Sr. Joan McGlinchey, MSC, Sr. Joaquina Costa, MSC, Sr. Meseret Naba, MSC and Sr. Lucy Panettieri, MSC renew their vows in the beautiful chapel of the National Shine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago.
Cabrini Australia Observes the Feast of the Sacred Heart
On June 27, Mass was celebrated in the Chapel of Cabrini Hospital Malvern to mark one of the most significant days on our local calendar, the Feast of the Sacred Heart. The Chapel was filled with representatives of departments and services Cabrini wide who witnessed the moving moment that Sr. Theresa Cervasio MSC, the only MSC Sister in Australia, renewed her religious vows in front of Fr. Tony Kerin, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and Cabrini Board director.
In his Homily, Fr. Tony described Cabrini Health as ‘extensive and profound’. He described how Mother Cabrini’s ‘love of the Sacred Heart sustained her to overcome many obstacles.’ Group Director Identity & Mission, Margaret Stewart, expressed her hope that experiencing today’s Mass would be ‘…a source of strength for us so that we remain a living reflection of the spirit of the Sacred Heart in all we do.’
Occasions such as the Feast Day are made even more special by the involvement of so many staff in the parts of the Mass, the beauty created by the music of the Cabrini choir and the hospitality extended by our food services team.
~ submitted by Margaret Stewart, Group Director, Identity & Mission,
Sacred Heart Feast Day Celebrations
Cabrini Lay Missionaries Renewal of Commitment
The Cabrini Lay Missionaries (CLMs) renewed their commitments on the Feast Day. Julia Attaway, Angela Campbell and Kaitlyn Franzone renewed their pledge for 1 more year. CLM Director Lorraine Campanelli renewed for 3 years. We thank the CLMs for making this pledge to live their lives in harmony with the Cabrini charism
Gathering in Wayne, PA
During Mass celebrated in community in Wayne, PA, the Cabrini Lay Missionaries renewed their commitments. CLMs Dr. Angela Campbell and Dr. Susan Pierson were joined by Anne Schwelm, formerly of Cabrini University, Nancy Costello, following the Mass celebrated by Fr. Carl Janicki, former Cabrini University chaplain. during which Sr. Christine Marie Baltas, MSC and Sr. Roselle Santivasi, MSC renewed their vows. A festive dinner followed.
Our Grand Feast
Today it’s happening in Asia, the Americas, Europe and Africa. Yes, on this Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Missionary Sister of the Sacred Heart, wherever they may be, are making new again their vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. No doubt, at some time of the day their thoughts will fly back to the very first time that they committed themselves to the love of Jesus in a very special way.
For some who celebrate 50 or 60 years in religious life as well as those sisters who recently made their first vows, each one of us comes before the Lord today with hearts filled with gratitude. We are overflowing with a great sense of being loved and cherished. We did not choose to be religious, but rather, we responded to a divine call that we could not deny, so I suppose you could say it’s all His fault.
We were gifted by the call to be religious in the community founded by St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and we try to follow in her footsteps. Cabrini responded with tremendous zeal in a way that we lovingly refer to as “disponibilita.” Though her heart was set on China, only a word from Pope Leo XIII changed her long dreamed of plans.
Today we pray that the same spirit enflames each of us so we may be willing to reach out to those who are hurting, those who are victimized and suffering and those whose lives are marked by poverty and desperate circumstances. We must strive to bring the same passionate love of Christ which urged Mother Cabrini’s missionary vision of reaching out to a world that was too small.
May this missionary fervor incite all of us, sisters and laity to respond with great courage and boldness in making real the strategic vision of our last General Chapter. Together we are all challenged to make sacrifices and to engage in hard work to transform these dreams into reality.
Transforming Stress into Positive Outcomes
Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS), Dobbs Ferry, held a workshop entitled, “Tu Arma Secreta: Convirtiendo el Estres en una Fuerza Positiva.” (“Your Secret Weapon: Turning Stress into a Positive Force”). The workshop was presented by Betsy Suarez, a licensed mental health counselor.
Betsy spoke about how stress can lead to anxiety and how it can affect your mental health and other health issues. She explained how understanding and managing stress is essential to your well-being. Betsy shared how turning stress into a positive force can help you. She gave many therapeutic strategies to help create a more positive relationship with stress. She showed how reframing negative thoughts, journaling, walking, etc. can all help create a more positive attitude. Betsy stated that a positive outlook can transform stress from an obstacle into an opportunity.
It is no secret that everyone is dealing with elevated levels of stress. This workshop left everyone feeling empowered and ready to try the new strategies that they learned.
A special thank you to Betsy Suarez. We look forward to her next workshop.
Hope! A Cause for Celebration!
Despite the rain, last Saturday’s fundraiser was a beautiful, joy-filled evening that reminded us of the strength and love in our community. We celebrated 26 years of Cabrini Immigrant Service with this year's theme of HOPE. Hope is a word that reflects not just what we feel for the future, but what we actively build together. In a time when many in our community face fear and uncertainty, hope is our refusal to give up. We gathered to celebrate our collective work, honor incredible leaders, raise support for immigrant justice, and commit to hope for a more just future for all.
The energy throughout the night was vibrant and warm. Guests shared Mexican and Dominican food prepared by the incredible Street Vendor Project -- "a membership-based organization of over 2,900 members who champion the rights of street vendors as small businesses to earn a living and contribute to the culture and life of New York City." We danced to live music by La Cumbiamba NYE and Foreign Affair and listened to powerful speeches from several members of our staff.
We were proud to honor Lorraine Campanelli and Father Scott Leet OFM Cap., two individuals whose service and leadership have left a lasting impact on our community. Their words and work were reminders of what it means to show up every day with love and commitment to building a legacy of hope, just as Mother Cabrini did.Photos from the night can be found on our website: https://cis-nyc.org/celebrate-2025-photos
The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Spirit worked in Mother Cabrini to increase her love for Jesus. Mother Cabrini felt herself by Him to take upon herself the sufferings of humanity, the injustices and oppression which their hearts endured. God worked within her almost like an ongoing osmosis in which the Spirit gave her life: “Francesca Cabrini was drawn by the Sacred Heart of Jesus who loves all as no one else has ever loved them. She confronted herself yearning to penetrate the depths of his words and attitudes. Led by the Spirit to humble attentiveness and response, Francesca Cabrini sought to comprehend the love of Jesus – His mercy toward sinners, His empathy with the poor, His compassion for sufferings of every kind.
“Docile to the Spirit, Francesca Cabrini allowed him to be active in her so that she might learn to love as Jesus loved. She knew that his loving heart had redeemed the world through perfect correspondence with the Father’s will.” ~ Frances Cabrini, Remembering the Journey, Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Rome
Oh, Jesus, what are you like?
If only all would know you!
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Journal of a Trusting Heart, p. 83, September 1897
How good the Sacred Heart is to us.
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Travels, New Orleans to Panama, May, 1895
Transforming Stress into Positive Outcomes
Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS), Dobbs Ferry, held a workshop entitled, “Tu Arma Secreta: Convirtiendo el Estres en una Fuerza Positiva.” (“Your Secret Weapon: Turning Stress into a Positive Force”). The workshop was presented by Betsy Suarez, a licensed mental health counselor.
spoke about how stress can lead to anxiety and how it can affect your mental health and other health issues. She explained how understanding and managing stress is essential to your well-being. Betsy shared how turning stress into a positive force can help you. She gave many therapeutic strategies to help create a more positive relationship with stress. She showed how reframing negative thoughts, journaling, walking, etc. can all help create a more positive attitude. Betsy stated that a positive outlook can transform stress from an obstacle into an opportunity.
It is no secret that everyone is dealing with elevated levels of stress. This workshop left everyone feeling empowered and ready to try the new strategies that they learned.
A special thank you to Betsy Suarez. We look forward to her next workshop.
Cabrini University Alums Learn Stark Reality Facing Many Immigrants
What would you do if you were undocumented now? What would you do if you were a mother of two children, one of them one month old, and your husband is detained and sent to a detention center? You had been seeking asylum because of threats of violence in your home country and when you go to your immigration check-in and are told that your asylum petition has been denied and you have exactly one month to come back with tickets to return to the danger in your home country. Your husband is definitely being deported. Should you pay $10,000 to appeal? What should you do with your children who are US citizens?
These are the kind of decisions that thousands of immigrants must make every day as Homeland Security is going after many people who have lived and worked in the US for many years in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, but are undocumented or on Temporary Protected Status or seeking asylum or on a particular visa that is revoked.
Two Cabrini University graduates, who have spent much of their careers working with communities of immigrants, shared stories of the anxiety and fear and stress that these communities face every day.
Cabrini University alumni and friends meet each month to learn about and discuss social justice issues. The June meeting was led by Robin Larkins, Class of 1985, and Meghan Hurley, Class of 2007.
Robin has had a long career with various Cabrini ministries and is currently the co-founder and executive director of Spring Community Partners in Dobbs Ferry, NY - a suburban community just north of New York City. The organization particularly focuses on serving the growing local immigrant community and assisting parents in navigating the complex systems to help their families succeed and to advocate for their children.
Meghan works for CATA, the Farmworker Support Committee in South Jersey and southern Chester County. She is currently the Policy and Advocacy Organizer. She also served as a volunteer after college with the Holy Child Sisters in Peru.
Following the discussion, the 50 alumni participants wrote or called their U.S. Senators who are now debating the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” This budget reconciliation bill will increase funding for immigration enforcement from the current $34 billion to a proposed $200 billion. Funding would come from many sources, but especially by cutting social services such as many funded by Medicaid and SNAP.
If you are interested in learning about future discussions, please let the Cabrini University CAVS Mission and Service Committee know by adding your name here: https://bit.ly/cavs-ambassadors.
Vocations Interculturality Workshop
On Friday, June 13th, Sr. Christine Marie Baltas, MSC and Vocation Team Coordinator Nancy Costello attended a workshop sponsored by the National Religious Vocations Conference (NRVC) on Candidate Assessment through the Lens of Interculturality which took place at the Sisters of the Redeemer in Huntingdon Valley, PA. Vocation directors from seventeen religious congregations were in attendance.
The workshop, presented by Crystal Taylor-Dietz, PsyD addressed how to respectfully gather the information needed from candidates without stereotyping, generalizing, or minimizing behaviors that can make community life challenging. It also explored the blind spots, microaggressions, and implicit biases vocation ministers might have during candidate interviews.
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