They arrived on campus by the hundreds – Missionary Sisters, alumni, administrators, faculty and staff – present and former – along with their friends and family members to honor, to reminisce, to laugh, to shed tears, all in tribute to the 67-year legacy of their beloved Cabrini College/University.
On Sunday, May 19th on the historic Radnor campus of Cabrini University, with its “cathedral of trees,”members of the campus community gathered to walk familiar paths, visit hallowed halls, and immerse themselves in shared memories of their “education of the heart”.
Referring to the Institute of the Missionary Sisters, Mother Cabrini once said, “there is room here for everyone: for every talent and inclination…” Cabrini College/University has embodied Mother Cabrini’s words. This ‘holy ground’ has always been about the people who studied, taught, and spent their professional lives here. Students and alumni have often referred to the campus as a ‘second home’.
In a Legacy ceremony crafted to commemorate and uplift all that has been, Sr. Diane Olmstead, MSC, Provincial of the Guadalupe Province, offered the opening blessing by asking everyone, “to remember, to celebrate and to believe.”
Sr. Diane continued, “we remember the humble beginnings of Cabrini [College] and the many dreams. We remember Sr. Elizabeth Airo, MSC, who purchased this land and Mother Ursula, the Founding President of Cabrini College. We celebrate the dedication and commitment to excellence in the ‘education of the heart’ of every student who attended Cabrini. We celebrate the mission and charism of the MSCs that have been the grounding foundation and inspiration for all that was done. We celebrate the graduates and the faculty and staff that walked with them.
“We believe that the countless seeds of God’s love and care that were sown in the hearts of everyone who forms part of this Cabrini University community have and will continue to bear fruit in the world to make the world a better place.
“We believe in the enduring legacy of Cabrini University because it is all about relationships and who we are and have become – and this does not end. No, it is alive within each one of us.”
During the program, Sr. Eileen Currie, MSC, Class of 1966 and President Emerita of Cabrini College, offered her reflections on the College. She spoke of the dream of founding a college, that along with the Missionary Sisters, it was a shared dream
of staff, coaches, trustees, benefactors, and faculty.
Sr. Eileen talked about commencements saying that they are about beginnings; a time to “live what you have learned. Live what you have been given. Live what you are becoming.”
She spoke about our times together, times, “when something touches us, we remember, recall, relive, reconnect.”
Sr. Eileen recalled of Frances Cabrini, that “she knew from her own life experiences the dreadful paradox of having a human heart. That is why she had such a passion for educating hearts.”
Sr. Eileen continued, “Our Cabrini degree is about living out that educated heart. Wherever we are, doing whatever we are doing.”
Following Sr. Eileen’s reflection, she invited Dr. Michelle Filling-Brown, the Academic Dean, to begin theceremonial passing of the Cabrini legacy to Fr. Peter Donahue, OSA, PhD, the President of Villanova University. Cabrini symbols such as the academic mace, matriculation books, the Charter of Core values, and a first-class relic of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini were formally presented to Fr. Peter.
University Interim President Helen Drinan noted that in addition to the symbols physically presented that we also “entrust our beautiful campus to you, Fr. Peter. Everyone who visits comments on the beauty of our campus from the “cathedral of trees to the historic Woodcrest Mansion.”
Ms. Drinan welcomed Fr. Peter to the podium for his remarks. He assured everyone that “the Cabrini spirit will live on at Villanova University, experienced through the lives of your alumni.”
Fr. Peter noted that both universities were “founded in service of immigrants” and that interestingly, in the chapel on Cabrini’s campus there is a stained-glass window of St. Augustine and on Villanova’s campus there is a stained-glass window of Mother Cabrini.
Fr. Peter said, “I promise to take this responsibility [of the Cabrini mission and charism] seriously.”
The celebration concluded with the singing of the Cabrini Alma Mater led by Kerrie Eileen Habicht ’24, the grandniece of Sr. Eileen Currie.
Following the ceremony, those in attendance gathered at a festive reception and took time for photos and nostalgic visits to campus buildings on the beloved 112 rolling acres, with Cabrini forever in their hearts.
To view a recording of the live stream of the Legacy ceremony along with the accompanying videos please visit: cabrini.edu/legacy