Our immigrant stories would not be complete without the story of our patron saint of immigrants, Francesca Xavier (Saverio) Cabrini, whose remarkable life and times inspired the major motion picture “Cabrini,” which opened nationwide on March 8. Born in Lombardia two months before she was due on July 15, 1850, Maria Francesca Cabrini was the youngest of 13 children.

Already frail in health, at age 7 she nearly drowned, which left her with lifelong chronic bronchitis as well as a fear of water. This didn’t stop her from traveling overseas 23 times. She may have lived her life with frail health, but her faith, courage and resilience abounded. She is quoted as saying, “We can serve our weakness or our purpose. We cannot do both.”