St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
By the time of her death in 1917, Mother Cabrini had established 67 schools, hospitals and orphanages throughout the U.S., South America and Europe, and her order numbered in the thousands.
She is the first naturalized US citizen to be declared a saint (July 7, 1946).
History of the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Burbank
Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini came to San Fernando Valley, California in the late 1800s. In 1880, she founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart which then built the Villa Cabrini Academy.
In 1916 Mother Cabrini built a small chapel in honor of the Blessed Mother above Villa Cabrini Academy, atop Mount Raphael, for the residents of the San Fernando Valley. The chapel was said to protect their crops and shelter the residents from the ravages of fire. During the war, it also served as a beacon to pilots. Mother Cabrini made daily mediation visits to the chapel while overseeing a new academy for girls.
In 1970, the land on which the chapel was built was sold to a developer. However, members of the Italian Catholic Federation in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles raised money to rescue the chapel and moved it down the mountain in 1973 to St. Francis Xavier Church in Burbank where they later restored it with stained glass windows, a mosaic of St. Cabrini, new tile, and more. Fr. William C. O’Connor, St. Francis Xavier Church pastor and San Fernando Valley District ICF Chaplain at the time, headed the renovation committee. Many hours of planning went into the project and many donations were made in the form of construction-related labor and historical artifacts for the collection. A formal dedication ceremony of the restored chapel was held on the grounds of St. Francis Xavier Church on Sunday, September 14, 1975.
A library sponsored by the ICF was built under the direction of ICF Branch 102 member Orlando T. Granata in 1993. Mr. Granata also supervised the moving of the chapel to its new location on the St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Church property. The library contains historical and contemporary works about the immigrant saint, and adjoins the chapel.
Today, the chapel and library collectively form a shrine in St. Frances Xavier Cabrini’s honor.
Location
The Mother Cabrini Shrine is located behind St. Frances Xavier Church, 3801 Scott Road, Burbank, California.
Pilgrimages
In keeping with tradition, a special Mass honoring Mother Cabrini along with a Pilgrimage to the Mother Cabrini Shrine are held on the second Sunday in November of each year, featuring a procession to the Shrine which begins at St. Francis Xavier Church. All ICF branches, parishioners and affiliated Saint Francis Mother Cabrini Groups in the Southern California area are encouraged to join the Mass, Pilgrimage and Luncheon. Those who have difficulty walking are welcome to join in the procession by using automobiles to drive across the church grounds to the location of the Shrine.
Hours
In addition to the annual November Pilgrimage, the Mother Cabrini Shrine is open between 9:00am – 1:00pm every 2nd Sunday of January, February, April, June, September, and November, or by special appointment.
Support
In order to continue maintaining the Chapel and Library, the ICF Chapel and Library Committee encourages all ICF members and Mother Cabrini Faithful to consider touring the Chapel on your next visit to Southern California and supporting the Chapel Facility by making a donation to:
ICF Mother Cabrini Chapel and Library Building Maintenance Fund
3801 Scott Road, Burbank, CA 91504
Attention: ICF Mother Cabrini Chapel Committee
Contact Information
For more information about visiting the Mother Cabrini Shrine, please contact:
Carmelo Sabatella
Phone: (626) 372-7812
Email: cas1810@aol.com