The woman whom Pope Francis heralded as a shining example of “love and intelligence” in ministering to the needs of immigrants and helping them become integral members of their new homelands, goes by the birth name of Francesca Saveria Cabrini, better known as Mother Cabrini.
Ever since the saint was snubbed by New York City first lady Chirlane McCray’s She Built NYC’s panel to build public statues of historic women, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini — an Italian-American nun known for serving immigrants in the United States — has drawn so much public support that Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that New York state will fund a statue of her.
The Diocese of Brooklyn will have a float of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini at Manhattan’s Columbus Day Parade on Oct. 14. The float will be two or three car-lengths long, and will include youth and adults, according to a report.
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis writes to the New York City Mayor’s Office expressing her strong opposition to the decision to deny Mother Frances Cabrini a statute in the “She Built NYC” competition.
The cause is personal for Msgr. Cassato. One night in 1953, David Cassato, then 5 years old, was headed home from his grandparents’ house. He turned to his father and asked about a photo he had seen. That night, he first heard about Mother Cabrini, who had helped Msgr. Cassato’s grandparents when they came from Sicily to the Lower East Side of Manhattan on 1910 with nothing.
Dear Editor: The committee considering women to be honored with statues asked for names (“Mother Cabrini Statue Nixed Despite Vote,” Aug. 24). If it is true that Frances Cabrini received more than twice the votes than the next name, then the decision to dismiss her from the list is puzzling if not biased. Is this […]
