not only because she is my namesake, but also that of my granddaughter, Sofia Frances. Coincidentally, Sofia was born on December 22nd – and Mother Cabrini died on December 22nd!
I am so honored that my parents named me Frances; and that my daughter and son-in-law chose to include it as Sofie’s middle name

Multiple media outlets and social media sites covered this historic day and interviewed some of the Missionary Sisters. We look forward to future Cabrini Day celebrations!

For a TV interview with Sr. Lucy Panettieri, MSC, click here

For a TV interview with Sr. Lucy Panettieri, MSC and Sr. Roselle Santivasi, MSC click here

For a newspaper interview with Sr. Roselle Santivasi, MSC in The Gazette click here

For a column in the Denver Post click here

For a magazine article in Denver Catholic click here