The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

The Community of St. Frances Cabrini comes together to bring to life the Spirit of Christ trusting in Him who strengthens us and allow the teachings of Christ to become part of our daily life through worship, education, and service.

- Pastoral Council, 1993

last updated: September 3, 2006

Mother Cabrini arrived in Denver in 1902, one hundred years ago. Responding to a great need, she first started a much-needed school and then established the Queen of Heaven Orphanage in 1905. Soon after, in 1909, a summer camp for the girls in nearby Mt. Vernon Canyon was provided for them to play, away from the city in the open spaces and bracing mountain air.Her last visit in 1912 to this summer camp had a lasting effect on the future of this site because of two events that occurred. She had purchased the camp at a very reasonable price because of scarcity of water there. On that afternoon, she pointed with her cane to a certain rock and asked a sister to lift it and discovered the spring, supplying them with the needed water.

Then she hiked with the sisters and the girls to the summit for a picnic lunch. The panorama before them of the surrounding mountain peaks inspired her to send the sisters and the girls to gather white rocks and bring them to her. They helped her arrange the rocks on the ground in the form of a heart surmounted by a cross and crown of thorns. As they all stood around contemplating their finished work, Mother Cabrini told them, "The heart is a symbol of the great love Jesus has for each of you." She named it the Mount of the Sacred Heart.

Frances Cabrini was canonized on July 7, 1946. In 1954, the majestic statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was erected on the space behind the original stone heart.

- excerpt from Mother Cabrini Messenger