News & Publications

A New Mission Statement and Core Values

September 9, 2026

On Wednesday, August 19, we had a beautiful Service of Blessing and Presentation of our new Mission Statement and Core Values at the St. Cabrini Nursing Home in Dobbs Ferry, NY.

Beautifully framed statements were presented to every department leader, clinical nurse manager, administration and the volunteer department to be hung in prominent areas of departments, clinical units and throughout our facility. It was a major project and undertaking. It involved having reflective and meaningful conversations with department staff, clinical staff and leadership, residents and volunteers to create a Mission Statement and set of Core Values that truly reflect our heritage, who we are, what is important to us and how we care for each other.

Built by Hands and Hearts

September 9, 2026

Five years ago, the Cabrini Women’s Mental Health Service started out as nothing more than an idea.

“An ambitious idea,” Chief of Mental Health and Cabrini Outreach, Sharon Sherwood said. “Some might even have called it a slightly crazy idea – the idea that women deserved a dedicated mental health service designed around their needs, their stories, their strengths, and their recovery.”

That idea grew into something incredible. Since opening its doors in 2021, the service has grown substantially, according to Cabrini Clinical Psychologist, Rivkah
Nathanson.

“Over the past five years, the number of clients we have on the ward continues to grow,” Rivkah said. The 30-bed unit has supported an incredible 1371 women via inpatient admissions over the years.
Cabrini Women’s Mental Health also assisted 36 women last year via generous donors to our Access Fund which ensures women can access specialist care regardless of their financial situation.

But behind every admission and every dollar donated is a woman whose life has been changed. “The impact for clients is really meaningful,” Rivkah said.

The impact the Service has made has been recognised by the healthcare industry, too. The Service was named a finalist in a 2025 industry excellence awards program for its exceptional achievements. “Australia’s First Women’s Mental Health Hospital” was published in the journal Australasian Psychiatry celebrating the efficacy of the model of care and its contribution to the growing evidence base for specialist, gender-sensitive mental health care.

“The breadth and scope of the service that we offer has significantly improved over time,” Rivkah said. “We’re constantly improving based on feedback that we get from clients, and at the moment it’s really a nice holistic, trauma-informed program that incorporates various different therapeutic approaches.”

“The most important thing is that women who are struggling have a place to come and get the help that they need and get back on track to living the life that they want to live, and to feel supported in that.”

Supporting women is the goal Sharon had in mind when the idea was conceived years ago, although she’s quick to point out that the Service’s growth was never the work of one person alone.

Reflecting on this five-year milestone, she says the credit belongs to everyone who has helped to build it. “A service is built by lots of hands and hearts,” Sharon said. “It’s built by nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, exercise physiologists, art therapists, music therapists, pastoral care, administrators, hospitality staff, cleaners, volunteers, lived-experience voices, families and, most importantly, the women we care for.”

Starting the Seminary Year with a Pilgrimage!

September 2, 2026

St. Joseph’s Seminary students begin their school year with a visit to the St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Shrine in NYC.

Continuing a four-year tradition, on Tuesday afternoon the students from St. Joseph’s Seminary began the 2026 school year with a pilgrimage to St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in New York City.

For most of the men it was their first visit to the Shrine. In addition to learning about Mother Cabrini and celebrating Mass, they spent time in prayer, visited Mother Cabrini’s bench, and asked plenty of questions. We love having them here and also love that almost every priest who has been ordained in recent years has subsequently brought his parish to the Shrine on pilgrimage!

Please pray for these fine men as they discern their vocations.

Creating a Truly Rich Life

September 2, 2026

On August 21st, Cabrini Immigrant Services – Dobbs Ferry (CIS-DF) held a workshop entitled: “Una Vida Verdaderamente Rica: Estrategias para vivir bien con menos (A Truly Rich Life: Strategies for Living Well on Less). Betsy Suarez, a licensed mental health counselor, presented the workshop.

Betsy spoke about how a fulfilling life is not measured solely by the things we buy or own. Everyone agreed that the cost of living has created significant challenges for individuals and families. Betsy discussed that financial stress affects everyone. It can affect sleep, mood, concentration and relationships. She emphasized the importance of asking for help rather than trying to manage everything alone. Sharing responsibilities with others can help reduce stress and create a healthier lifestyle.

One strategy that she spoke of was cutting back without sacrificing your quality of life. She stated that you need to look at the essentials first, housing food, health care, insurance, etc. before spending on ‘secondary needs.’

Betsy also discussed the importance of self-care and taking time to engage in activities that can help relieve stress. Various behavioral activation strategies and activity-planning techniques were presented. She emphasized that it is okay—and important—to take time for “YOU.” Prioritizing self-care can help a person better manage the demands of everyday life.

Family Fun at Cabrini Immigrant Services NYC

September 2, 2026

On July 25th, the Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC Social Services Department hosted their second annual Family Field Day, welcoming over 150 families and community members for a day filled with sunshine, laughter, bouncy houses, face painting, tug-of-war, lunch, and so much more!

At Cabrini Immigrant Services -NYC, we have been doing a Mass for the immigrant community on the last Thursday of every month. We always pray for specific intentions that we read during the Mass.

On July 30th we held in prayer many intentions for those in the immigrant community and their needs at this time.

Cabrini High School Student Leaders Inspired by Inaugural Leadership Summit in Colorado

July 31, 2026

Following an unforgettable week of prayer, service, leadership formation, and fellowship, ten Cabrini High School New Orleans student leaders recently returned from the inaugural Cabrini High School Leadership Summit at the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, Colorado . Representing Student Council and Campus Ministry, the students journeyed to one of the most sacred places in the Cabrinian world, where they immersed themselves in presentations, discussions, and service-learning experiences centered on compassionate leadership, missionary discipleship, and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Leadership workshops challenged the students to reflect on questions such as What Is the Cabrinian Charism?, What Does It Mean to Be Called to Lead Like Mother Cabrini? and How Can We Lead with Courage, Compassion, and Faith as the Apostles Did? Inspired by these discussions, the students also prayerfully planned the upcoming year for Student Council and Campus Ministry with renewed enthusiasm and a deeper sense of purpose of what their roles as student leaders mean to school’s success.

The summit extended far beyond the classroom. Students hiked Mother Cabrini's mountain, climbed the Stairway of Prayer to the Mount of the Sacred Heart, and visited the miraculous spring that has flowed since Mother Cabrini instructed the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to dig where she trusted God would provide water. Along the way, they witnessed hundreds of pilgrims from across the country making the same climb in search of hope, healing, and renewal. For students who already live the Cabrinian mission each day in New Orleans, seeing the worldwide reach of Mother Cabrini's legacy firsthand was profoundly moving. The experience helped them recognize that they are part of a global family carrying forward the same mission begun by Mother Cabrini more than a century ago.

Throughout the week, shared prayer, meaningful conversations, service, laughter, and moments of quiet reflection strengthened not only the students' faith but also the bonds they share as leaders. The experience opened their hearts even further to faith-filled leadership and inspired them with the same missionary zeal, boldness, and unwavering courage that fueled Mother Cabrini's remarkable work. They returned with a forward-focused commitment to serve their classmates with humility, joy, and Christ-centered leadership throughout the coming school year.

The Leadership Summit is one component of Cabrini High School's expanding commitment to leadership formation. The initiative began this summer with the inaugural Cabrini Leadership Academy for rising seventh-grade girls and will continue throughout the 2026-2027 school year with a monthly leadership speaker series for all Cabrini students. Inspired by Mother Cabrini's conviction that "The world is too small,” these experiences are forming a new generation of Cabrinian women who understand that true leadership begins with faith and finds its purpose in serving othersImages:

We also put together several reels highlighting each day’s activities. Links to social media:
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DXwn4qnXD

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BwU97ZvUu/

Showtime!

July 23, 2026

Cabrini Immigrant Services-Dobbs Ferry (CIS-DF) offered a Sharing Stories! Making Movies! Summer Program. Children in Grades 3-7 attended the 3-week program. In addition to helping the students with reading and writing skills, the program helps children expand their imagination and creativity.

Parents and siblings were invited to our ‘Movie Premiere’ on the last day of the program. Each child stood up, welcomed everyone and then explained the story that they had written and then filmed. The movies were shown on a ‘large screen’ (Smart Board). After showing their movie, the children answered questions from the audience about their films. Some of the film titles were: Snowy the Penguin, My Friend Ishi, All About Helen Keller and Panky's Pool Day.

The celebration ended with pizza and punch. What a great way to end the program!

A special thank you to our teacher, Anne Marie Santoro, who goes above and beyond to help our students learn and succeed

July Celebrations at the National Shrine of St. Cabrini

July 22, 2026

At the National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago, we had a variety of ways in which to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Canonization and the birthday of Mother Cabrini.

We hosted a children's choir from St Mary of the Lake - Our Lady of Lourdes and had a rousing gospel choir from St. Simon of Cyrene Parish.

Fr. Corey Brost, Executive Director of Viator House for Immigrants spoke on the Catholic Church and Immigration.

We had an ethnic food tasting representing Poland, Puerto Rico, Hispanic, Italian and Filipino. And on Sunday, we had a beautiful Mass followed by a dove release in our garden.

What varied and festive ways in which to observe such august occasions.

Volunteering is a ‘Work of Heart’

July 16, 2026

Recently, we offered the Annual Retreat for our Cabrini Volunteers at St. Cabrini Nursing Home in Dobbs Ferry, NY. We offer this gathering every year and there is spiritual and sacramental content along with sharing among the volunteers and a refresher on the importance of prayer preparation for Communion Ministry and other areas of volunteering at Cabrini.

We begin with a beautiful breakfast and welcome to everyone, and we end with the celebration of the Eucharist which includes a service of Blessing and Re-Commitment by the volunteers.

Each year, the volunteers seem to look forward to this opportunity to gather together, pray together, and renew their commitment to Cabrini and to our residents. We have a wonderful group of volunteers who are so generous with their time and the positive impact they have on the lives of our residents and Cabrini at large is profound indeed.

Cabrini HS Commemorates 80th Anniversary of Mother Cabrini’s Canonization

July 16, 2026

On July 7, the Cabrini High School community gathered in the historic Sacred Heart Chapel to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Canonization of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. The celebration was especially meaningful as Mass was celebrated in the chapel on campus where Mother Cabrini spent hours in prayer while expanding her mission in New Orleans and beyond. Praying in the very place where she once worshipped offered alumnae, students, and friends a profound opportunity to reflect on the enduring legacy of Mother Cabrini, whose faith, courage, and example of leadership continue to shape the Cabrinian mission in New Orleans today.

One of the most moving moments of the liturgy came as Cabrini's Spanish students sang "Gloria, Gloria, Madre Cabrini," filling the chapel with a hymn honoring the school's patroness, and also when alumnae gathered during communion to sing another Spanish hymn.

Each attendee was given a commemorative prayer card modeled after the pamphlets that were showered over the crowds from airplanes in Rome on July 7, 1946. Featuring the same inscription that appeared on those original cards—"Work, my daughters, for you have an eternity in which to rest."—the keepsake served as a tangible connection to that historic day eight decades ago and to Mother Cabrini's enduring call to lives of tenacious service.

In keeping with Mother Cabrini's lifelong devotion to orphaned and vulnerable children, attendees generously donated new, unwrapped toys that will be sent to orphaned children in Honduras. The service project transformed the anniversary celebration into an opportunity to continue Mother Cabrini's mission of bringing hope and compassion to those most in need.
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As the Cabrini community marked 80 years since Mother Cabrini's canonization, the celebration served as a reminder that her legacy is not confined to history. It lives on each day through the faith, leadership, and service of all who carry forward her mission.