Seventy years later, that spirit of togetherness still defines Cabrini, according to Margaret Schillage, Chris Aguilar, Cathy Campbell, and Jim Revels. Across generations, parishioners and pastors continue to build, remember, and renew their community, carrying forward a legacy grounded in family, Catholic tradition, and cultural diversity.

Building Together

Chris Aguilar grew up at Cabrini, left for school and work, and eventually returned in 2007. He explained why he returned to his childhood spiritual home: “For me, I missed the familiarity of the parish after growing up there.” Chris and his wife Ann became involved at Cabrini through their leadership in the Worldwide Marriage Encounter. This led to more parish responsibilities.

Chris recalled, “We were approached to become lectors, and it was a big honor. It has led to many doors opening to serve in other ways and to getting to know so many people at the parish whom we now love. We have grown connections that extend beyond Sunday Mass.”

Jim Revels has also experienced a deep sense of belonging and home at the parish. After retiring, he found something special in Cabrini parish. “Encountering Father James and Father Tony, I experienced a revitalization of my faith. It was like a renewal,” he shared.  “The newer priests are the greatest gift we could ever ask for. It made people want to be involved in ministries. Everybody works together.”

Cathy Campbell, who joined the parish in 2000, attests to this same sense of togetherness: “Saint Frances Cabrini is a treasured family,” she said. For her, the parish continues to embody values like tradition and diversity, deepening the momentum of cohesion begun by prior pastor, Father Michael Hendrickson. Of her current pastor, Father James Okafor, she said, “Father James has an amazing memory; he calls us by name. We feel valued and recognized. He’s amazing! He sees our gifts, and he puts them to work!” She added, “I’m so grateful because he has really deepened my connection to Christ.”

Remembering Together: The Cabrini Way Memoir

Father James encouraged Margaret Schillage, or Margie, to put her talents to work in capturing the spirit and history of the parish in its memoir: The Cabrini Way. An original parishioner and catechist of 41 years, Margie led the effort, bringing together more than 100 personal testimonies. In her research, she uncovered layers of meaning embedded in its sacred space.

“Before now, I never stopped to think about how our church building is so rich in symbolism,” she said.  Every detail, she learned, was intentional; from the symbols etched in its altar and baptismal font, to the painting of the Last Supper above the high altar by artist Angelo Lanzini.

The memoir also preserves the memory of its school’s earliest foundations. One such account comes from Sister Gabriel, a Dominican nun: “We started with two grades. Tuition was $6 a month. There were rows of prune trees between the convent and the school. There were wooden planks, placed end to end, through the orchard for us.”

Parents and sisters worked together to meet the needs of its fledgling school, further confirmation that Cabrini’s greatest strength has always been the relationships that sustain it.

A Notable Story of Love and Loss

The Cabrini Way reveals its depth as a supportive community in moments of loss. One such story is that of the Metz family, who sponsored the recent renovation of the parish’s adoration chapel in memory of their son, Connor. Connor passed away unexpectedly at the age of 13 due to undiagnosed Loeys-Dietz syndrome.

For Keith and Bridget Metz, Connor’s parents, the parish became a place of refuge. “The Saint Frances Cabrini Community and our faith pulled us through such a hard time. We were embraced and nurtured by so many friends,” they shared.

Today, the adoration chapel stands in Connor’s honor, a space of prayer shaped by both sorrow and hope. “We cannot think of Connor without thinking of Cabrini, which is such a special place for us as a family. Connor loved Saint Frances Cabrini, and he had such an amazing faith as a young man.” They added, “May we all find our light and strength in the Eucharist.”

Tradition and Growth

Cabrini’s enduring identity is deeply rooted in Catholic tradition, something parishioners experience most vividly in its liturgy. According to Chris, “At Saint Frances Cabrini, we still practice the really beautiful traditions of the Catholic Church, ‘the smells and bells,’ that make liturgy just so palpable. Many of us really appreciate that.”

Jim, like Chris, was once an altar server and is now a sacristan. He has a striking sense of continuity with the traditions of his youth. “Walking into the same sacristy today that I walked into as a boy has made experiencing the Church’s liturgical tradition, in my mind, seamless,” Revels reflected. “The actual acts of the Mass, the Eucharist, the readings, the participation by the congregation — it has been seamless, and that is the best way I can describe it.”

Yet Cabrini’s fidelity to tradition does not come at the expense of cultural diversity, as it has embraced new expressions of faith that enrich its communal life. Cathy speaks with enthusiasm about the Nigerian Igbo community. “I absolutely love their spirituality!” she said. “Father James has brought the group to our church for intercultural Masses. And they just blow the roof right off the liturgy! I never want to miss one.”

These celebrations reflect a broader commitment to inclusion and mutual enrichment. Chris noted the involvement of Igbo couples in marriage preparation as one example. “It has been so wonderful to get to know that culture better!” he said. Here again, Cabrini’s identity as a family emerges: where tradition is enriched by its sense of togetherness, leading to renewal.

Renewed Together – A Shared Life of Its People

Seventy years after its founding, Cabrini continues to carry a legacy of faith, generosity, and shared life of its people.  Among the most cherished traditions captured in many of the memoir’s reflections is the parish’s annual festival or Fiesta. For Margie, it remains a highlight of the year. “I love the Fiesta so much and look forward to it every year because the excitement of a carnival always brings out the child in me, and so many memories of this event from years past.”

Presently, at the heart of Cabrini is Pastor Father James' vision of spiritual growth. Chris commented, “Father really wants to see people growing in their spirituality, growing in their church relationship, and growing their relationship with God.” That focus has helped unify the community across ministries, generations, and cultural backgrounds.

In the end, what keeps parishioners at Cabrini is a sense of renewal that reveals itself over time. “The reason I remain a parishioner of Saint Frances Cabrini is that I have fallen in love with the other parishioners and the priests and the way that we honor and give glory to God at that parish,” Chris said.

For Jim, that shared life has created something rare. “This is the closest I have ever been to my brothers and sisters at that parish, and I consider it a slice of heaven.” For Cathy, her parish family brings her to the source and summit of Catholic life. “It is where I meet Jesus in the Eucharist with my family in Christ.”

And for Margie, whose work has helped preserve the parish’s story, Cabrini remains home. “I have made this church my home. Here, there is a welcoming spirit and the beauty of cultural diversity that fosters a sense of belonging, love, and spiritual growth.”

She added one final note — simple, joyful, and telling: “Since Father James became pastor, we have never danced so much!”