Cabrini Mission Corps missioner Rebecca Wyss visited the New York Statehouse in Albany with other members of the Food Bank for New York City to advocate for more funding for emergency food. Since 2007, funding for food banks in the state has remained the same, even though the need has grown every year. Rebecca and people who work at other food pantries spoke with elected officials about how they have to try to feed more people every month with the same amount of funding from the state. We pray that the representatives heard their request and will offer more support to food pantries like ours!
Justice for Immigrants Rallies against deportation
On Tuesday, February 23, members of the Justice for Immigrants campaign at Cabrini Immigrant Services participated in an action asking President Obama to stop the raids of Central American refugees. Right after Christmas, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began a spree of arresting and deporting refugees from Central America who came to the United States fleeing violence. Of all the people who have been deported since 2014, we know at least 83 have been killed in their home countries.
The February action asked President Obama and the Department of Homeland Security to treat these people like the refugees they are. At the action, several people, including our member Dennisse, spoke about the challenges facing undocumented immigrants and their fear about being sent back to violence. After they spoke, we participated in a “die-in”, despite the rain, to recognize and mourn the 83 people who have been killed.
You can read about the action here: http://nydn.us/1OyqZYR
Cabrini Health Announces an Asylum Seeker and Refugee Health Hub
Cabrini Health has announced the development of an asylum seeker and refugee health hub, a much needed service in Melbourne’s inner-north. The new service, will provide healthcare services for asylum seekers and refugees.
“Cabrini is committed to making a difference to the disadvantage faced by asylum seekers and refugees,” says Dr. Michael Walsh, Chief Executive of Cabrini. “We believe that working collaboratively is the most effective way to address disadvantage and will lead to the best health outcomes for the people we want to serve.”
[The state of] Victoria has one of the highest asylum seeker and refugee settlement numbers in Australia. Many asylum seekers in our community have neither work rights nor access to government benefits such as Medicare, Centrelink, housing or emergency relief.
“Our approach is based on strong partnerships with public and private hospitals, community health agencies, asylum seeker/refugee services and others who want to make a difference to the plight of asylum seekers and refugees,” said Dr Walsh. “We are grateful to the many agencies who have supported the concept and look forward to others joining with us over time to enhance our capacity.”
Initial services will begin by the end of May 2016 with GP clinics and specialist mental health services to be offered first. Chronic disease management, maternal and child health and infectious disease management, as well as social, emotional and spiritual support services, will follow.
“Clustering these services in one location will enhance access and facilitate a person-centred, integrated approach to primary and specialist care for this vulnerable group,” said Dr. Walsh.
The Cabrini Asylum Seeker and Refugee Health Hub will complement health services offered by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Melbourne’s west and Monash Health in the southern suburbs. Medicare-ineligible asylum seekers will be given priority access to our services, at no cost.
Cabrini College Founder’s Day Honors Those Who Give Back
Every year Cabrini College honors the College’s founder, Sr. Ursula Infante, MSC (1897-2001), through a day-long ceremony called ‘Founder’s Day.’ During this ceremony, the College recognizes students who have demonstrated dedication to their community through service and volunteerism – an essential dimension of the Cabrini College experience.
This year, thirteen Cabrini Coll
ege students and the three Cabrini Mission Corps missioners – Ashley Block, Vanessa Miranda and Morgan Perry – were honored with the Presidential Service Award for their commitment to civic engagement and volunteerism through community service.
The Student Disability Service Award was given to student Francis X. Cornely ’16 who has dedicated his time to focus on issues related to disabilities.
Also conferred were the Pierce Fellow awards, which were given to five students who spent time working alongside other community groups to address issues of hunger and food insecurity.
In addition to this annual recognition of Cabrini College students, each Founder’s Day, Cabrini invites an accomplished individual who has demonstrated the vision of Sr. Ursula to deliver a keynote address. This year, the keynote was given by current Director of Development for Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Chandreyee Banerjee.
Ms. Banerjee has served as the Director of Tsunami Response following the devastating Indian Ocean earthquake in 2004, and most recently was the Country Representative for Turkey and Syria, overseeing programming in response to the refugee crisis in the region. During her presentation, Ms. Banerjee shared her experiences on working with Syrian refugees and her efforts to provide them with the essential necessities to ensure their well-being.
The Cabrini College community is grateful to Ms. Banerjee for her inspirational message and to the students for their enthusiastic engagement in changing the world for the better. The College remains especially thankful for their founder, Mother Ursula, for her vision, perseverance and dedication in founding a College so rooted in service to others.
Urgent need for items for victims of trafficking
Dear Cabrini Friends,
We just received an emergency call from a Victim Assistance Specialist with Homeland Security. She is working with 4 young men from Honduras who are the victims of child sex tourism.
She said, “Because of their cooperation and victimization, they are eligible to move to the US, which they will be doing immediately following sentencing of the perpetrator. I am trying to get things in place for their arrival next week (for trial) and want to ease the transition and have been having a very tough time. I’m hoping you can help… Some of the things I am looking for are:
- Warm clothing to include hats, gloves, pants, shirts, boots, etc. (the boys only have very minimal clothes suitable for a warm weather climate like Honduras).
- The boys are in their early/mid 20’s and they are all on the smaller side. All wear a size Small for shirts/jackets and here are the rest of the sizes:
Victim 1—Pants- 30×32, Shoe size 8
Victim 2 – Pants- 32×30, Shoe size 7 ½ or 8
Victim 3 – Pants- 30×30 or 30×32, shoe size 9
Victim 4 – Pants- 28 or 29×30, shoe size 7 ½
- Furniture
- Miscellaneous items such as dishes, sheets, towels, mattresses, food,
- toiletries, etc.
- Gift cards to stores such as Walmart, Target, food stores: Giant, Acme
Please let me know if you can help in any way.
Many blessings,
Karol Brewer
Cabrini Action & Advocacy Coalition cabriniformation@aol.co
A Voice for Immigrant Rights
Last Friday, a member of our Justice for Immigrants campaign spoke at her first press conference! Monica is undocumented, but she has two children who are US citizens. On Friday, she spoke during a press conference hosted by the New York Immigration Coalition. Her daughter Liliana kept her company while she spoke.
Monica was very nervous, but we’re so proud of her for speaking in front of the crowd and on the news! She urged the Supreme Court to hear the case about Obama’s 2014 executive actions of Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). These actions were announced in November 2014 and would allow parents and more young adults to gain lawful status in the country, but the actions have been tied up in the courts for months. We’re very excited that after months of activism, the Supreme Court announced on Tuesday that they will hear the case for DACA and DAPA! This announcement gives hope to our community members who have been living in fear that they will be separated from their families. We expect that the Supreme Court will give its ruling in the early summer. Please keep this case and all of our clients’ families in your prayers! ~ submitted by CMC missioner Madison Koenig
You can read about the press conference (in Spanish) here: http://bit.ly/1P4PiEK
Or in English here: http://bit.ly/1ODEJ5T
And watch a clip from the news (in Spanish) here: http://bit.ly/1WfgUXk
Cabrini Immigrant Services, NYC Rallying to Work and Study in the US
On Friday, November 20, CIS-NYC participated in a rally at City Hall to mark the one-year anniversary of President Obama’s announcement of DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans) and expanded DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). These family-oriented programs would keep families together in the United States and offer undocumented immigrants a chance to legally work and study. Rosa Gaona, one of our clients, spoke at the rally about the fears her children have that she will be deported.
You can read articles about the rally in English here: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/obama-administration-asks-supreme-court-review-proposal-article-1.2442107 and here: http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/rallies-pressure-scotus-take-major-immigration-case
And in Spanish here: http://www.eldiariony.com/2015/11/20/latinos-claman-por-dapa-desde-nyc/?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=Addthisbuttons&utm_medium=Social#.Vk-qhYbnluE.twitter
Cabrini Health Australia Hosts A Big Day Out
Once again the Cabrini-Children First (CFF) Big Day Out was a wonderful success.
This time the children’s ages ranged from seven to fifteen years and their countries of origin were even more diverse: Papua New Guinea, East Timor, Palestine, Zambia, the Philippines and Vietnam. As usual, all the children were awaiting, or recovering from, life changing surgeries and in most instances they had been separated from family for an extended time. The day was a fun distraction and they threw themselves into it.
Staff also jumped into the spirit of the day. Kiley Harkness from Communications took the lead role on this trip and said, “For me, it’s about providing the children the chance to experience the feeling of being part of a group of people filled with love and compassion, while giving them a moment where they forget everything and just have fun. If I make them smile sometime during the day it makes it all worthwhile for me.”
The Cabrini-Children First Big Day Out initiative began in 2004 to support the great work of the CFF in a different way. Staff who engage with Cabrini’s Social and Community Engagement Program through volunteering can form special relationships with the children, some of whom they might meet through Cabrini’s medical evacuation program or at subsequent outings. “A small core of our regular volunteers form friendships and the kids really start to talk, joke and open up,” says Ruth Knight, Community Benefit Program manager. “Staff are always amazed at the transformation of some of the kids. Not just physical, post-surgical correction changes, but the boost in confidence that comes with that. It’s overwhelming.”
On this occasion, eleven staff and family members accompanied the children and all enjoyed two games of bowling before moving the festivities to a nearby park for a picnic. Food supplied by the Cabrini staff included savoury muffins, sandwiches, fruit, chips, jellies and homemade cakes and slices; so the children had quite a feast. It was amazing that at the end of the day they still had the energy to kick a footy, chase a frisbee and play ping pong – but they did. Here they were able to play freely and enjoy just being kids without thoughts of surgery or homesickness.
Sacred Heart Center for New Americans – Helping Those in the Lower Hudson Valley, NY
At the recent Provincial Assembly of the Missionary Sisters, one session focused on the way in which Cabrinian ministries are addressing the pressing issues of immigration, migration, refugees, asylum seekers and human trafficking.
This week, we continue our series of in-depth looks at individual Cabrinian ministries and we explore how they are responding to the needs of those who are experiencing upheaval in their lives due to war, poverty, violence, immigration or captivity.
Sacred Heart Center for New Americans
The Sacred Heart Center for New Americans provides English as a second language and basic computer instruction to adult immigrant of the Lower 
Hudson Valley Area. The school was established in 2012. The program offers a free on-going language and skill training opportunity for students who are motivated and willing to commit to continuing education.
The primary catchment area that the Center services are the towns of Highland, New Paltz, Port Ewen and Kingston, NY. The majority of immigrants in this area are from Mexico. Most are not new immigrants, but, have been living and working in the towns, villages and farms.
At the Center, they encounter both documented and undocumented immigrants. Documented immigrants acquire low paying jobs due to the lack of language and job training. Undocumented immigrants usually find jobs on the farms and are afforded housing and early childhood learning and schooling for their children. Both groups tend to have a stable but poor living situation. Their children progress well in the school system, while parents often remain illiterate and unskilled.
Their ESL and computer program works in conjunction with BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services), Catholic Charities of Kingston and local parishes. BOCES provides a certified ESL teacher, regular testing and school supplies while the sisters provide computer training and augment the learning experience with on-line vocabulary, reading and life-skill programs. The basic ESL course requires any where from three to five years to complete. Once the student reached the level of completion they are able to attend adult vocational training programs at BOCES educational center free of charge. The requirements are good attendance and continuation in the ESL program for continued support and assistance in the course of studies offered at BOCES.
The Missionary Sisters maintain a personal relationship with the students and are able to make appropriate referrals for various needs as they arise, from assistance with immigration status, citizenship, food stamps, nutritional instruction, clothing and food pantries.
Cabrini-on-Hudson serving immigrants in the Hudson Valley, NY
At the recent Provincial Assembly of the Missionary Sisters one session focused on the way in which Cabrinian ministries are addressing the pressing issues of immigration, migration, refugees, asylum seekers and human trafficking.
This week, we continue our series of in-depth looks at individual Cabrinian ministries and o explore how they are responding to the needs of those who are experiencing upheaval in their lives due to war, poverty, violence or captivity.
Cabrini-on Hudson Community
This week we learn more about the Cabrini-on-Hudson Community, which is a house of formation and discernment in West Park, NY. It is located in an area where from the 1970s, the Hispanic population has been steadily increasing. The Hispanic people live among previously existing immigrant groups from Europe. Like other groups, these immigrants, Hispanic or Latino, have emigrated from their countries searching for work and a better life for themselves and their families. Many of them are undocumented. Their main occupations are farm workers (apple and corn pickers), restaurant workers, construction workers, housekeepers, etc. Those with better education, documentation, and bilingual skills work in department stores and other industries that provide better chances for benefits and higher salaries.
Since the MSC formation community opened in West Park in August 2013, the MSCs have had the opportunity to journey and accompany some of the Hispanic groups from various parishes in Ulster and Dutchess Counties. Some of the ways the MSCs have served the immigrant community are as pastoral ministers in Brothers Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY; providing catechesis for adults and children and providing catechist-training in Kingston, NY.
The MSCs have also made pastoral home visits to families in distress; helping undocumented families with paperwork for immigration; and facilitating the Spiritual Exercises in daily life with Hispanic women.
Responding to the call for The Year of Consecrated Life, earlier this year, the Missionary Sisters held an “Open House” to share the Cabrinian charism and way of religious life with people from area parishes. There was a great response from the Hispanic Community. The MSCs also provided living space for unaccompanied minors from Central America and Mexico for a period of time.
The MSCs entered into the traditions of the Hispanic immigrant communities such as All Souls Day, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which entails going from house to house for 50 days evangelizing using the story of the apparitions of Mary. The MSCs will look for more ways to help their immigrant brothers and sisters in their struggles and hopes.