On Saturday, June 18th, the Missionary Sisters, along with CMC Director Gina Scarpello, CMC missioners and CMC friends and benefactors gathered to mark the closing of the Cabrini Mission Corps (CMC) after 24 years of dedicated service to God’s people in many countries throughout the world.
A closing Mass, ritual and recommissioning were held in the Bruckmann Chapel of St. Joseph on the campus of Cabrini College in Radnor, PA. Sr. Pietrina Raccuglia, MSC, Provincial and Sr. Lucille Souza, MSC, founding Director of Cabrini Mission Corps offered Gina their thanks and blessings for all she has done in her leadership role with CMC.
The liturgy was followed by a convivial luncheon during which Director Gina Scarpello spoke and offered her thanks and blessings “to anyone and everyone who has been a supporter of CMC and me over these years and is held with deep gratitude in my heart.”
Gina first thanked Mother Cabrini who “is ever present, guiding things and getting things done just as she did – and even more powerfully than she did – when she walked the earth.”
Gina thanked the planning committee for the beautiful Mass as a way to honor CMC and truly root the spirit of the program deeply through the recommissioning so that it continues to bear fruit into the future.
Gina closed with a prayer that the lives of all present be abundantly blessed with the goodness that God desires for you. “I hope that you, like Mother Cabrini, continue to be open and trusting vessels to receive God’s love and allow it to flow through you generously so its transformative power may lavishly touch your life, the lives of the ones you love and continue to extend to the ends of the earth to the hearts and minds of all people.”
Following Gina’s remarks, Sr. Grace Waters, MSC, Karol Brewer and Nancy Costello, who have been colleagues of Gina’s for the past ten years, offered their own tribute to Gina as Director of CMC. Nancy, citing Aristotle, said, “happiness is about doing something that makes the world a better place to be.” And, that is what Gina has been about… leading, guiding, and forming young people to make the world a better place to be through their volunteer service with Cabrini Mission Corps. Nancy went on to say, “you have encouraged them, challenged them, and through your own faith-filled life, you have inspired them.”
On a personal note, Karol Brewer shared that, “over the past ten years our connection has transcended that of co-workers and colleagues into a deep and lasting friendship based on respect and infused with love. We will miss your beautiful smile, your infectious laugh and your endless enthusiasm and creativity and the strong, loving, support team we have become.”
Sr. Grace Waters closed with a blessing for Gina in the words taken from the Irish poet John O’Donohue:
May the Angels in their beauty bless you.
May they turn towards you streams of blessings.
May the Angel of Awakening stir your heart to all the invitations that quietly surround you.
May you be blessed with good friends and continue to be a good friend to yourself, journeying to that place in your soul where there is love, warmth and feeling.
Take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention.
May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.
Now is the time to free the heart. Free the joy inside yourself.
Awaken to the wonder of your life.
Amen.
We love you.
To view photos and videos from the CMC closing ritual:
http:/https://www.flickr.com/photos/jerryzurek/sets/72157667238061414
http:/https://vimeo.com/channels/1090315
-
- Former CMC missioner Michelle Sherman reflects on her experience.
-
- Gina Scarpello receives the thanks of a grateful Cabrinian community
-
- Former CMC missioners Jess Merone and Jenay Smith bring the gift to Fr. Carl Janicki.
-
- Sr. Antonina Avitabile, MSC and former CMC staffer Peg Barrett offer the petitions.
-
- Hugs from Sr. Pietrina Raccuglia, MSC Provincial and Sr. Lucille Souza, MSC, founding director of CMC wish Gina well.