And this is how the story begins:

Prior to 1963, the Catholic families living in this area attended Mass either in Weatherford or Cleburne. Mrs. Mary Donathan, one of our senior parishioners who was born here in Granbury, testifies as follows, 

"As far as I know there was only one Catholic family in Hood County in the late 20s and 30s. The family consisted of my grandmother, Mrs. Annie Kelly Hillyard, and my mother, Mrs. Virginia Mitchell and their children. Money and transportation were difficult to obtain in those days and we went into Fort Worth twice a year for Mass. Two other families came to live in Granbury in the 30’s, another Kelly family and a family by the name of Dobbs. A Fr. Gallagher came from Weatherford to say Mass once or twice at one of their homes and my family and I attended Mass there, but for the most part we attended Mass in either Weatherford or Cleburne." Mrs. Donathan still attends Mass at St. Frances Cabrini.

In July of 1963, Fr. Jim (Fr. James Mullin (1913-1971) from Co. Golway, Ireland, pastor of St. Stephen's, Weatherford), began ministering to the workers of DeCordova Bend. At that time 'the Bend', now called Pecan Plantation, was primarily owned by the Leonard brothers of Fort Worth, except for one other land owner with a very small acreage. 

A large peach orchard was still in production when Fr. Mullin started saying mass in the Bend. An old apple orchard was being replaced by pecan trees. All the open acreage was being planted with pecan trees, even the peach orchard was over planted with pecan trees. In the beginning, Mass was conducted under an overhang of the peach packing shed. 

The Hidalgo family had moved to Hood County in September of 1962 and heard about the Mass in the Bend while attending Mass in Weatherford.

"We began to attend Mass in the Bend a few weeks after the first Mass was celebrated there. The first Mass we attended was still held outside the peach shed. The next Sunday Mass was held inside a back room of the peach shed. Nick Corona told me that Mr. Leonard had noticed the Catholics were having Mass outside the shed and told him that the Catholics could share the room inside the shed that he had allowed a Baptist Mission to use. The Baptists were trying to recruit membership among the workers in the Bend. When the Baptists became aware of us moving in, they removed the benches they had provided and abandoned their efforts. When the congregation from Weatherford heard that we had nothing to sit on, they provided us with about twenty five folding chairs with kneelers.

"The basic membership of the Catholic Mission, when our family attended the first Mass in the Bend, consisted of the Corona, Elizondo, and Rodriquez families, as well as a number of migrant workers from Mexico that varied in number based on seasonal requirements. Those three original families are still active here at St. Frances Cabrini."

"New people started attending as they became aware of the Mass held in this remote area. The peach shed was located near what is now Wedgefield Street in Pecan Plantation. Entry to the peach shed was from a dirt road, roughly where the west gate of Pecan Plantation is now located."

"A while after the beginning of Mass in the Bend, the DeCordova Bend Darn was started. Each Sunday the people going to Mass form the Mambrino road would stop after Mass at the dam site to witness the progress made on the dam during the previous week."

"Mass in 'the Bend' was a real experience! in certain seasons, the fruit flies were so bad you were almost afraid to breathe. Pigs roamed loose around the peach shed and would sometimes come up to the windows to see what was going on. During the winter, a trapper engaged to eliminate coyotes in the Bend would hang the carcasses on fence posts at the entrance to the Bend. Twenty or more carcasses lined the road on fence posts each year. Father Mullins was in poor health, but was extremely dedicated to the people of the Bend."

(Record of Chester Hidalgo, Dec. 6, 198 1)

Father Mullin also kept a journal on the progress of the Leonard Bend Mission or as he called it "The Coon Creek Mission." Excerpts from the journal follow:

"The first Mass was said on July 21, 1963, by Father Richard Kennedy who was the Provincial Delegate, resident of Wyandotte, Michigan. He had come to help me while I was recuperating from an illness. The Mass was celebrated at 5:00 in the afternoon in an empty fruit shed, the people using peach boxes as seats. There were fifty people present, all of Mexican descent. The Mission is for the Mexican laborers on the peach farm. I intend to say Mass every Sunday afternoon in Leonard Bend from now on. Leonard Bend belongs to the Leonard brothers of Fort Worth. They own a large general store and farms in Hood County. I call the place 'coon creek' because of the trapped coons, bobcats, coyotes and wolves which were killed and the carcasses were hanging on the barbed wire fence to the entrance. That was the first time I went there".

"The weather has become so cold I had to move into the little room in the barn. It was so windy in the open barn that I had to keep the paten turned upside down over the host to keep it from blowing away

"Put in a nice folding table as an Altar and got Mrs. Tim Elizondo to cover it with a white cloth. Also, got two big brass candlesticks which the Holy Name Society in Weatherford bought. They cost $35.00 and also got a big crucifix that Mrs. Skrehot had hanging in the church basement here. We are getting organized."

"The new kneeler chairs have arrived. Al Bierschenk and I took down in his old pickup truck on Palm Sunday. The next thin bell. When I arrive on Sunday, I have to keep honking so the know that I have arrived. The dogs begin to bark and the children come running out of the houses. We must have that bell."

"These days they are herding a lot of sheep and the place is primitive, or rather, reminiscent of the old pioneer days to see the young men come to Mass on horseback. They are dressed in regular cowboy outfits with chaps and spurs and so on. After Mass they try to put on a little show for their girlfriends, making the horses buck and kick and run little races. They remind me of the famous Mexican Vaqueros, the most famous horsemen of any country. I like to see them clomping around in their chaps and spurs."

(Father Mullin's journal ends here)

Lastly, in the context of these early years, I am including a copy address given by Jose Vasquez on the occasion of the celebration the first Mass on November 16, 1976, in what is now the Parish Hall: 

"Good Morning, my name is Jose Vasquez. My family and I been here only a short while compared to some of the old timers. We moved here in 1970. We came from a large parish in Ft. Worth. We are some of the privileged who attended Mass at the 'Old Barn at Leonard Bend. I say we were privileged, because attending at the Bend was an experience that my family and I will always cherish."

"Three weeks after we moved to Granbury we found out that a priest came here to say Mass on Sunday, but no one seemed to know where. Finally, after asking several people, we found out it was at a pecan grove at Leonard Bend. We didn't find it until the second time we tried; it was about seven miles from town. You took Highway 144, towards Glen Rose, then turned left on the road that goes to the Dam.

“You drove on a black top road for a little while until it curved to the right, then you continued on a dirt road which happened to be one of the dustiest roads I've ever seen. You really had to keep your distance from the other cars in order to keep from choking. You drove on this road about two miles until you went past the Dam. Then you came to a pecan grove. You went thru a gate, and immediately to the right there was a white barn like wooden building in which they shelled and sold pecans."

“Behind the building there was a small room in which we gathered for Sunday Mass. We had about six families attending. We had a few folding chairs and a simple wooden table was used for an Altar. The Communion Rail was made of a couple of 2 x 4's nailed together. We had an evaporative air cooler that bred some of the biggest mosquitoes that I've ever seen, but it did manage to keep us cool in the summertime. In the wintertime we used an old open flame heater. I don't know which was worse, choking from the fumes it gave off, or freezing without it."

"There was a beehive somewhere in the room because we always had some bees at Mass. We also had a cloud of gnats that liked to hang around Father's head while he was saying Mass. One thing for sure, when he said Mass there was plenty of 'action' in it, with him trying to keep the bugs away from his head. We had many distractions. We had two low windows directly behind the Altar and we could clearly see the countryside. There was an old windmill that made a loud creaking sound every time it turned. There was also a litter of pigs that roamed around the place. The windows were low enough for the pigs to look in and most Sundays they would come around and look us over, give us a few snorts, and then walk away."

"These were some of the things that we found hard to become accustomed to. But one thing that we did notice different from the Church back home was the closeness that we felt for one another; the absolute silence; and the closeness of God's own Nature. Meditation

came so easy there. The feeling of being so close to the Lord was felt very strongly by all of us. Father started bringing one or two people from Weatherford with him and before long he had a carload of people coming with him. They said they enjoyed going to Mass here in Granbury more than they did in their own Church. They seemed to feel the same thing we did."

"We didn't have a piano or organ so we accompanied ourselves with guitars. We sang Spanish and English hymns. Many times, for some reason, a lump came to my throat while I was singing. I feel this same spirit of togetherness was carried over to the Masses in the Presbyterian Church and feel sure that it will carry over to our beautiful new surroundings. And I ask our Lord to help us never to forget how close we felt to Him and to one another in that simple little room at 'the Bend'."

(Given by Jose Vasquez, November 16, 1976)

Owing to Father Mullin's continuing bad health, Fr. Richard Kennedy (1895-1976) from Co. Limerick, Ireland, was appointed as associate pastor to Weatherford in 1965. Although advanced in years, his apostolic zeal never failed. 

He was often to be seen out in his car collecting the children for their weekly catechism lessons. He also celebrated Mass in the peach shed until failing health compelled him, in 1970, to retire to the Pallottine College, Thurles, Ireland.  

During these years Fr. Steve Keogh, then stationed in Stephenville, was a continual help to the Weatherford priests in Granbury. With the departure of Fr. Kennedy and the continued deterioration of Fr. Mullins' physical condition, Fr. William Costigan (1922-1995) from Co. Tipperary, Ireland, was appointed as pastor to St. Stephen's, Weatherford.

"On April 18, 1972, there was a meeting at Jose's original restaurant to organize the first Parish Council to serve the Granbury Catholic Community. Early in 1972 we became aware that the Bend was to be developed and we would have to find another place to have Mass. Members of the Presbyterian Church in Granbury heard of our plight and graciously offered to share their Church with us. After consulting the Bishop and meeting the Church Board of the Presbyterian Church, an agreement was reached. Granbury area Catholics attended Mass in a REAL CHURCH for the first time in June of 1972."

(From the journal of Chester Hidalgo)

The Lutheran Church, as well as the Catholics, paid a monthly rental to the Presbyterian Church for the use of their facilities.

The following article by Glenn Dromgoole appears in the Fort Worth Star Telegram of Friday Evening, February 1, 1973:

A CHURCH THAT SERVES THREE

Lutherans, Catholics and Presbyterians gather each Sunday to worship in historic Granbury Sanctuary

GRANBURY - A small Presbyterian congregation pastored by a Baptist seminary student has opened its facilities here to the town's Lutheran and Catholic churches.

The three churches meet in First Presbyterian Church's historic sanctuary each Sunday.

"On Sunday that is a busy place", says Bennie Swenson, one of the organizers of Our Savior Lutheran Church. "We keep that church hot on Sundays."

The Lutherans meet at 8 am, the Lutherans and Presbyterians have a joint Sunday school at 9 am, the Presbyterians meet at 10 am, and the Catholics use the building at 5 pm.

The ecumenical use of the facilities began last summer when members of the Catholic Church, a mission of St. Stephens Catholic Church in Weatherford, found themselves without a place to meet.

They had been meeting in a remodeled peach‑packing shed which was about to be torn down to make way for a golf course.

The Presbyterians offered the use of their church, and the Catholics accepted.

Then in September, Lutheran ministers from Stephenville and Cleburne began organizing a Lutheran congregation here.

TWELVE LUTHERAN FAMILIES, who previously had to drive to Stephenville, Cleburne, Weatherford or Fort Worth to worship, met with the two ministers.

"They asked us if we would like to have a church here", Swenson says, "and we said, 'Yes, we would.' It was up to us to get a meeting place'.

So Swenson, Pete Peterson, Hans Gebhardt, Mrs. Clara Hardin and Mrs. Joan Heyen contacted a Presbyterian elder, J. C. Campbell, and received permission to use the sanctuary also.

"Eventually we will build a church', says Swenson, formerly a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Worth. "We don't know how soon it will be. It depends on how many members we can get".

THE CATHOLICS ALSO PLAN to build their own church some day. They have purchased property west of town but don't expect to build for a few years.

Meanwhile, the church sharing approach seems to suit all three groups.

Mrs. Jake Morris, an elder in the Presbyterian church, says the small (28 members) congregation has struggled for years. Most of the members are old and five on pensions.

"We haven't been able to do much," she says, "but now we just feel like that's one way our church can be of benefit to the town‑‑to give these people some place to meet. We feel like we're carrying out the Lord's work."

THE PRESBYTERIANS HAVE found several other advantages to the arrangement.

For the first time in several years, they have a regular Sunday school program. Before joining with the Lutherans, there weren't enough Presbyterian children to have a Sunday school.

Also the three congregations share the costs of operating the building, and the groups have gone together for two projects: They decorated a Christmas tree in the church and they met Dec. 26 to sing Christmas carols and have refreshments.

"Used to," says Mrs. Morris, "they wouldn't have met like that."

"The arrangement', says Mrs. Chester Hidalgo, a Catholic," is working just beautifully"

ALL THREE CHURCHES HAVE part time ministers.

Rev. Charles Fox of 333 Hallmark in Fort Worth, a doctoral student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, pastors the Presbyterian Church. Rev. Fred Traugott, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Stephenville and Rev. Carl Rehwalt, pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in Cleburne, alternate preaching at the Lutheran services here. About 30 people usually attend.

Rev. Patrick Whelan, pastor of St. Stephens Catholic Church in Weatherford, conducts the Catholic services. Attendance is usually 80 or 90 but has gone over 100 in the summer. All three congregations expect to grow as lake developments bring more people to Granbury.

THE ECUMENICAL ARRANGEMENT is not without precedent here. For about a year, the Episcopal congregation has been meeting in the Christian church at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday.

In fact the first church in Hood County was used by four denominations. The small rock church near the Acton community, just east of here, was shared by Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians and Christians (Disciples of Christ). Each congregation met one Sunday a month.

Granbury was founded in 1871, and eight years later a Presbyterian church was formed in the town. Those first Presbyterians met the first Sunday of each month in the Baptist church.

The Presbyterian sanctuary was built in 1896. The congregation has always been small, reaching a peak of 70 members in the early 1900s. There have been fewer than 20 members at times.

AT ONE TIME, THE CHURCH had a 10 member orchestra, and the orchestra section is still roped off in the sanctuary.

The most colorful feature of the building is a stained glass window donated by A. M. Pate of Fort Worth, who owns a ranch near here and occasionally visits the church.

U. S. Rep. Jim Wright is listed among the church's many pastors. He preached here from 1956 to 1958 on weekend trips from Washington.

(Clipping provided by Joe Trinker, a senior member of St. Francis Cabrini Church)

Shortly after moving into the Presbyterian Church, Fr. Pat Whelan was appointed to replace Fr. Costigan as pastor of St. Stephen's. Fr. Michael McCormack, also from Co. Tipperary, Ireland acted as interim pastor of St. Stephens, Weatherford from July 1972 until the arrival of Fr. Whelan in October, 1972.

Fr. Pat Whelan (1922‑1973) from Co. Wexford, Ireland was to have a very short pastorate at St. Stephen's. On the 17th of February 1973, his car skidded on a snowy road and crashed into an oncoming vehicle. After the Requiem Mass, presided over by Bishop Cassata, his remains were flown to Ireland where they were laid to rest with those of his parents in his native Bollymurphy, Co. Wexford.

The following article appeared in a local newspaper at the time:

BODY TO LIE IN STATE UNTIL TUESDAY

The body of Father Patrick Whelan will lie in state at St. Stephen's Catholic Church from 3 pm Monday until Mass is said at 3 pm Tuesday.

Father Whelan died as a result of injuries suffered in a two‑car accident on Saturday near Jacksboro. He was dead on arrival at the Jack County Hospital.

He assumed duties at St. Stephen's Catholic Church here last November, coming here from Abilene where we was the founding pastor of St. Vincent Pallotti. Earlier in his career, Father Whelan had served in Argentina.

The fatal accident occurred six miles northwest of Jacksboro on U.S. Highway 28 1. Passengers in the car with Father Whelan were Carolyn and Samuel Deel of Weatherford. They were taken to the Jack County Hospital and were released on Monday.

Highway patrolmen reported the accident occurred during a heavy snowfall.

Occupants of the second car were Norman James Sterling of Victoria, who was treated and released from Jack County Hospital, and his wife Laverne who was transferred to a Wichita Falls hospital.

Rosary will be recited for Father Whelan at 7 pm Monday.

Father William Costigan, who has also served St. Stephen's, will lead the celebration of the Mass for Father Whelan at 3 pm Tuesday. A number of priests from other areas will participate in the Mass.

Father Costigan, now of Michigan, is Provincial Delegate of the Pallottine Order to which Father Whelan belonged.

Father Costigan requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Father Whelan Memorial Fund which will be used to educate a seminarian.

Father Whelan was a native of Ireland and is survived there by one brother and two sisters. Following the Mass, the body will be forwarded to Borris, County Carlow, Ireland, for burial.

Cotten‑Bratton Funeral Chapel is in charge of Weatherford arrangements.

Father Whelan was succeeded as pastor by Fr. John Joe O'Brien, also of Co. Tipperary, Ireland. Shortly after Fr. O'Brien took office, pastoral responsibility passed from St. Stephen's, Weatherford, to St. Brendan's, Stephenville. Fr. Sean Sweeney from Co. Limerick, Ireland was pastor at that time and Fr. Carnelio Ramirez, a Texan of Mexican descent, also a Pallottine of the Irish Province, was associate pastor. Together, with tireless zeal, they served the Catholic communities in the four counties of Erath, Comanche, Hood and Somervell, with churches in Stephenville, Comanche, Dublin, Deleon, Granbury and Glen Rose. Under their dynamic leadership, the Catholic presence in Granbury grew rapidly. Undoubtedly, the continual growth of the population of Hood County had a proportional demographic effect in relation to the number of Catholics. Fr. Phil Barry, also from Co. Tipperary, Ireland succeeded Fr. Sweeney as pastor of St. Brendan's and its Missions in September of 1975.

Already in April 1975, 16.44 acres of land were purchased by the Fort Worth Diocese for the sum of $41,000. On this land, Fr. Barry embarked on the task of erecting an a‑purpose building. On November 14, 1976, the day after the Feast of St. Frances Cabrini, in whose honor the Community Center had been named, the first Holy Mass was celebrated on Roman Catholic property in Hood County. This building was erected under the supervision of Winston Booker, contractor and dedicated church member, and dedicated by Bishop John Cassata in December of 1976. During the following year, Ed Bevers, a native Texan and convert to the Roman Catholic faith, was called by God to serve Him in the infant local church of St. Frances Cabrini as a deacon. With the joyful enthusiasm of Fr. Barry and the Church members, Ed initiated his studies for the Diaconate and was ordained Deacon by Bishop John Cassata on February 29, 1979. Deacon Bevers, has been a true apostle and servant of the Church ever since that day. At this time also, baptismal, marriage and other sacramental records were kept in the parish registers at St. Frances Cabrini. Up to this time, they were kept in Weatherford and Stephenville.

In September of 1978, Fr. Phil McNamara, a native of Co. Tipperary, Ireland and Fr. Larry Perry, a native Texan, replaced Frs. Barry and Ramirez as pastor and associate‑pastor respectively. On September 22, 1979, Fr. Michael Timlin of Co. Mayo, Ireland became the first resident pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Church. A glorious new phase in the short life of our Church was about to begin. For the preceding two years, the priest on weekend supply had a small apartment in the multi‑purpose building in which to five. During his brief stay in Granbury, Fr. Timlin acquired a comparatively spacious and very comfortable trailer home, which served as the Pastor's residence until a new Rectory was acquired by Fr. William Costigan at the end of 1994. From Fr. Timlin's time the pastoral responsibility for St. Rose of Lima, Glen Rose, Somervell County, has remained with the Pastor of St. Frances Cabrini. In September of 1981, Fr. Aidan Maquire of Co. Dublin, Ireland replaced Fr. Thrilin as Pastor. Fr. Maguire enjoyed four eventful years in that position until September of 1985. During that time, classrooms were added to the existing multi purpose building. His unselfish zeal for the poor and underprivileged of society resulted in a growth from their numbers amongst our ranks. His involvement with Youth Ministry and with the Hispanic Catholic Community also added immeasurably to the Harvest of the Lord. Fr. Maguire, as every other priest who has had the privilege of serving the Lord in this place, has his memories:

"One day I was standing on the steps before the door to the mobile home, when a man and a half‑naked girl drove up on a motor bike and parked before me. She jumped off the bike and ran to me saying that if she did not get away from him that he was going to kill her. Could she stay with me? When I said 'Yes' she told him at length in a loud voice where to go. He started up his motor bike, drove up to me and pointed his finger at me and said "Later" and then drove off. I wondered what he meant by that remark. Minutes later, I sat in the office facing this lady and realized I had a problem. So I picked up the phone and called one of our oldest parishioners. She said, 'Don't worry Father, I'll collect her from you in a few minutes.' She dressed her, fed her, and took care of her for two weeks. Then one day when she arrived back at home, the girl had gone, taking with her what money and valuables she could find. My friend never had a regret or a complaint about how things had worked out. That, for me, is a memory of the people of Granbury."

Fr. Maguire, along with many of the other priests in this story, were and are my friends. At that time I was stationed in Lubbock and visited Granbury often with many unforgettable trips to Six Flags and Wet and Wild.

From September of 1985 until June of 1993, Fr. Philip McNamara was to enjoy another assignment as pastor of St. Frances Cabrini. By this time the building of a new church had become a matter of great urgency because of the phenomenal increase of weekend Mass attendance. In accordance with Diocesan guidelines, Fr. McNamara set up his various committees, selected an architect and worked towards having adequate finances for the embarking upon and completion of such a major project. Work on the new Church began shortly afterwards and was completed in late December, 1989. The new building was dedicated by Bishop Joseph P. Delaney on February 11, 1990. The structural cost of the Church was $ 1,000, 000 and the finished cost was $1,300,000. Owing to his acute administrative and financial talents, all debts were paid off and St. Frances was very comfortable financially when he handed over the pastor's job to Fr. Costigan. Fr. McNamara was a tireless worker for the catechical preparation of our youth for the Sacraments, with his care and dedication for the home‑bound and the sick, always sympathetic to the needs of all. May God reward him and a the others for the wonderful work they have done and testimony they have given in our midst.

Fr. William Costigan, like Fr. McNamara, was to have the privilege of serving as pastor in Granbury for two terms. Firstly, 1971-72 when he resided in Weatherford with pastoral responsibility for Granbury and then in July 1993 as resident pastor in Granbury; with pastoral responsibility for Glen Rose. In the short length of his natural life that remained for him, Fr. Costigan, through his goodness, humor and concern, endeared himself to countless people whose lives he touched. He was a dedicated servant to the causes and aspirations of all God's people and in a most special way to those of St. Frances Cabrini Church. Late in 1994 he was diagnosed with having terminal cancer. At that time the present rectory was purchased. In his good days (which were many) he enjoyed his convalescence there very much. Fr. Larry Gould was assigned here as an associate‑pastor in January 1995 and succeeded Fr. Costigan as pastor in August of that same year. Fr. Costigan made his final trip to Ireland at the beginning of August, 1995. He died in the home of his brother Jim on August 11, and now his mortal remains rest in the company of his brother Father John and so many other of our dear Pallottine brothers in the cemetery of Cabra, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, Ireland,

These memories and reflections I set before you to honor the dedication, efforts, prayers and sacrifices of all those who have gone before us and those who are still with us. As present pastor, I wish to thank all who have been involved in this Religious Education and Church Office Building, completed July, 1996 On a cold January 2nd we had a ground breaking ceremony and now, on a warm midsummer's day, a dedication ceremony. To all who have worked with various committees and counsels, 'Thank you',  to all who have contributed financially, 'Thank you', to all who have been supportive by their prayers and good wishes, 'Thank you'. To His Excellency, Bishop Joseph P. Delaney, 'Thank you’ for your interest and prayerful support and blessing our new building on this 4^th of August 1996

Another paragraph in the book of our lives is now complete.

IN MEMORIAM:

May he support us all the day long till the shades lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of fife is over, and our work is done! Then in his mercy may He give us safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last!

(From the writings of Cardinal Newman)

Reprinted here in loving memory of Father Costigan; a Blessing with which he frequently ended the Mass.

SAINT FRANCES CABRINI

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Holy Patroness of our Church, was born, the last of thirteen children, In Sant' Angelo, Lodigiano, (Lombardy) Italy in 1850. At the age of thirteen, Francesca, as she was known in her native Lombardy, consecrated her virginity to God.

She was a very good student, obtained a Teacher's license at age eighteen, and applied to enter the local convent as a religious sister, but was refused due to frail health. At age 24, her health now improved, she was admitted as a novice at the House of Providence at Codogno. In 1880 she founded, and became Prioress of the Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, whose religious spread throughout Italy, the Americas, China and other countries. Their special apostolate was the management and direction of orphanages and under Mother Cabrini's administration seven additional orphanages were founded in Northern Italy.

In 1889, Pope Leo XII asked Mother Cabrini to go to the United States to care for the Italian immigrants and their children. In New York, Mother Cabrini established schools, orphanages and Adult Instruction Classes, and Columbus Hospital, which gained state approval in 1896. From New York her work spread to Chicago and to other cities in the U. S. and South America. In all, a total of 67 houses were founded and 1,500 sisters joined her congregation due to her dedicated efforts. Mother Cabrini crossed the Atlantic twenty‑seven times, and like St. Paul, she made herself "all things to all men to save all".

She died at Chicago, December 22, 1917, and was canonized on July 7,1946. In a panegyric of the Saint (July 9,1946) Pope Pius XII said that she had the meekness and humility of Christ In her heart mistrust of self gave rise to boundless confidence in God. On fire from her constant union with the divine Heart, the rare intensity of her interior life matched the extreme external activity of her existence. This was the secret of her tremendous apostolate. A naturalized American, she is considered the first saint of the United States. Her body has been transferred to New York, where it is the object of great devotion.

(Some excerpts taken from St. Andrews Daily Missal, 1953-1954)