Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Bringing Christ's love to the world

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Neighborly Gestures of Support

For two days last week St. Frances Cabrini Shrine served as a drop-off point for our neighbors who wished to donate gently-used clothing and housewares. Volunteers sorted the items and all items were transported to the Uptown Free store, a pop-up event with the motto, “Take what you need, give what you can.”

Never let it be said that New Yorkers are uncaring! The generosity of our neighbors is humbling. ~ submitted by Julia Attaway, Executive Director, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Shrine, NYC

For a quick video of their goodness of click here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1E2unm7ZGa/
(You don’t need to be a Facebook user to see it.)

Cabrini Immigrant Services – NYC, Changing Lives, One Person at a Time

Amadou is a Senegalese immigrant living in the Bronx, he first came to Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS-NYC) seeking legal support for his citizenship journey. During hisintake, he was referred for social services after sharing that he was feeling emotionally overwhelmed and struggling to navigate complex public systems alone. What began as a search for legal help became a turning point in his journey toward healing and self-advocacy. “When I started the case with you, my priorities changed,” he said. “I learned a lot about myself. I gained tools to overcome challenges, and I appreciated learning how to count on myself. You made me realize my own potential and that I have it in me.”

Through his participation in counseling and case management, Amadou found consistent, trauma-informed support that helped him feel grounded and empowered. He described CIS-NYC as warm and welcoming, and said he had never experienced services quite like this before. “Cabrini humanized my challenges and gave me the support I really needed,” he shared. Over time, Amadou began engaging more actively with his care. He developed stronger advocacy skills and began approaching his interactions with landlords, doctors, and care providers with increased confidence. He often speaks about how the consistency of services helped him regain trust in others and feel less alone.

With the support of CIS-NYC, Amadou secured a CityFHEPS housing voucher, received increased hours for home care assistance, and was connected to resources and education around the citizenship process. These concrete changes, paired with emotional and practical support, helped him envision a more stable future. Reflecting on his experience, he said, “I used to think of Cabrini as just a place to learn a few tools, but I ended up getting so much more. CIS is very involved. You don’t say, ‘I helped you with this,’ you say, ‘You did this, and we worked together.’ That makes all the difference.”

Pilgrimage to the St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Shrine

On an early spring day in April, five residents accompanied by Fr. Ron Galt and three staff members set off on our first pilgrimage to the St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Shrine in Upper Manhattan. It was a beautiful spring day for a ride along the Hudson River. We quickly experienced Mother Cabrini’s guidance when Fr. Ron guided our very skilled driver through the entrance gate [at the Shrine] which was a lot narrower than was anticipated – not a scratch or dent!

staff at the Shrine welcomed us warmly, helping us up the ramp and into the simple yet magnificent chapel where we heard the story of Mother Cabrini using the beautiful images painted on the dome ceiling above the altar. There were exhibits nearby that gave us an opportunity to hear more about the mission of Mother Cabrini and her Missionary Sisters in the United States.

We celebrated the daily Mass with the neighbors of the Shrine. Lunch followed giving us the chance to share what we had seen and heard. I think we were all struck by the remarkable faith and courage Mother Cabrini showed and passed on to her Sisters.
NEVER GIVE UP…NO BOUNDARIES…LET NOTHING STOP YOU!!

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World Day of Prayer for Vocations

World Day of Prayer for Vocations
Sunday, May 11, 2025

On this 62nd anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, also liturgically known as Good Shepherd Sunday, we are invited to pray for and promote all vocations. Initiated by Saint Paul VI during the Second Vatican Council in 1964, the purpose of this day is to help all of us respond to God’s call and to support in prayer all those who are discerning how to best respond to the needs of today in the vocation God calls them to be.

Participating in parish life is a way individuals can discern their vocation and receive prayerful support from parishioners. Matter of fact, people in parishes are more likely to encourage someone to discern their vocation than their own family members!

Many parishes and religious institutes commemorate this day by praying for vocations and supporting vocation promotion events. Considering that 73 percent of women and men professing final vows participated in one or more parish activities and 88 percent served in one or more parish ministries before entering religious life, presence and participation in activities that mark this special day are essential.
~ National Religious Vocations Conference website (NRVC)  

A Full House of Talent – Cabrini’s Spring Arts Festival Shines

Cabrini Athenians presented The Addams Family Musical to packed houses during Cabrini’s Spring Arts Festival earlier this month. One night was so popular that 75 extra seats had to be brought in to accommodate the crowd. The performances were outstanding, with vocals, harmonies, and choreography that rivaled local professional theater companies.

What sets Cabrini’s theater program apart from other Catholic high schools in the city is that it is entirely student-produced, both technically and artistically. From set design to lighting to choreography, it is the students who bring every aspect of the production to life. The long-standing Cabrini theater dream team—Argus sisters, Mary (’86), Caroline (’87), and Liz—guide the Athenians behind the scenes and direct them on stage to make the program one of the school’s largest recruiting tools.

A highlight of the festival every year is the gallery showcasing the work of Cabrini’s visual arts students, on display for audience members to enjoy before the show and during intermission. From bold acrylics on canvas and intricate pen-and-ink drawings to imaginative clay sculptures, the exhibit reflects the wide range of student talent.

Under the direction of veteran art teacher Cissie Gardner, the visual arts program continues to grow, offering students not just a creative outlet but a platform to explore their voice and vision. Each piece displayed during the festival added depth and vibrancy to the overall celebration of the arts at Cabrini High School.

May is the Month of Mary

“Tis the Month of Our Mother,
Those blessed and beautiful days,
When our lips and our spirits
Are glowing with love and with praise.

All Hail to thee, dear Mary,
the guardian of our way;
To the fairest of all Queens
Be the fairest of seasons, sweet May.”

~ Eleanor Cecilia Donnelly written in 1850

 

 

Cabrini Dads Make Jazz Fest Parking – A Favorite Tradition for All

At Cabrini High School, forming young women into the faith-filled leaders God intends them to be is at the heart of everything we do. But behind the scenes, it takes more than just dedicated faculty and staff—it takes the commitment of our incredible Cabrini dads.

year, the Cabrini Dads’ Club works tirelessly to raise funds that directly support student education. Their biggest and most beloved fundraiser? Parking for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Just blocks from Cabrini’s Bayou St. John campus, Jazz Fest draws world-class musicians, artists, and food lovers from all over for eight days at the end of April and the beginning of May. And for many of them, parking at Cabrini has become part of the tradition. Expertly managed by the Dads’ Club, Cabrini offers safe, secure parking and something more: a tailgating experience that’s as memorable as the festival itself.

For more than 40 years, Cabrini dads have transformed the Dads’ Club garage into a hub of hospitality—grilling burgers, playing music, and welcoming festivalgoers with signature warmth. It’s a one-of-a-kind atmosphere where many return year after year, their Jazz Fest experience incomplete without a twilight burger and a wave from a dad in a Hawaiian shirt.

Their generosity and spirit haven’t gone unnoticed. So beloved is the Dads’ Club that local news crews make it a point to stop by each year—not just to cover Jazz Fest, but to spend time with the dads themselves. They’ve become part of the festival’s story—not because they’re out to make a buck, but because their fundraising transforms lives.

That transformation is felt every day on campus. As one of Cabrini’s largest benefactors, the Dads’ Club has played a major role in supporting curriculum enhancements, capital improvements, and state-of-the-art technology—projects that keep Cabrini competitive in one of the most rigorous Catholic school systems in the country.
While we love celebrating the success of our students, it’s just as important to honor those who make that success possible. Cabrini is a family, and these faithful stewards in baseball caps are a vital part of it. Their work isn’t just service—it’s a legacy of love.

Dances that Dazzle!

Cabrini Immigrant Services – Dobbs Ferry (CIS-DF), NY, was so excited to share the talent of Nathalie Carolina Ortiz Cabrera, a professional ballerina, with the residents of St. Cabrini Nursing Home. Nathalie, a friend of Shirley Godoi, the Administrative Assistant at CIS-DF and her family, is visiting from Paraguay. She performed various ballets and some traditional Paraguayan folk dances. One amazing dance was the traditional ‘bottle dance.’ Nathalie danced with 2 bottles on top of her head. Everyone watched in amazement. She changed into different costumes; each one was more beautiful than the next. One costume was a white dress with a beautiful black shawl. This was the traditional Paraguayan dress.

As a special thank you, Natalie prayed the Our Father in Guarani for everyone present. Nathalie speaks Spanish and Guarani, a common indigenous language of Paraguay.

It was such a beautiful afternoon. The residents thoroughly enjoyed the performance. They did not want the show to end.

Cabrini Dads Make Jazz Fest Parking ~ a Favorite Tradition for All

At Cabrini High School, forming young women into the faith-filled leaders God intends them to be is at the heart of everything we do. But behind the scenes, it takes more than just dedicated faculty and staff—it takes the commitment of our incredible Cabrini dads.
Each year, the Cabrini Dads’ Club works tirelessly to raise funds that directly support student education. Their biggest and most beloved fundraiser? Parking for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Just blocks from Cabrini’s Bayou St. John campus, Jazz Fest draws world-class musicians, artists, and food lovers from all over for eight days at the end of April and the beginning of May. And for many of them, parking at Cabrini has become part of the tradition. Expertly managed by the Dads’ Club, Cabrini offers safe, secure parking and something more: a tailgating experience that’s as memorable as the festival itself.

For more than 40 years, Cabrini dads have transformed the Dads’ Club garage into a hub of hospitality—grilling burgers, playing music, and welcoming festivalgoers with signature warmth. It’s a one-of-a-kind atmosphere where many return year after year, their Jazz Fest experience incomplete without a twilight burger and a wave from a dad in a Hawaiian shirt.

Their generosity and spirit haven’t gone unnoticed. So beloved is the Dads’ Club that local news crews make it a point to stop by each year—not just to cover Jazz Fest, but to spend time with the dads themselves. They’ve become part of the festival’s story—not because they’re out to make a buck, but because their fundraising transforms lives.

That transformation is felt every day on campus. As one of Cabrini’s largest benefactors, the Dads’ Club has played a major role in supporting curriculum enhancements, capital improvements, and state-of-the-art technology—projects that keep Cabrini competitive in one of the most rigorous Catholic school systems in the country.

While we love celebrating the success of our students, it’s just as important to honor those who make that success possible. Cabrini is a family, and these faithful stewards in baseball caps are a vital part of it. Their work isn’t just service—it’s a legacy of love.

Dances that Dazzle!

 

Cabrini Immigrant Services – Dobbs Ferry (CIS-DF), NY, was so excited to share the talent of Nathalie Carolina Ortiz Cabrera, a professional ballerina, with the residents of St. Cabrini Nursing Home. Nathalie, a friend of Shirley Godoi, the Administrative Assistant at CIS-DF and her family, is visiting from Paraguay. She performed various ballets and some traditional Paraguayan folk dances. One amazing dance was the traditional ‘bottle dance.’ Nathalie danced with 2 bottles on top of her head. Everyone watched in amazement. She changed into different costumes; each one was more beautiful than the next. One costume was a white dress with a beautiful black shawl. This was the traditional Paraguayan dress.

As a special thank you, Natalie prayed the Our Father in Guarani for everyone present. Nathalie speaks Spanish and Guarani, a common indigenous language of Paraguay.

It was such a beautiful afternoon. The residents thoroughly enjoyed the performance. They did not want the show to end.

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