As Catholics mark on Monday the 75th anniversary of Frances Xavier Cabrini becoming the first naturalized American saint, Colorado is celebrating the second Mother Cabrini Day, a state holiday that closes most government offices. Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 1031 last year to replace the controversial Columbus Day for the patron saint of immigrants, whose ties to Colorado are deep.

The permanent holiday  annually falls on the first Monday of October, just years  after then-Gov. John Hickenlooper declared a one-time St. Frances Cabrini Day in Colorado in 2017 to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Colorado saint's death. Colorado provided the first and only state holiday named in honor of the saint and it's the only state holiday honoring a woman.