Mother Cabrini and her Sisters in Honor Oak: the First 100 yearsSt Frances Xavier Cabrini is the Patron Saint of Migrants. Also known as St FrancescaCabrini, she brought her Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to Honor Oak, SouthLondon in October 1910. Born in Italy in 1850, her dream was to go to China. Pope LeoXIII, however, directed her to the United States, to work with Italian immigrants. Between1880 and her death in 1917 she established 67 foundations in Italy, France, Spain, England, theUnited States,Central and South America.

In Honor Oak, Mother Cabrini founded the Sacred Heart Convent School, now St FrancescaCabrini School.

The sisters’ work included: catechism classes in St William of York Parish, a lodge for retiredladies, nursing wounded soldiers with the Red Cross in the First World War and housing 200children,their teachers and priests during the Spanish Civil War. In the Second World War,they took their pupils to Tavistock and Combe Martin in Devon. The Honor Oak buildingshoused refugees. Sisters visited the Italian and German prisoners of war in the camps in Peck-ham, organising activities for them. During the 1980's three sisters worked in St Benedict’sparish, Drumchapel, Glasgow, living in a flat as part of the local community.

After 9/11 many people came to light candles and to pray at the statue of Mother Cabrini inSouthwark Cathedral. Mgr Egan was surprised to learn from Canon James Cronin that wewere asking the prayers of the Patron of New York, in London. In 2009 the National Shrine toSaint Francesca Cabrini opened in St George's Cathedral, Southwark.

Entering their second century at Honor Oak, the sisters support lay collaborators following inthe footsteps of Mother Cabrini, 'Educating the Heart', in St Francesca Cabrini School. Theyalso work with Portuguese and Spanish speaking communities in London.

Novena in Honour of St Frances Xavier Cabrini, Patron Saint of Migrants 4th -12th November

Feast: 13th November

Novena PrayerO Mother Cabrini, Woman after God's own heart,Universal Patroness of Migrants,for whom this world, too small a world,held lands for boundless work,helping migrants to findtrue integration into new cultures,'doing all things in God who strengthens us',be for me now, with these your myriads of migrants,my voice, my guardian, my advocate, my mother.

Bring the Good News of the Gospel to all humanity;proclaim the love and mercy of God;breathe life, truth and hope,justice, peace and communion,wheresoever these values are wanting.

Inspire me with your love of the Heart of Jesus;then, at my end, guide this my migrant soul and bring me safe to God.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,world without end. Amen

You are invited to join us in this novena and to pray for the needs of migrantsworldwide as well as your own intentions.

We are writing a booklet on the work of St Cabrini and her sisters in England andScotland. If you have any memories to contribute or would like any furtherinformation please contact:

Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of JesusForest Hill Rd, Honor Oak, London SE23 3LE

tel: 0208 699 2735 email:bodonnmsc@aol.com