Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Bringing Christ's love to the world
On Mother Cabrini’s birthday, St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in New York City launched its newly-updated website. Crisp and visually appealing, the site focuses on encouraging pilgrimages and learning more about Mother Cabrini.
Abundant educational resources are easy to download. Take a look – here!
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From the Guadalupe Province Vocation Promotion Team…
While Sr. Yolanda Flores, MSC, Vocation Director, was in the Denver area, she spent time with the Youth Group from Our Lady Mother of the Church Parish, talking about Mother Cabrini and vocations, and the call to religious life. 
Mother Cabrini’s 175th in New York City
St. Frances Cabrini Shrine celebrated Mother Cabrini’s birthday in an abundance of ways! Our celebration kicked off on Friday, June 11 with an Immigration Action & Advocacy event to educate our neighbors about what’s happening, how they can speak up, and where they can learn more. The event was hosted by Cabrini Immigrant Services-NYC and Altagracia Faith Justice.
Cabrini Immigrant Services-NYC (CIS-NYC) joined the St. Frances X. Cabrini Shrine for an early celebration of Mother Cabrini’s birthday with an outdoor screening of the movie Cabrini on the Shrine lawn.
Before the movie, neighbors gathered for a community conversation on immigration, the work we do at CIS-NYC, and how we can give back. The discussion was led by our community organizer, Amelia, alongside partners from Altagracia Faith Works.
Afterwards there was birthday cake for all, including the 150+ neighbors who filled our lawn for a free screening of the CABRINI movie. Account continues on following page.
Saturday dawned bright and early with a Director’s Talk to over 60 people, followed by a joyous Mass in English for a nearly full house. “They sang like Protestants!” the music director exclaimed afterwards.
Two more birthday cakes were consumed before our visitors headed outside to purchase grilled hot dogs and hamburgers. Then it was time for the Spanish Mass, also exuberant and full of life. Sr. Antonina Avitabile, MSC and Sr. Sharon Casey, MSC were on hand at both Masses to pray with pilgrims with the first-class relic of St. Frances Cabrini. ~ submitted by Julia Attaway, Executive Director, St. F.X. Cabrini Shrine, NYC
Friendship and Generosity Mark Mother Cabrini’s Birthday
Cabrinian entities have long been noted for their collaborative spirit. Celebrating birthdays are no exception. For the 175th birthday, the Cabrini Immigration Commission in concert with the Cabrini University Cabrini Alumni Volunteers and Supporters (CAVS) united to host a party for Mother Cabrini at the MSC Cottage in Wayne, PA.
All were welcome to honor Mother Cabrini by bringing “gifts” such as school supplies, toiletries, underwear, shoes and socks that will be given to immigrant children in four local school districts in southeastern Pennsylvania. Gift cards to stores such as Target and Walmart were also requested so that the social workers in these districts could share them with immigrant families in need.
Many who came for the celebration had not seen each other in months or years, but, were united in their concern for immigrant children especially during these uncertain times. We were especially delighted that faculty and staff members from Villanova University joined in the festivities.
The outpouring of support was overwhelming! Guests arrived with bags and boxes overflowing with items. A reoccurring comment from people was that they were grateful for the opportunity “to do something positive to be of assistance to our immigrant brothers and sisters.”
The Cabrini Immigration Commission and the CAVS are grateful to Dr. Susan Pierson, CLM, an Immigration Commission member and former education faculty member at Cabrini University, for being the catalyst for this initiative.
Deliveries of these items to the school districts will be made prior to the start of the new academic year.
Heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us and who gave so generously to the immigrant children Mother Cabrini served and loved so dearly.
A Birthday Mass at the National Shrine
We had 235 people attend our Birthday Celebration for Mother Cabrini this past Sunday at the 10 am Mass.
We also publicly announced our new Rector, Bishop Dan Turley, O.S.A!!!!!
A Double Celebration at Mother Cabrini Shrine!
Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, CO, was full of life, love, and laughter on Sunday, July 13, as we celebrated the 79th anniversary of the canonization, and the 175th birthday of our dear Mother Cabrini. With a full to packed chapel at all three liturgies, it was a special day from start to finish.
Children from all over the metro area joined in the celebration at every Mass. They walked in procession, offered carnations to Mother Cabrini, and sang a heartwarming version of “This Little Light of Mine” that included a special new verse: “Just like Mother Cabrini, I’m gonna let it shine.” Their joy lit up the chapel!
At the start of the 2 p.m. Mass, our Spanish community brought even more beauty and tradition with a special dance down the center aisle in honor of Mother Cabrini. Afterward, they hosted a festive fiesta on the Shrine grounds—complete with food, music, and great company.
In addition to our Denver-missioned Sisters, we were also honored to welcome Sr. Bernadette Anello, MSC and Sr. Yolanda Flores, MSC to the Shrine for the celebrations. Their presence made the day even more meaningful.
It was a joyful and faith-filled celebration, and we’re so grateful to everyone who came to honor Mother Cabrini’s life and legacy. Here’s to continuing to let our light shine—just like she did.
On Tuesday evening July 15, the Sisters and staff at the Shrine welcomed over 100 of our faithful volunteers and donors for an evening of appreciation. The evening began with a prayer service in the chapel including a reflection on Mother Cabrini from Sr. Bernadette Anello. The evening concluded with a wonderful barbecue style dinner in the cafeteria prepared by the kitchen staff.
Happy Birthday, Mother Cabrini!
Cabrini of Westchester celebrated the 175th birthday of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in a very special way on July 15, 2025! A Mass, with live music, took place in the St. Cabrini Nursing Home Chapel and was televised throughout the nursing home for the residents to participate from their rooms. Delicious breakfast and lunch menus were prepared by the Food Service Department for the residents including a delightful treat of purple cupcakes in honor of Mother Cabrini.
Following Mass, all were invited to participate in a blessing ceremony of the beautiful Sacred Heart Shrine that was newly constructed in the front of the nursing home and dedicated to the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. As residents, family members, staff, Missionary Sisters and representatives from the Carmelite System gathered in front of the shrine, Bonnie Burke, Chief Executive Officer and Nursing Home Administrator addressed all by saying: “It is with deep gratitude and joy that we gather here to celebrate the birthday of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. Today, we honor her legacy, not only in prayer, but with a special and sacred symbol, the blessing of the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Sacred Heart of Jesus has always held a central importance to Mother Cabrini and the Missionary Sisters both as a spiritual foundation of the ministry and as the personal source of strength and serenity in their lives. This statue stands not only as a devotion to the Sacred Heart, but as a reflection of Mother Cabrini’s life. A life poured in service, hospitality and unwavering trust in the Divine.”
This gorgeous shrine was made possible through the generosity of Patricia Krasnausky, former President and CEO of Cabrini of Westchester, who recently retired after 27 years of devoted service to the home. We are grateful to Pat for the many years of leadership, guidance and dedication to Cabrini and wish her well in her retirement.
During the blessing, Fr. Ron Galt, Vice President of Pastoral Care and Mission gave a reflection on the meaning of the Sacred Heart and Fr. Michael Banks, OFM, Cap., resident priest, shared the formal blessing. Afterwards, resident priest, Fr. Bill Arlia, OFM, Cap., blessed the statue with holy water and a closing song was sang by all. A reception was held in the nursing home lobby directly following the festivities.
Thank you to all that participated and contributed to this happy day!
CHS Shows How Mother Cabrini Still Makes Headlines After 175 Years
It’s been an exciting week for Cabrini High School as the school’s community continues to shine across New Orleans.
Juniors Lizbeth Garcia-Cruz and Mia Reyes kicked things off with an inspiring appearance on Fox 8’s NOLA Now, where they spoke about the impact of women’s sports and how competing in soccer has shaped their confidence, leadership, and sense of purpose. Their passion was evident and a proud moment for the Cabrini Crescent community.
Cabrini High was also thrilled to announce that it has been named one of the Top Five Favorite Private High Schools in NOLA Family Magazine! Voting is open daily through August 15, and the school encourages everyone to keep the momentum going and help name Cabrini the NOLA Family Favorite for 2025. (Daily voting can take place here under the “schooled” category.) In addition to this honor, Cabrini was also named a “Place to Watch” for 2025 by NOLA Family–the only private high school in the city to earn this recognition. The magazine even visited campus this week for a professional photo shoot featuring Principal Ashley Evers and a group of camera-ready, smiling Crescents.
And finally, the highlight of this midsummer week on Bayou St. John: a birthday celebration for Mother Cabrini herself! In true Cabrini spirit, summer staff and a handful of students gathered in the school’s mid-renovation front lobby to honor 
Cabrini’s 175th birthday with cake, joy, and a fun social media reel for all Crescents, past, present, and future. Nearly two centuries later, her legacy continues to inspire young women to lead with faith, courage, and compassion.
On Monday, July 7, 2025, Cabrini of Westchester celebrated the 79th Anniversary of the canonization of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. During a special Mass in the Cabrini Chapel, some of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus who reside in the nursing home renewed their vows in front of all who gathered. Live music was provided and a blessing was bestowed on all by Fr. Ron Galt, Vice President of Pastoral Care and Mission. After the Mass, a festive luncheon, prepared by Cabrini’s Food Service Department, was held in the Board Room for the Sisters.
A wonderful day was had by all! Please keep the Missionary Sisters in your prayers this day always as they serve the people of God.
Francesca Cabrini was born on July 15th 1850 in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, a small town of Lombardy not far from Lodi. The tenth of eleven children, Francesca was baptized on the same day.
She took her place with two sisters, Maddalena, age 17 and Rosa, age 15 and three brothers, Francesco, who was 9, Giuseppe Santo, a 7-year-old, and Giovanni Battista, 2. The parish records of Sant’Angelo list eleven children, seven of whom met early deaths.
Her mother, Stella Oldini, was a God-fearing woman of unshakable faith, as was also her father Agostino Cabrini. Both parents know how to pass on those timeless values which are the inheritance of every Christian.
Her family played an important role in the formation of Francesca’s personality. The loving atmosphere of the home developed in her an affectionate nature and a strong self-identity.
Francesca’s father had his livelihood in the land. Sant’Angelo, situated in the fertile “Low Country” of Lombardy, is irrigated by tributaries of the Po River. The young Francesca, who was raised closed to the land, became familiar with the region’s abundant fruits and flowers and she learned early to value nature. Throughout her life she would be acutely sensitive to cloud formations, birds, and the variegated hues and aromas of harvest.
A brief summary of the years 1850 – 1870 in which Maria Francesca Cabrini grew to maturity attests to the fact that the times were tempestuous. Rising political aspirations ushered in a decade of dissent. Even in the pastoral and relatively isolated setting of Sant’Angelo, the contending forces of liberalism and conservatism were locked in conflict.
With the polarization of Sant’Angelo’s townspeople, Francesca Cabrini was made acutely aware of the historical realities of her time. This awareness, influenced by the intense Christian piety of her immediate household, contributed to the development of a personality open to examining the broad social and religious currents of the day, while staunchly maintaining the traditional practices of faith inculcated in her from childhood.
~ excerpts from Mother Cabrini, “Italian Immigrant of the Century” by Sr. Mary Louise Sullivan, MSC pp. 1-18
Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, Colorado, marked the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with a weekend of meaningful events centered on faith, tradition, and community.
On Friday, visitors gathered to celebrate the Feast Day with a special noon liturgy, which included the renewal of vows by our beloved Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is always inspiring to witness their recommitment and service to the church and the Shrine community.
The celebration continued on Sunday as a group of traditional, Hispanic, Matachines Dancers arrived at the Shrine, walking and dancing their way up the road in thanksgiving to Mother Cabrini for her intercession.
Later that morning, Mass was celebrated in the chapel by Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, bringing together the Shrine faithful during this Jubilee Year of Hope.
Together, the two days reflected the Shrine’s ongoing role as a place of prayer, devotion, and hospitality in Colorado.
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. 
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,
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. 
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.