The Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Founded by St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in 1880, the Missionary Sisters began as a small, faith-filled community gathered in northern Italy to “be bearers of the love of Christ to the world.” Inspired by the Heart of Jesus, Mother Cabrini led her Sisters beyond conventional boundaries—launching schools, orphanages, and hospitals, but also entrusting to them a charism of courage, creative mercy, and missionary zeal. Their legacy is not simply the care of institutions, but the ongoing transformation of lives and communities, answering Christ’s call wherever the world’s wounds are deepest.
The Cabrinian Missions are woven from three strands: Ministry—to serve the poor, immigrants, and vulnerable through practical action rooted in love; Spirituality—to let every work and word flow from daily prayer and the Sacred Heart; and Community—to build a diverse, international sisterhood always united in mission and the ongoing transformation of lives.
Today, the Missionary Sisters minister on six continents, collaborating with lay partners, always adapting to new challenges while remaining anchored in fidelity to Christ, the Church, and the most forgotten and marginalized. Whether at the Cabrini Shrine in Chicago, in new immigrant parishes, or among refugees and children around the globe, MSCs remain committed to acts of steadfast compassion that turn prayer into presence and faith into brave new “yeses” for each generation.
Timeline of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- 1880 — St. Frances Xavier Cabrini founds the Missionary Sisters in Codogno, Italy, gathering seven women to launch their first orphanages and schools.
- 1889 — At the request of Pope Leo XIII, Mother Cabrini brings the first Sisters to New York City to care for immigrants, opening missions, schools, and eventually the first Cabrini hospitals in North America.
- 1890s–1910s — The congregation expands rapidly across the U.S. (including Chicago, Denver, New Orleans, Seattle), Central and South America, and Europe, establishing new houses wherever immigrants or vulnerable people are in need.
- 1899 — Cabrini and the Sisters arrive in Chicago; Assumption School, Columbus Hospital, and outreach to Italian immigrants anchor their mission in the city.
- 1909–1917 — Cabrini becomes a U.S. citizen; the Sisters expand to parish, hospital, and school work throughout the Midwest and West. Mother Cabrini dies in Chicago, leaving behind a dynamic, global congregation.
- 1926 — MSCs arrive in China, finally fulfilling Cabrini’s dream of bringing Christ to the East.
- 1946 — Canonization of St. Frances Cabrini launches a new era of MSC missionary growth, social justice efforts, and collaborations with laity worldwide.
- 1950s–1970s — The Sisters expand to Africa (Ethiopia, Uganda, Eswatini), Australia, and Great Britain, responding to education needs, hunger crises, and postwar recovery with new schools, clinics, and vocational training outreach.
- 1990s–2000s — MSCs open anti-trafficking ministries, collaborate with lay partners and volunteers in parish and hospital settings, and renew their commitment to migrants, refugees, women, and children through global partnerships.
- 2012 — The Missionary Sisters lead the restoration and reopening of the National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago, amplifying their role as spiritual leaders and community builders at Cabrini’s former home.
- 2020 — A new statue of Mother Cabrini is unveiled in New York City as a symbol of hope and resilience for immigrants and the vulnerable, reflecting the Sisters’ enduring impact.
- Today — The Missionary Sisters continue serving in 17 countries, focusing on education, healthcare, refugee and immigrant ministries, spiritual formation, and urgent needs wherever the call arises—living Cabrini’s legacy with creativity and fidelity.
A Modern Witness: The Mother Cabrini Statue in New York
On Columbus Day, October 12, 2020, Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York City unveiled a new statue of Mother Cabrini overlooking the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island—a powerful symbol of Cabrini’s mission and enduring relevance. When Cabrini arrived in New York in 1889, Italian immigrants faced poverty, disease, fear, and exclusion. She and her Sisters brought hope, practical help, and advocacy even in the darkest circumstances. Speaking at the unveiling, Governor Cuomo reminded listeners:
“Today the lesson of Mother Cabrini is even more vital because of the difficulties we are facing… We all know these are challenging times, but as we also know in the book of life it is not what one does when the sun is shining that tests…but it is what one does in the fury of the storm.”
The statue stands as both a tribute to Cabrini and a living call for every generation to continue the works of mercy and justice she began.
The Seal of the Institute: Symbol and Mission
The seal of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus places at its center the Heart of Christ, inflamed with love for humanity. Surrounding this Heart, the Sisters are depicted as fragile vessels upon the oceans, boldly carrying Christ’s compassion to every shore. Mary, Star of the Sea, guides and protects their journeys as they bring the Gospel across boundaries and cultures. Over all shines the Institute’s motto, Ad Majorem Gloriam Sacratissimum Cordis Jesu—“All for the Greater Glory of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus”—a daily reminder that every act of love, small or great, is offered to Christ and his Church for the life of the world.