November 11, 2009

Sister Bernadette Casciano leaving Mother Cabrini Shrine

By Julie Filby

She’s been the face and voice of Mother Cabrini Shrine since February 1990. After welcoming pilgrims to the shrine for nearly 20 years, Sister Bernadette Casciano, M.S.C., is moving on.

In December, the Missionary Sister of the Sacred Heart of Jesus will resign as administrator of the prominent landmark located on Lookout Mountain west of Denver.

“The shrine is a place of beauty and I will miss it,” Sister Casciano said. “I will miss the friendliness of the people connected to the shrine and the pilgrims who come.”

Through her leadership and commitment to the mission of St. Frances Xavier “Mother” Cabrini, the shrine has flourished over the last 20 years. It is famous for a spring discovered by Mother Cabrini that is believed to have healing properties. The shrine—which attracts thousands of visitors each year—originally served as a summer home for orphans.

“Sister Bernadette leaving the shrine is bittersweet,” said JoAnn Seaman, development director for the shrine and long-time employee of Sister Casciano. “She will be greatly missed by staff, volunteers and benefactors. Her sense of humor and warm personality brought many people together to work for the good of the mission.”

As administrator, her duties included developing a staff of team players that worked together to practice hospitality, which is key to their ministry—and carrying the legacy of St. Cabrini on to present and future generations. Sister Casciano was also responsible for the restoration of the 22-foot-tall Sacred Heart statue that was struck by lightning in 2007.

“The shrine is a place of prayer and pilgrimage, and the administrator is responsible for carrying out the mission of bringing God to people and people to God,” she said. “The administrator is also a spiritual presence.”
World Youth Day 1993 was one of the highlights of her years of service.

“World Youth Day brought so many young people to the shrine to pray—it was an amazing experience,” she said. “Over the years it has been inspiring to witness the shrine become a haven for so many visitors and pilgrims.”
Grace Ann Casciano was born and raised in Scranton, Pa. She took final vows as a Cabrini Sister in 1965. She has served as a teacher, principal and campus minister—as well as provincial administrator of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the Eastern Province in the United States.

Sister Casciano will take a year sabbatical, and some well-deserved time for “R&R” when she leaves the shrine. She will continue to serve the governance structure of her province as a board of trustee at West Park and an advisory board member of Cabrini Retreat Center in Des Plaines, Ill. Her sabbatical will also include time in retreat discerning the ministerial needs of the province.

She is a member of the National Catholic Development Conference, National Association of Shrines and Pilgrimage Apostolate, Lariat Loop Alliance and CARE. Her hobbies include reading, swimming and travel.
A search is being conducted for Sister Casciano’s replacement, and a new administrator is expected to be announced later this month.

At 7:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Masses on Nov. 15, all are invited to Mother Cabrini Shrine, 20189 Cabrini Blvd. in Golden to bid farewell to Sister Casciano in conjunction with the celebration of the feast of St. Cabrini. Following both Masses, there will be receptions honoring Sister Casciano. There will also be an open house from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. at the shrine. These events are open to the public.