Mother Cabrini is the patron saint of immigrants. She is known for her dedication of caring for the poor, uneducated, sick, abandoned, and especially, Italian immigrants. She founded 67 institutions including orphanages, schools and hospitals, spread across the U.S. — New York, Colorado and Illinois — Central and South America.

Mother Cabrini was born as Maria Francesca Cabrini on July 15, 1850, in the Lombardy region in Northern Italy. In 1877, she became Mother Cabrini after she made her vows and took the religious habit. At that time, she added Xavier to her name in honor of St. Francis Xavier. Mother Cabrini arrived in New York City on March 31, 1889, and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1909.