Archives for July 2026

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.

Birthday Celebration at the Cabrini Cottage

July 16, 2026

Asking ‘what would Mother Cabrini do during these uncertain and perilous times for immigrants and migrants?’, the CAVS Alumni Association, in collaboration with the Guadalupe Province Immigration Commission, hosted a birthday party for Mother Cabrini at the Cabrini Cottage in Wayne, PA, for members of the Cabrini University and Villanova University communities.

Guests were invited to honor Mother Cabrini by donating gift cards to Walmart, Target and Giant Foods which will be donated to nearby school districts that serve large populations of immigrant students.

The Immigration Commission collaborates with the school district social workers who intimately know the students and their families who are in dire need – many of whom suffer from inadequate housing and food insecurity.

Providing the families with gift cards enables them to purchase food, clothing, and other necessities on their own which confers a sense of dignity and autonomy, especially during such stressful periods in their lives.

Deepest thanks to all who joined in celebrating Mother Cabrini in such a meaningful and impactful way. Once again, this year, we have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity of the Cabrini and Villanova communities.

We trust Mother Cabrini would have been smiling…and is very grateful.

Cabrini University Alumni on Pilgrimage to the Mother Cabrini Shrine

July 16, 2026

Mother Cabrini, in passing through Colorado, described this region:

“At every moment, the landscape changes: austere mountains whose peaks are white with glittering snow; hills all verdant with pines and roseate by reason of the color of the rocks and the soil; sharp peaks that seem to touch the sky where only the eagle nests…”

Thus, it was here, at the Mother Cabrini Shrine, nestled in Golden, at the foothills of the Rockies, that Cabrini University alums embarked upon a pilgrimage. It was the first time that such a trip had been organized by the CAVS Alumni Association, and we were delighted that ten alums – spanning many years of graduation – embarked on travels to Colorado to walk in the footsteps of Mother Cabrini.

Warmly welcomed by JoAnn Seaman, Executive Director of the Shrine, and her wonderful staff and volunteers, our group stayed in the Stone House which was originally designed by Mother Cabrini and which served as a summer residence for the orphans cared for by the Missionary Sisters. The alums were awestruck by the commanding views of Denver and the surrounding area that could be seen from the Stone House.

Our visit commenced with an orientation presented by Sr. Alice Zanon, MSC, which provided an historical context for our visit. Then, it was off to explore all the wonders of the Shrine property: the beautifully curated museum, the grotto, the Cabrini Gardens and the spring where Mother Cabrini first discovered water on the property that formerly had been dry. (The spring has never stopped flowing.)

The big challenge was to climb the 373 steps to the top of the mountain to visit the statue of the Sacred Heart and to view the stone heart first created by the orphans during the time of Mother Cabrini. Mission accomplished!

The weekend provided time for group reflection along with celebrations of the 80^th Anniversary of St. Cabrini’s canonization and her birthday. A festive dinner with the Shrine staff and volunteers, a liturgical concert and an uplifting Sunday morning liturgy were highlights. Much too soon, our visit ended with the intention to return again. Our sincere gratitude to everyone at the Shrine for making us feel so welcome.

A Joyful Celebration of Mother Cabrini’s Enduring Mission

July 16, 2026

Mother Cabrini Shrine was filled with joy as we celebrated the 80th anniversary of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini’s canonization. We were especially delighted to welcome members of the Cabrini University alumni community, who spent the weekend on pilgrimage, retracing Mother Cabrini’s footsteps and deepening the bond we share in her mission.

Our celebrations included an inspiring musicians’ workshop and concert with renowned Catholic artists Steve Angrisano and Sarah Hart, whose music invited all of us to encounter the Sacred Heart of Jesus with renewed faith and hope. Steve and Sarah also joined our Shrine choirs for both English Masses on Sunday, enriching our liturgies with prayerful music and joyful worship.

The weekend concluded with a moving evening featuring Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., founder of Homeboy Industries, whose message of mercy, compassion, and human dignity beautifully echoed Mother Cabrini’s own commitment to those on the margins.

We were also grateful for the presence of our Missionary Sisters, who joined pilgrims, staff, volunteers, and friends in celebrating the mission we are all called to share.

Throughout the weekend, we were reminded that Mother Cabrini’s legacy continues to unite people of all backgrounds in faith, service, and hope. It was a joyful celebration of her enduring mission and of all those who continue to carry it forward together.

Happy 176th Birthday, Mother Cabrini!

July 16, 2026

This year, on the occasion of Mother Cabrini’s birthday, it seems fitting to reflect upon the remarks delivered by Pope Leo XIV when he recently visited Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Mother Cabrini’s birthplace. ~ excerpts from Vatican News and www.cabriniworld.org

“I am here to pay tribute to Mother Cabrini, Patroness of Migrants and the first Saint of the United States of America, who was born here in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano in 1850 and died in Chicago – my hometown – in 1917.

When the time came to make the decisive choice regarding the “direction” her religious institute’s mission should take, she wanted the Pope to be the one to point the way. And Pope Leo XIII was clear: “Not to the East, but to the West,” in service to the thousands of Italian emigrants in America.

Through these words, Mother Cabrini interpreted the signs of the times and understood that her dream of going to China, following in the footsteps of St. Francis Xavier, was to be realized wherever the need was greatest at that moment.

But dear sisters and brothers, when we look at the world today, what are we to say? That “sign” – that is the phenomenon of migration – has entered a different phase, one that is certainly more complex, yet no less capable of challenging the Church.

Let us ask ourselves: if Mother Francesca were alive today, what would her missionary spirit tell her? Or rather, what would the Heart of Christ say to her heart – that of a woman consecrated to Him and to the service of His kingdom? And what would a Pope like Francis – who, as the son of Italian immigrants, had made service to migrants one of the key priorities of his pontificate – ask of her?

Brothers and sisters, what could be more relevant today than this charism? I say this here before the relic of Mother Cabrini’s heart, brought from the Motherhouse in Codogno. I say this as I greet and thank with affection her spiritual daughters, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred heart of Jesus. What could be more relevant today than a missionary charism dedicated to serving migrants?

I therefore take this opportunity to make an appeal, especially to young people: get to know Saint Frances Cabrini! Read her writings, filled with passion for Jesus and for the mission: her letters, her travel journals, and the notes from her retreats. Anyone who gets to know Mother Cabrini is captivated by her.

May Saint Cabrini help you to be in love with Christ, and witnesses to his Gospel with a dynamic and generous spirit, in service to the poorest.

Finally, I pray to the Lord for the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in all their communities: May God bless them and renew them in their fidelity to Mother Cabrini’s charism.” ~ www.cabriniworld.org

To read the full text of the remarks of Pope Leo XIV and to view the video of his visit to Sant’ Angelo Lodigiano, please click here

Our Mission Finds Life here…

July 8, 2026

Cabrini Immigrant Services – Dobbs Ferry, NY (CIS-DF) has been focusing on Mission. As we welcome our clients, we want them, both adults and children, to know who St. Cabrini is and why we are called Cabrini Immigrant Services. With the theme, ‘Our Mission Finds Life…’ we wanted to highlight how in our current times, we continue to walk in the footsteps of Mother Cabrini.

In addition to showing the movie, CABRINI, we had Sr. Bridget Zanin, MSC speak to our clients about the life of St. Cabrini. Several of our clients have created their own timelines using their personal stories and have shown how they are part of the Cabrini Mission. We had a recent visit with some Carmelite Sisters, as well. Our clients shared with them their personal stories and explained how they, too, are part of the Cabrini mission. ~ submitted by Lorraine Campanelli, Director, CIS-DF

We would like to share some pictures of our Mission Project: