History / Historia

After the Second World War, Monsignor Paul M. Konoske was given a task by Archbishop John J. Cantwell to begin the work of building the parish of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in 1946.  The proposed new parish was to include portions of the parishes of Ascension, St. Eugene, and St. Michael churches.  The recently canonized Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American citizen to be canonized was appropriately chosen as the Patron Saint of the new parish.

The new parish began in the humblest manner.  Without a place in which to live or celebrate Mass, Father Konoske accepted offers of parishioners to host Masses in their homes. The first Mass was celebrated at 8:00 am on Sunday, October 20, 1946, in the living room of Miss Mary Knauff at 1046 West 107th Street.  It was followed that day by a 10:00 am Mass.  It soon became necessary to find more spacious quarters and so Mass was moved to the restaurant of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Olson at 10335 South Vermont Avenue, known as Ralph’s Bar-B-Q.  At Ralph’s,  people were fed both spiritually and physically.

In March 1947, seven acres were acquired for the future church, rectory, school, convent, and hall with the blessing of the grounds and foundation in November 1947.  The church officially opened in March 1948 and was dedicated by Archbishop McIntyre in October 1948.

In 1949, St. Anselm’s hall was purchased and moved in sections to accommodate social events being held in the partially completed church.  Groundbreaking ceremony for the two-story school building was held in March 1950.  The school opened in October 1950 with four grades.   The convent was completed and occupied in September 1953.

The St. Frances has grown over the years, under  the great leadership of Msgr. Konoske and the sacrifices and hard work of many people.  The beauty of the church, school, hall, convent, rectory, and grounds are a great gift to the community.  The parish was also blessed by the presence of the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose who were in Cabrini since 1951. 

The Sisters left the parish in 2006 but they continue to help and support the school not only by consistently nurturing the spiritual growth of the faculty and staff through retreats and essential religious resources but by providing scholarship and  financial assistance to the families in need.