Mother Cabrini Memorial

One of three finalists in the international competition for the design of a Patron Saint of Immigrants Monument in New York City.

In our heroic portrait, we depict Mother Cabrini striding bravely onto the shores of NYC, gently coaxing along two children. Behind her, she is flanked by Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty. The placement of the trio adds even more gravitas to the already inspiring landscape and provides a welcoming sense of place to pause and enjoy the memorial.

Any approach draws us in for a closer look. From the south, we follow the boy’s gaze to Lady Liberty, and turning back notice a path with small, brightly polished bronze footsteps leading to the base of the sculpture. There, they meet delicate strands of polished bronze violets adorning the surface of the curved stone. The violets invoke the story of young Francis, forlornly dropping paper boats into the canal near her home in northern Italy. In each, she carefully tucked a violet, imagining that each one was a missionary sailing away to distant lands, hoping that she too might venture forth someday.