A Guadalupan Jubilee Year

October 7, 2026

The Guadalupan Jubilee Year will be a year of spiritual renewal centered on Our Lady of Guadalupe, inviting Catholics to pilgrimage, conversion, prayer, the Eucharist, evangelization and works of charity as the Church prepares for the 500th anniversary of Guadalupe in 2031. The Jubilee will mark two major anniversaries:

50th Anniversary of the New Basilica – Commemorating the October 12, 1976 dedication of the current Basilica of Santa Maria de Guadalupe and the solemn transfer of the sacred tilma (cloak) bearing the image of our Lady of Guadalupe from the former structure to the modern sanctuary designed by Pedro Ramirez Vazquez.

131st Anniversary of the Pontifical Coronation – Coinciding with the 1895 canonical coronation of the sacred image authorized by Pope Leo XIII.

A feature of this Jubilee Year is the opportunity for a plenary indulgence. During the jubilee, pilgrims who visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe with a contrite heart and participate in a liturgical celebration or who spend time in prayer at the Basilica – may obtain the indulgence, subject to the Church’s usual conditions. including confession, reception of the Eucharist, recitation of the Creed and prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father. The Guadalupe Province of the Missionary Sisters is named in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe whose feast day is December 12th.

Cabrini Day in Colorado Affirms Migrants and Refugees

October 7, 2026

Colorado celebrates Frances Xavier Cabrini Day on the first Monday of October, a state holiday established in 2020 to honor St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and her remarkable legacy of faith and service. Colorado is the first state in the nation to establish a paid state holiday honoring a woman.

Mother Cabrini Shrine was filled with joy as we celebrated Cabrini Day and welcomed newly installed Archbishop James Golka for his first official visit. During his homily, Archbishop Golka reflected on Mother Cabrini’s extraordinary witness, saying that if the world had 100 more Mother Cabrinis, our faith and the Church would grow in ways we could hardly imagine.

He also introduced a joint statement on migration signed by Archbishop Golka, Bishop Jorge Rodríguez and other Christian leaders throughout Colorado. The statement, affirming the dignity of migrants and refugees, was intentionally released on Cabrini Day—a particularly meaningful connection to Mother Cabrini, Patroness of Immigrants.

Following Mass, the celebration continued with the Festival of Nations, filling the Shrine with food, music, dance and traditions representing the many cultures of our community.

Read the Joint Statement | Read the Denver Catholic Article | See Photos

A Guadalupan Jubilee Year

October 7, 2026

131st Anniversary of the Pontifical Coronation – Coinciding with the 1895 canonical coronation of the sacred image authorized by Pope Leo XIII.

Academic Stars at CHS!

October 1, 2026

Distinguished Scholars

The Cabrinian community salutes these 28 Cabrini High School students who have distinguished themselves through their performance on College Board Advanced Placement (AP) examinations. They have demonstrated exceptional college-level achievements across multiple academic disciplines. These scholars represent dedication, intellectual curiosity and academic excellence. Congratulations!

Rising Stars

Eighteen Cabrini students have earned national recognition through ACT’s PreACT Rising Stars program for their outstanding performance on the PreACT 8/9 examinations. Their achievement is an exciting reflection of the academic talent growing in Cabrini’s classrooms. Congratulations to these outstanding students

New Community Initiative: Uptown Open Arms

October 1, 2026

On Wednesday, September 30, a diverse group of over 50 people who work with immigrants at schools, houses of worship, non-profits, small businesses, and the offices of elected officials gathered at St. Frances Cabrini Shrine for the launch of a new initiative called Uptown Open Arms. The event was coordinated by a team of local leaders, including the Shrine.

Uptown Open Arms is built on the knowledge that everyone helping in the immigration sphere works hard, heads down… and once a month it’s crucial to look up and see who is beside us. The focus is on the people in the room and on creating energy, connection and possibility. The program included several focused activities so that each person met 5-10 others they didn’t know. The result was a sense of discovery and optimism.

Uptown Open Arms will continue to meet monthly at the Shrine throughout the year.

Celebrating Migrants, Refugees, and Hispanic Culture!

October 1, 2026

Last Friday, Cabrini Immigrant Services – New York City (CIS-NYC) held an event in recognition of National Migration Week and World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

We were joined by the families we serve, allies, current and former clients, neighbors, and advocates who support us.

Together we celebrated our culture and contributions and prayed, led by Sr. Yolanda Flores, MSC, for vulnerable children who are detained or in transit to new destinations. We enjoyed a variety of foods from Latin America and we danced. Thank you so much to everyone who joined us!”

Saint Scalabrini: A Vision That Continues Today

September 29, 2026

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

September 23, 2026

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!

September 23, 2026

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!

September 23, 2026

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.