The first female American citizen to be canonized a saint St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850- 1917), who was canonized in 1946 by Pope Pius XII.

She was born in in Italy but at the suggestion of Pope Leo XIII in 1889, she brought her congregation to the United States. She embraced her new country to the extent that she became a citizen herself and is truly an American saint.

Her Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart were originally founded to work among Italian immigrants to this country but as usually happens, the apostolate became more diverse.

In the Philadelphia area they are best known for the foundation of Cabrini University, although theirs is an international congregation.

St. Frances Cabrini is  the foundress of a religious congregation,  a holy woman, and a woman who knew how to get things done.

She had so many qualities — leadership and financial skills — and she never quit, even a saint for businesspeople. She was a dynamic person who happened to be a nun.
A big part of her work was in health care, and she opened schools for the wealthy that helped to fund (other) schools where the people were not wealthy. She was always penniless but somehow found the money for her work.
Because immigration from Italy was relatively late among the Catholic population, the newcomers faced prejudice, even in the church.
St. Frances Cabrini’s message to her fellow immigrants, which holds to this day, was “They had to be good American citizens."She taught that in all of her schools. She had vision.

Our History

Cabrini Parish was constituted in 2011 to serve the northeast Rochester community as seen in the map below. This new parish gathers the faithful of the former Saint Phillip Neri, Holy Redeemer, Saint Francis Xavier, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Saint Andrew, Light of Christ, Our Lady of the Americas, Our Lady of Sorrows, Corpus Christi, Saint Michael and Annunciation Parishes.


Of all the former churches only Annunciation, Corpus Christi and Saint Michael's remain as Catholic Churches, others have been repurposed or demolished. See below for more information on the other former churches:

Our Lady of Sorrows

Has been demolished. Used to be at 10 Dake Street. Dedicated on September 22, 1929 closed in October 1938. Our Lady of Sorrows was established as an Italian mission church in 1924 as a solution to overflow crowds at the nearby recently established Italian church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. A former German Baptist mission was purchased at 10 Dake St., located at the corner of Dake and Niagara, for use by the new community. The building was dedicated on Sep. 22, 1929. The final Mass was offered at Our Lady of Sorrows in 1938, after which many parishioners settled into St. Francis Xavier church. The former church and rectory would become home to the Genesee Settlement House in 1939, led by Fr. Joseph Vogt. The building remained until at least the late 1960s, but was eventually demolished. The lot remains empty to this day.

Saint Phillip Neri

Was established as a mission in 1929 and established as a parish in 1959. The present church was built in 1969 at 1782 Clifford Avenue and closed in August 2003.
The tabernacle currently at Sacred Heart Cathedral was recovered from the former St. Philip Neri Church, Rochester, where Father George J. Weinmann and School Sister of Notre Dame Lilian Marie McLaughlin both perished in an effort to rescue the Most Blessed Sacrament.

The pastors were: 

• Fr. Frances X. Kunz, 1929-May 1936 [Pastor of St. Francis Xavier; upon death]
• Fr. George J. Weinmann, 1936-1938 [As Pastor of St. Francis Xavier]
• Fr. George J. Weinmann, Oct. 1938-Feb. 20, 1967 [First resident Pastor; upon death]
• Fr. Charles B. Connell, May 5, 1967-June 1984 [upon retirement]
• Msgr. John F. Duffy, June 1984-June 1986
• Fr. Richard Shatzel, June 1986-June 25, 1996
• Fr. Timothy E. Horan, June 25, 1996 [administrator]-June 26, 2001
• Fr. Michael Mayer, June 26, 2001-Aug. 2003

Holy Redeemer

Located at 634 Hudson Ave. The Parish was formed in 1867. The Present church was dedicated on October 27, 1887, it closed March 24, 1985.

Pastors:

• Fr. Fidelis C. Oberholzer, 1869-1902 [upon death]
• Fr. Jacob Staub, 1902-1923
• Msgr. F. William Stauder, M.R., 1923-Oct. 26, 1955 [upon death]
• Msgr. Joseph E. Vogt, Nov. 11, 1955-June 26, 1975 [upon retirement]
• Fr. David Heinsler, June 26, 1975-August 1975 [Temporary administrator]
• Fr. Edwin Metzger, June 26, 1975 [assumed duties in August]-June 25, 1980
• Fr. William B. Leone, June 25, 1980-Mar. 24, 1985

Saint Francis Xavier

Located at 300 Bay St. The Parish was formed in 1888. The Present church was in built: 1914. Closed: Oct. 11, 2008

Pastors:
 

• Fr. Mathias J. Hargather, 1888-1896
• Fr. Joseph F. Netzel, 1896-Mar. 1918 [upon death]
• Fr. Michael Krischel, 1918-Feb. 1922 [upon death]
• Fr. Frances X. Kunz, 1922-May 1936 [upon death]
• Fr. George J. Weinmann, 1936-1938
• Msgr. Patrick Moffatt, Oct. 1938-1964
• Fr. Joseph P. Beatini, 1964-June 23, 1964 [Administrator], June 23, 1964-June 26, 1975 [Pastor]
• Fr. William J. Cosgrove, June 26, 1975-Oct. 13, 1976
• Fr. Edward Golden, Oct. 13, 1976-1982
• No pastor is listed in the 1983 directory
• Msgr. George A Cocuzzi, 1984?-1985
• Fr. William B. Leone, July 1, 1985-Dec. 31, 1988
• Msgr. George A. Cocuzzi, Jan. 1, 1989-June 27, 1989 [Tempoarary administrator]
• Fr. Nicolas Menjivar, June 27, 1989-June 30, 1992 [Came from El Salvador]
• Fr. Lawrence Tracy, June 30, 1992-June 29, 1993 [Temporary administrator]
• Dennis J. Shaw, June 29, 1993-June 25, 2002
• Vincent Panepinto, June 25, 2002-Oct. 11, 2008

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Located at 65 Woodward St. The Parish formed in the Fall of 1904. The Present church was dedicated on Oct. 20, 1929 and closed on Oct. 4, 2008.

Pastors

• Fr. Emil J. Cefell, Fall 1904-1909 [Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua]
• Fr. Oreste Canali, 1909-1911 [First resident Pastor; upon resignation for poor health]
• Fr. Giovanni Robotti, 1911-1914 [upon transfer to Syracuse]
• Fr. Victor Rossi, 1914-Feb. 1922 [upon entering Pious Society of St. Charles]
• Bp. Walter A. Foery, 1922-June 17, 1932
• Fr. Gerald T. Brennan, June 1932-June 28, 1937
• Msgr. Charles J. Azzi, June 28, 1937-Aug. 4, 1961 [upon death]
• Fr. Gennaro Ventura, 1961-June 25, 1970
• Fr. Raymond Booth and Fr. Laurence Tracy, June 25, 1970-June 1975 [co-pastorate]
• Fr. Laurence Tracy, June 1975-1981
• Fr. Timothy J. McCluskey, 1981-June 30, 1982
• Fr. James E. Hewes, June 30, 1982-June 30, 1987 [administrator]
• Dennis J. Shaw, June 30, 1987-June 28, 2005
• Vincent Panepinto, June 28, 2005-Oct. 4, 2008

Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Located at 1089 Joseph Ave. The Parish formed on June 20, 1904. The present church was dedicated on May 30, 1926 and closed Jan. 9, 2011.

Pastors
 

• Msgr. John P. Schellhorn, 1904-1936 [upon retirement]
• Msgr. Francis J. Hoefen, 1936-1967
• Msgr. Richard M. Quinn, 1967-Sep. 1, 1985 [upon retirement]
• Fr. Neil Miller, Sep. 1, 1985-June 25, 2002 [upon retirement]
• Fr. Peter Deckman June 25, 2002-2005
• Dea. Dan Hurley, 2005-2010 [Administrator]
• Fr. Paul Gitau and Deborah A. Housel, 2010-Jan. 9, 2011 [Co-administrators]

Saint Andrew

Located at 923 Portland Ave. The Parish formed on Oct. 8, 1913. The present church was dedicated on June 12, 1927 and closed Oct. 16, 2011.

Pastors
 

• Fr. Joseph A. Miller, Oct. 8, 1913-Nov. 1914 [Holy Trinity pastor who helped found the parish]
• Msgr. George W. Eckl, Nov. 1914-Jan. 19, 1965 [First resident pastor; upon retirement]
• Fr. Charles J. McCarthy, Jan. 19, 1965-July 16, 1971
• Fr. Bernard V. Kuchman, 1971-1972
• Fr. Bernard F. Dollen, 1972-June 25, 1980
• Fr. John J. Hempel, June 25, 1980-1983
• Ronald W. Stacy, 1983-Jan. 5, 1993?
• Fr. Robert A. Klee, Jan. 1990?-July 1, 1990 [Temporary administrator]
• Fr. Timothy E. Horan, Jan. 5, 1993-June 26, 2001
• Fr. Michael Mayer, June 26, 2001-2010
• Fr. Paul Gitau and Deborah A. Housel, 2010-Oct. 16, 2011 [Co-administrators]