In March, the State of Colorado designated the first Monday in October to be Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini Day. The Federal Government still recognizes the second Monday as Columbus Day and a Federal Holiday. Mayor Nick Gradisar issued the following statement in a press release: “I want to recognize those early Pueblo-Italian families who fought for acceptance as Americans and their contributions today. Past generations came from the old world to seek new opportunities and prosperity in the 21st century.

We must never forget what Mother Cabrini said on the treatment of Italian-American workers, “Few regard him with a sympathetic eye, care for him or remember that he has a heart and a soul: they merely look upon him as an ingenious machine for work.”