The Cabrini Chair

In the home of Frank and Rosemary Kelly (Sister Maria Rose’s family), there was a special chair which has significance today in light of the newly released film, “Cabrini.” The film chronicles the life of Frances Xavier Cabrini, MSC. According to Sister Maria Rose, the chair was donated to St. Cecilia’s Convent where IHM sisters lived from 1872 until 1970. Mother Cabrini used the chair during her stay at the convent in 1899.

Among the 67 institutions Mother Cabrini founded was a school for the children of Italian immigrants in Scranton, PA. Mother Cabrini gathered the necessary resources to purchase an old public school that became Cabrini School located on what is now St. Frances Cabrini Avenue in West Scranton. It served St. Lucy’s parish for 71 years. Today, it is called the Cabrini Apartments for senior citizens.

Mother Cabrini is the first U.S. citizen to be canonized a saint.