Celebrate Mother Cabrini in Chicago

SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER

A Message From Our Executive Director

What’s so special about September? There are many occasions to celebrate. For instance, September 8th, we celebrate the Birth of Mary the Immaculate Conception. If we reflect on her life, we’ll learn many things about her. Just imagine, a young woman at 16 giving birth to the greatest king, Our Savior Jesus Christ. Let us trust that Mary will lead us to her Son, Jesus.

It is also the beginning of Fall. Where are you in your season of life? Are you the Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter? What is your favorite season? It is always good to reflect on your life by asking yourself who are you, where are you in your life, and what is your relationship to God!

September is when our children return to school. Let’s pray for their safety, they are our future. September 11 marks for many of us, the loss and tragedy of so many American men and women who lost their lives at ground zero. Let us also remember those people affected by their own losses. We are living in a world of turmoil with so many tragedies, violence, and loss of innocent lives. Change will always occur but let us not weaken our faith in Jesus Christ who is more powerful than all the evil in the world. Let us remind ourselves to remain close to Jesus and His mother Mary.

Mother Cabrini undoubtedly made a difference in the world. We too can make a difference in other people’s lives by doing small things in a special way. Mother Cabrini was human and encountered so many challenges in her life, very much like our challenges today! She seized those challenges and grew from them. Her hope and faith were unshakable, and she held her confidence in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

I ask that you help us to continue her legacy of compassion, mission, and service here in Chicago and beyond. On October 7th, The Shrine will host a special Benefit Dinner at the Chicago Yacht Club. Proceeds from The Benefit will aid us in maintaining and growing the Mission and legacy she left for us. I hope to see you there! It will be good to be together again. Thank you for supporting us! Be assured of our Prayers. Please check our website for more information and updates at www.cabrininationalshrine.org

Sister Bridget Zanin, MSC

Executive Director

JUBILEE ANNOUNCEMENT!

Dear Friends,

When I was entrusted with the pastoral care of the National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini by Blase Cardinal Cupich on 1 July 2021, I made a promise to not only fulfill my duty of serving the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the mission entrusted to them by their Foundress, and their apostolate of the shrine, but I also pledged to unite our evangelization participation with the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Renew My Church efforts, by collaborating with Bishop Mark Bartosic of Vicariate II, if and whenever possible.

In light of the Cardinal’s exhortation and after some time in prayer, I requested him to petition Mauro Cardinal Piacenza the Penitentiary Major of the Apostolic Penitentiary of the Holy Roman Church for a Declaration of a Jubilee Year - to be declared in the name of our Holy Father Pope Francis - in Honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Canonization of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini on 7 July 1946, the First American Citizen Saint. This special year will begin on Saturday November 13, 2021 and conclude on Sunday November 13, 2022.

Attached is the signed Petition from Cardinal Cupich, the original of which was forwarded to Rome via the Papal Nuncio to the United States Archbishop Christophe Pierre.

Along with the Plenary Indulgence requested for those pilgrimaging to the Shrine during the Jubilee Year, we have the great honor and privilege to acknowledge the generous gift from a Benefactor of a statue of Mother Cabrini to be installed in a prayer garden at Holy Name Cathedral in October 2022. Plans are underway to accomplish this great gift at the cathedral campus. Thus, the Plenary Indulgence can also be gained by pilgrimaging to Holy Name Cathedral, a place where Mother visited and worshipped.

Additionally, we plan to offer talks, symposiums, and prayer opportunities all of which are being deliberated and assessed at this time. A long-term desire would be the creation of an academic foundation at the Shrine in regards the life, works, and spirituality of Mother Cabrini, along with resources for future apostolic endeavors in areas of social concern, such as immigration and health care, to name just two.

My hope is to kindle a deep and abiding appreciation for the achievements of Mother Cabrini who responded immediately, selflessly, and generously to Our Lord’s invitation to serve Him in His people. Taking Pope Leo XIII’s advice to go “Not to the East; but to the West,” she immediately began serving the Italian immigrants in the United States who faced immense hardships in their new home. In 1950, Pope Pius XII named her Mater Emigrantium, Mother and Patroness of Immigrant Peoples.

It is incumbent upon all of us, all children of immigrants to these United States, and especially we Chicagoans who were gifted by her presence and her passing into eternity at Columbus Hospital in 1917, to develop and respond to God’s call to greater love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This call includes the totality of love, by demonstrating our faith and love by our deeds. We choose to reclaim the great imperative of service, especially to all immigrant people. And we begin everything in prayer, invoking our great Catholic Traditions of devotion and Holy Intercessors, especially Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini.

It is in the great joy of God’s Love that we commit to this Jubilee Year as our impetus to move outwards from merely the Shrine campus in Lincoln Park, the city of Chicago, the Archdiocese of Chicago, even the United States of America. We desire that Mother Cabrini once again be known worldwide and to light the way back to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, that all people know of His love for them, and they meet Him in us. As she was quoted as saying:

I will go anywhere and do anything

in order to communicate the love of Jesus

to those who do not know Him or have forgotten Him.

Please pray for the success of this Jubilee Year and keep your eyes on the website for ongoing developments and other announcements. We eagerly await the Jubilee Decree from Rome sometime (hopefully!) in September.

Most respectfully yours,

Fr. Ramil E. Fajardo

Rector

Click here and visit our website to view the petition document!

Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary

September 8th

O Mary, Mother of God, as you are above all creatures in heaven and on earth,

more glorious than the Cherubim, more noble than any here below,

Christ has given you to His people, firm bulwark and protectress,

to shield and save sinners who fly to you.

Therefore, O Lady, all-embracing refuge,

we solemnly recall your sweet protection

and beg the Christ forever for His mercy.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Michael, Gabriel, & Raphael

September 29th

Saint Michael in Old Town, Chicago

Photo: John Werner

Heavenly King,

You have given us archangels

to assist us during

our pilgrimage on earth.

Saint Michael is our protector;

I ask him to come to my aid,

fight for all my loved ones,

and protect us from danger.

Saint Gabriel is a messenger

of the Good News;

I ask him to help me clearly

hear Your voice

and to teach me the truth.

Saint Raphael is the healing angel;

I ask him to take my need for healing and that of everyone I know,

lift it up to Your throne of grace and

deliver us back to the gift of recovery.

Help us, O Lord, to realize more fully the reality of archangels and their desire to serve us.

Holy angels, pray for us.

Amen.

GIFT SHOP PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

SAINT MICHAEL

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

St Michael the Archangel

Notepad

$1.99

Paracord Bracelet Grey

St Michael

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GIFT SHOP HOURS

TUESDAY - FRIDAY 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

SATURDAY 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

SUNDAY 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

FROM THE DEVELOPMENT CORNER

2021 BENEFIT EVENT

As we reflect on 2020 and the impact of COVID-19, we realize we are grateful for the inspiration of Mother Cabrini’s leadership and tireless devotion to faith, community, and love. Upon Mother Cabrini’s arrival in Chicago in 1899, she was captivated by our vibrant city sitting on the Lake Michigan Shores. She, along with her sisters, walked our streets begging for money, looking for appropriate buildings to purchase that she would later develop to serve poor immigrant communities. Mother Cabrini’s business acumen was spot on through her founding of Assumption School (on Erie Street), Columbus Hospital (in Lincoln Park) and Columbus Hospital Extension (Cabrini Hospital on the west side). Mother Cabrini made significant impacts in education, healthcare, and the social well-being of countless lives in Chicago and beyond. She certainly is an inspiration to us all.

Please CLICK HERE to visit our 2021 Benefit Event Page!

The Shrine is reliant on your support so that we can continue our mission in bringing God to people and people to God. All of us here at the Shrine remain deeply grateful for your support. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!