St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

Born: 1850 near Pavia, Italy

Died: December 22, 1917

Canonized: July 7, 1946 by Pope Pius XII

Feast Day: November 13

Patron Saint of: emigrants, immigrants

Frances Xavier Cabrini immigrated from Italy to the United States on March 31, 1889. Her parents died when she was 18 years old and supported herself by working at a Church orphanage. She later founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, dedicated to educating young women. Pope Leo XIII sent her and others of her mission to the West. There she established outreach programs for young girls in need. Of note, in 1892, she founded Columbus Hospital in New York. She became a citizen of the United States in 1909 and was canonized as America's first saint, the Mother of Immigrants.