Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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Archives for September 2026

Saint Scalabrini: A Vision That Continues Today

It was a joy and privilege to participate in the celebration of the 125th anniversary of St. Giovanni Scalabrini’s coming to the United States, held at Our Lady of Pompeii on September 20, 2026. Christopher LaBianco, representing the Cabrinian family and the Cabrini Mission Foundation, Sr. Antonina Avitabile, MSC, and Sr. Lucy Panettieri, MSC, were present for this special celebration.

The principal celebrant was Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See. Concelebrating with him were Father Leonir Mario Chiarello, C.S., Superior General of the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo, and Father Horacio Carlos Anklan, C.S., Provincial Superior, along with many other prelates.

For us, the celebration held a special meaning because the stories of  St. Giovanni Scalabrini and St. Frances Xavier Cabrini are deeply connected. In a very real sense, our Cabrinian mission in the United States is part of the fruit of Scalabrini’s vision and his deep concern for those who were leaving their homeland in search of a better future.

As Bishop of Piacenza, Italy, Scalabrini witnessed millions of Italians leaving their homeland. He did not simply see migration as a social reality; he saw people—families carrying their hopes, fears, faith, and dreams to a new land. He understood the importance of offering not only practical assistance, but also spiritual, social, and cultural support.

His concern led to action. In 1887, he founded the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo, the Scalabrinian Fathers, to accompany those journeying to new countries and help them build a new life.

This same concern led to a beautiful connection with Mother Cabrini. Although she had dreamed of going to China, Scalabrini recognized her missionary spirit and encouraged her to respond to the needs of Italians in the Americas. Mother Cabrini brought this proposal to Pope Leo XIII, who told her: “Not to the East, but to the West.”

In 1889, Mother Cabrini and her Sisters came to New York, beginning a mission that would touch the lives of countless people and their families.

Scalabrini recognized a need and responded with vision and compassion. Mother Cabrini heard the call and responded: “I will go.”

Their vision continues today in the mission we carry forward: to see the person, to accompany those who journey to a new land, and to bring hope to their lives.

Witness to Hope: Pastoral Care of Immigrant Communities

Witness to Hope: Pastoral Care of Immigrant Communities was a regional conference hosted on September 17–18, 2026, at Villanova University. Co-sponsored by Villanova’s Mother Cabrini Institute on Immigration, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and Catholic IMMpact, the gathering convened Church leaders, scholars, advocates, and pastoral ministers from across the Mid-Atlantic states.

The conference was designed to translate Catholic Social Teaching into actionable strategies for parish and diocesan leaders serving immigrant populations. It addressed the heightened fears and legal uncertainties faced by migrant families while reinforcing the Catholic mandate to offer compassionate pastoral accompaniment and protection.

Key Themes & Agenda
• Understanding Rights & Legal Realities:
Presentations and workshops covered the current immigration enforcement landscape, practical guidance on “know-your-rights” protections, and navigating legal statuses such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and humanitarian parole.
• Lived Experiences:
Personal testimonies from immigrants grounded the academic and theological discussions in real-world struggles.
• Spiritual & Pastoral Support:
Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia celebrated Mass for participants, and Bishop Bruce Lewandowski delivered a keynote address urging deeper solidarity and active accompaniment within local faith communities.
• Actionable Diocesan Strategies:


Sessions featuring representatives from the USCCB, the Hope Border Institute, and Welcome.US provided concrete tools for outreach, community education, and assistance with pathway-to-citizenship programs.
Sr. Christine Marie Baltas, MSC, Karol Brewer, Co-Chair of the Cabrini Immigration Commission, Nancy Costello and Dr. Jerry Zurek, Immigration Commission members attended the conference on behalf of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred. Heart of Jesus.

Equipping pastoral leaders with policy knowledge, crisis planning tools, and advocacy strategies, the conference aimed to build supportive, bridge-building structures for vulnerable immigrant communities.

Getting the School Year Off to a Great Start!

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is observing National Migration Week from Monday, September 21st through Sunday, September 27th. The theme of the week is, “Even just one of these children.”

To start off National Migration Week, Cabrini Immigrant Services – Dobbs Ferry (CIS-DF) distributed much needed school supplies to many of our children. The Mission Integration Advisory Committee at St. Cabrini Nursing Home held a ‘Mission in Action’ project. They chose to collect school supplies to benefit our Cabrini Kids. What a beautiful way to honor our children.

We received an amazing number of supplies. The children and their parents were so happy and relieved to receive them. There were so many smiles on their faces. Fr. Ron Galt, Vice President of Pastoral Care and Mission, visited CIS-DF to help distribute the supplies. He blessed the supplies, each child, their families and the staff of CIS-DF. He also blessed each individual family and prayed that they would have a very good and safe school year.

Thank you to all who donated to the Mission in Action project. We are so grateful for all your prayers, love and support.

Citizenship Day!

Last Saturday, nine attorneys and a crew of volunteers joined Dominicanos USA (DUSA) at St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in New York City for a free citizenship clinic.

The goal was to help people seeking to become citizens complete the paperwork needed. DUSA assisted about 60 people and completed 40 applications with full legal reviews. Bonus: when a pilgrimage group visiting the Shrine was curious about what was going on, the director of DUSA spoke with them and offered them the same service information via Zoom.

112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees – Sunday, September 27, 2026

The 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, centers on the theme “Even Just One of These Children” (Mt 18:5). Issued by Pope Leo XIV, this year’s message turns global attention toward the millions of displaced minors—children and adolescents caught in forced migration, conflict, poverty, and environmental displacement. ~ Diocese of Portland – portlanddiocese.org

 

Key Focus Areas & Core Principles:
• Human Dignity Over Statistics: The papal message challenges global society to view human movement not through individual human lives. “Even just one” emphasizes that every displaced youth possesses inherent, inalienable dignity.
• Extreme Vulnerability of Minors: Displaced children face heightened risks, including family separation, trafficking, exploitation, loss of education, and severe psychological trauma along dangerous migration routes. www.vatican.va
• A Shift from Management to Rights: Faith leaders and international organizations call on governments to move beyond restrictive migration enforcement and prioritize human rights, immediate physical safety, legal protection, and family reunification. www.usig.org
• Integration and Pastoral Care: Local communities, schools, and parishes are urged to move past simple charitable aid. Instead, the focus is on creating environments where young migrants can fully participate, overcome isolation, and build shared futures with host youth. www.vatican.va

Originating in 1914 under Pope Pius X, the World Day of Migrants and Refugees remains a call to action. The 112th observance reminds the international community that welcoming and protecting a vulnerable child is both an ethical imperative and a testament to shared humanity. Portlanddiocese.org

 

Welcome Home! Cabrini College/University Alumni Return to Campus

The return to campus for Cabrini University alumni during the September 11–12, 2026 Alumni Weekend marked an emotional, full-circle moment for the Cavalier community. Following Cabrini’s closure and acquisition by Villanova University, the Radnor campus underwent extensive renovations over a two-year period.

Following a formal campus dedication ceremony by the Villanova University community on Thursday, September 10th, this past weekend served as the official welcome back for Cabrini alums. An estimated 400 graduates returned to visit their alma mater.

The weekend’s festivities kicked off on Friday evening with a welcome event hosted by Missionary Sisters at their residence on campus.

Saturday’s events included the traditional Alumni Awards luncheon recognizing distinguished graduates and milestone reunion classes, tours of the newly renovated campus, Mass in the campus chapel – now renamed the Sacred Heart Chapel – and the Blue and White Bash, a dinner and dancing wrap-up to the weekend.

Alums enjoyed walking familiar paths, taking in the sparkling campus building renovations, and reliving wonderful memories. It was a bittersweet and nostalgic time for all. Many expressed gratitude to the Villanova community for their deep respect for Mother Cabrini and for continuing the Cabrinian legacy and Mother Cabrini’s “education of the heart.”

Cabrini Campus of Villanova University ~ Dedication

On the afternoon of September 10th, the Villanova University community held the formal dedication ceremony for its 112-acre Cabrini Campus following a two-year revitalization program.

The ceremony was held on what is now known as the Cabrini Arbor – formerly The Commons and Peace Pole Garden. The proceedings featured remarks from Villanova University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., PhD and Sister Diane Olmstead, MSC, former Guadalupe Province Provincial and Villanova trustee.

Their remarks emphasized preserving the spirit and mission of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini. Sister Diane highlighted Mother Cabrini’s philosophy of “the education of the heart” – the whole person—mind, heart, and soul, expressing gratitude that students once again are filling the campus.

Fr. Peter noted that the new campus represents an historic, once-in-a-generation expansion for Villanova.He thanked the Missionary Sisters for entrusting the university to carry forward Mother Cabrini’s legacy of service and faith.

Missionary Sisters, Cabrini alumni, former faculty, staff and friends in attendance noted the many thoughtful Cabrinian touches for the reception such violet centerpieces and Italian cookies and gelato.

The newly dedicated campus accommodates more than 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students, offering modernized classrooms, residential halls, study areas, and academic institutions, including the Mother Cabrini Institute on Immigration.

~ excerpts from Villanova University social media and The Villanovan

National Migration Week September 21 – 27, 2026

For over 45 years, the Catholic Church in the United States has celebrated National Migration Week (NMW). This is an opportunity to reflect on our history as an immigrant Church and the ways in which our country has been enriched by generations of immigrants, including the many Catholics who have adopted this land as their own. It is also an occasion to grow in appreciation of the challenges faced by migrants and refugees, both in the United States and beyond, and to express solidarity through prayer, accompaniment, and advocacy.

This year, National Migration Week takes place September 21–27. It will culminate with the Universal Church’s annual commemoration of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) on the last Sunday of the month (September 27).

Pope Leo XIV chose “Even just one of these children” for this year’s WDMR theme, which is a reference to Matthew 18:5: “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” When this theme was announced, the Vatican noted, “With this choice, the Holy Father intends to express the Church’s concern for minors directly involved in migration, recalling the duty to welcome each one of them as the Gospel teaches us.”
~ USCCB website

We are Called to Respond
“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
This quotation challenges each of us to reflect more closely on the often-dire situations that drive children to migrate – often alone – in search of a safe haven.

 What can I/we do to ensure that child migrants are not exploited but receive the care that they deserve?

 What steps can I/we take in our local community to welcome migrants and help them become more fully integration in their new home?

To learn more about the Church teaching on migration, please visit:
www.justiceforimmigrants.org

The Cabrini Pledge
The Cabrini Pledge is both a reminder of our immigrant heritage and a call to deeper engagement with our faith in response to current events. At a time when our culture is dominated by deep political divisions and reasonable disagreements about immigration policy, progress can feel impossible. But by witnessing to the God-given dignity of every person, including the migrants and refugees in our midst, we pave the way for an approach rooted in mercy, justice, and the common good. And together, like Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, we can be keepers of hope.
Explore the call


“Migrants and refugees remind the Church of her pilgrim dimension, perpetually journeying towards her final homeland, sustained by a hope that is a theological virtue.”
—Pope Leo XIV, Message for the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees

The history of the U.S. Catholic Church, like the history of the United States itself, is very much intertwined with the phenomenon of migration. The first American citizen to be canonized a saint, Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, was the embodiment of this. An immigrant from Italy, she adopted this country as her own. While often facing discrimination and seemingly impossible odds, she never succumbed to hopelessness. With relentless faith, she accompanied her fellow immigrants and others living on the margins of society with a great missionary zeal.

But Mother Cabrini’s challenges, and the challenges of those she served, are not unique among the generations of Catholics and immigrants in general who have come to this land. This is not just a matter of history. It is a present reality in the life of our Church and nation.

I PLEDGE:
• To affirm, in word and deed, the inherent dignity of every person, regardless of immigration status or country of origin, seeing each as a child of God before all else.

• To engage with Scripture and the Church’s social teaching, reflecting on the role of migration in salvation history, the history of the United States, and the history of my own family.

• To listen and learn about the circumstances facing migrants and refugees, including those in my community, with an open heart and mind.

• To seek opportunities for encounter, so as to grow in deeper understanding and communion that leads to an authentic solidarity with those in need.

• To consider what it means to be a good neighbor and how I am called to reflect the love and hope of Christ to others.

• To encourage civic dialogue that places the human person and the sanctity of families at the center of policymaking, especially toward the end of meaningful immigration reform.

• To join with Pope Leo in praying for all migrants and refugees as fellow travelers on the journey to our true homeland.

Prayer for Migrants and Refugees
For all bishops in our Church that they may be encouraged by our prayers and support to lead God’s people in building a culture that respects the human dignity of all migrants, we pray to the Lord.
For all Catholics, that God inspire them to take action in their local communities to support and protect migrants and to advocate on their behalf, we pray to the Lord.
For unaccompanied migrant children, that God protect them on their journey and safely reunite them with their families, we pray to the Lord.
For our neighbors, coworkers, friends, fellow Christians, and all people, that they may grow in their awareness of the issue of migration and become a voice in the public square calling for greater protections for these populations, we pray to the Lord.
For migrant workers, refugees, and all other strangers in our midst, that they may find strength in our concern for justice and feel the warmth of our love, we pray to the Lord.
For the bishops, that they will continue in their commitment to refugee resettlement and provide in their communities a place of welcome, we pray to the Lord.
For all refugees who are forced to flee from their homes, that God bring peace to them and their country of origin, we pray to the Lord.
For refugees in Africa, and the Middle East, and elsewhere who are experiencing great suffering that God might bring them to a place of peace and safety, we pray to the Lord.
For the President of the United States and all government leaders: that the Son of God, who became human, will help them understand the great dignity of human persons, and support legislation that better protects vulnerable populations in our midst, we pray to the Lord.
For policy makers in our nation that God grant them the wisdom to enact laws that provide greater protection for all migrant populations, we pray to the Lord.

 

 

 

 

A New Mission Statement and Core Values

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

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.”

1260 Upper Gulph Road, Wayne, PA 19087
Phone: 484-581-7163   Fax: 484-581-7164
info@mothercabrini.org