Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

A Most Fitting Commemoration

June 24, 2016

Since its inception 24 years ago, the offices of Cabrini Mission Corps (CMC) have been based on the campus of Cabrini College. As Cabrini Mission Corps’ time of service draws to a close, CMC Director Gina Scarpello, in consultation with the Provincial Council, wanted to commemorate the presence of Cabrini Mission Corps on the Radnor campus in a meaningful and enduring manner.

Crepe Myrtle 3 Given the picturesque and sylvan campus, Gina thought it would be lovely to plant a tree in honor of CMC. This would be a long-lasting tribute to all those who have been an integral part of the Mission Corps and it would serve as a beautifully “green” way of thanking the Cabrini College community for their support and hospitality throughout the years.

With the blessing of Cabrini College President Dr. Don Taylor, and the collaboration of the College’s Grounds Manager Gus Feudale and his staff, the perfect spot was chosen for three crape myrtle trees. The new plantings will surround a statue of Mother Cabrini that has been in place on the campus since 1961 that bears the inscription, “In Memory of Manlio Mevoglioni”. This inscription, researched by Assistant Library Director Anne Schwelm, was referenced in the 1961 Cabrini College yearbook along with a photo of the statue with the accompanying wording “Compliments of Mr. and Mrs. Renzo Mevoglioni”. At this point, not much else is known about the origin of the statue.

Over the years, the original shrubbery that had been planted grew tall and eventually surrounded the statue making Mother Cabrini seem somewhat remote and inaccessible. With the gift of these new plantings, the garden, located right in the heart of campus, has been reimagined and the statue of Mother Cabrini has been restored to its original beauty making it a spot that will invite visitors and the campus community to pause, pray and enter into conversation with Mother Cabrini. And, isn’t that just what Cabrini Mission Corps has always been about?

Cabrini College hosts Cabrini Golf Classic

May 31, 2016

On Monday, May 2, Cabrini hosted the 27th annual Cabrini Classic golf tournament at a new venue: St. Davids Golf Club in Wayne, PA.

More than 70 alumni, faculty, staff, friends, and community members participated in the student aid fundraising event—a day of golf, dinner, cocktails, and a silent auction.

“All the proceeds are for our students and supporting our students in their mission,” said Cabrini Board Chairman John Schanz, Executive Vice President and Chief Network Officer for Comcast Cable.

“Cabrini is an institution that has local vision, and has international vision.

We care about the integrity of every human being,” said Vice President of Institutional Advancement Steve Highsmith (’88). “We also care very much about our students; we’re student-centered.”

Program emcee Dan Luner (’16), a senior Communication major, also spoke about Cabrini’s student-centric mission.

“To me, Cabrini will always represent a second chance,” he said. “Cabrini had everything I was looking for: a hands-on Communication program, the ability to commute to school, but, most importantly, a small school with big results.”

“It’s exciting times at Cabrini,” said Cabrini President Donald B. Taylor, PhD. “We’ve been approved by Pennsylvania Department of Education: Officially, as of July 1, we will be Cabrini University. Our vision, ever since the institution opened 59 years ago, was to provide access to a mission-driven education for first-generation students from modest means and to meet learners wherever they are.

“Thank you for your generosity, donating and doing everything you can to help us meet the needs of our students. Thank you for all that you do on behalf of Cabrini.” ~

Cabrini College Holds Campus Beautification Day

May 20, 2016

Since his arrival, Cabrini College PresidentDr. Donald Taylor has inaugurated the tradition of spring and fall Campus Beautification Days. This week, faculty and staff fanned out across campus to plant shrubs and colorful annuals and perennials in anticipation of the College’s Commencement this weekend. This year’s class will be the last to graduate from Cabrini College, which will become a university on July 1, 2016.

Cabrini College to become a University

April 28, 2016

From a letter from President Dr. Donald Taylor to the College community:

Mansion 1 I am delighted to share that the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has officially approved our status change to university. It is an exciting new chapter in the life of our institution, and one that we will celebrate in the coming months.

Though we have official approval from the PDE, we will continue to operate as “Cabrini College” until the end of our fiscal year. We will be Cabrini University on July 1, 2016! On that day, we will launch our new website and brand identity; and we will begin to transition all campus signage and materials to reflect the new name and visual identity. Until July 1, we will use messages talking about the July 1 change to generate buzz and excitement.

The change to Cabrini University represents the culmination of years of work that expanded our program offerings and student populations. Our graduate programs have placed us beyond the realm of a regional residential college for well over a decade. You can see this reflected in U.S. News & World Report rankings in which Cabrini College is listed as a “regional university,” not college. With the addition of our new doctoral programs and more concerted international recruitment effort s, the change to university takes on even more significance.

Cabrini High School and Cabrini College participate in CRS Refugee Simulation

April 28, 2016

Cabrini College and High School CRS Immigration Simulation
3.22.16
Photo: Tyler Kaufman/©2016

Cabrini High School (CHS) participated in the “Unaccompanied Minors: Refugees Seeking Safety” simulation developed by Cabrini College Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Ambassadors to increase understanding and awareness of the plight of unaccompanied minors fleeing South and Central American countries.

CHS Juniors participated in the simulation to increase their understanding of the plight of unaccompanied minors fleeing Central and South American countries. The program was created and implemented by Cabrini College CRS Student Ambassadors who visited from Radnor, PA. As part of the Cabrini College CRS goals and a course on the Common Good, the college students designed a simulation focusing on the specific immigration issue of the many unassisted children seeking refuge and safety in the U.S.

Cabrini College was the first college campus to establish a partnership with CRS, and Cabrini High School, a select Platinum Level Global CRS High School, is the first group of high school students chosen to participate in the program. The simulation began during the welcoming dinner, as the two CRS programs empowered one another to work together on a common Cabrinian goal: increasing awareness of the need for immigration reform.

Cabrini College’s Communications Professor Dr. Jerry Zurek and Dr. Ray Ward, Associate Director of Peace and Justice, initiated the simulation by remembering Mother Cabrini, the Patron Saint of Immigrants, and her work with immigrants, orphans and the marginalized during the time she spent in the United States. Mother Cabrini’s ministry in New Orleans was spent primarily serving the needs of many Italian immigrant children at the orphanage on St. Philip Street. The Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart continue to advocate for immigration reform as one of their two corporate stances.

The simulation included a complex map of the various routes to citizenship, and scenarios tracing the process leading to legalized citizenship to determine typical lengths of processing time, qualifications, costs, and the chance of deportation. Each student was assigned a simulated journey assuming the “role” of unaccompanied minor, and traveled through the stages of gang harassment, the court system, and detention center. Throughout the simulation, the college students explained the hazards of that stage of the journey, with the whole group sharing their reactions along the way.

Advocacy was addressed during the final stage of the simulation, suggesting strategies the students could use to influence legislation, such as write to senators, representatives, and the president.

Cabrini College provided pre-printed letters requesting government leaders to:

Stop deportation of minors back to dangerous home countries.
Provide lawyers and translators for minors when they are in legal proceedings.
Fund vocational training for teens in Central America.

Many students chose to formally participate, including handwritten notes with their pre-printed letters.

Gathering for a Mercy Day of Recollection and Prayer

March 15, 2016

Forty members of the Cabrinian community including Missionary Sisters, Cabrini Lay Missionaries, Cabrini Companions, Cabrini College alumnae, Cabrini employees and friends gathered on the campus of Cabrini College on Saturday, March 12th for a Day of Recollection, Reflection and Prayer.

The day included reflections on the Year of Mercy by Missionary Sisters Bernadette Casciano and Christine Marie Baltas, as well as spiritual movement led by Diane Kistler and mindfulness meditations led by Fr. Edwin Robinson, OSF.

Opportunities for individual quiet reflection, coloring mandalas, walking the grounds and meditation in chapel were an integral part of the day.

During the midday time of fellowship, participants could view artifacts of Mother Cabrini in the Cabriniana Room with curator and assistant library director Anne Schwelm.

The day concluded with liturgy in the Bruckmann Chapel of St. Joseph.

Cabrini Action and Advocacy Coalition Hosts Sale to Benefit Victims

March 10, 2016

When we hear the words human trafficking we think of the horrors foreign women and children go through in their countries. From rape, to torture, to prostitution, and even death. But what not many people are aware of is that human trafficking is a practice common not just in poorer countries but in wealthy countries like the U.S. Human trafficking is not just the dark and dingy picture portrayed in films. American children and young adults being forced into prostitution and into working for someone else’s profit is human trafficking. The King of Prussia Mall, located in suburban Philadelphia, and many other malls, and concerts and sporting events in the U.S. are playgrounds for traffickers. They target runaways and vulnerable young people.

Cabrini freshman, Christian Vazquez, had a basic understanding of human trafficking from learning about it at his high school, but he admits that he was not aware of how close to home this occurrence is. Because of the assumed “…tough laws…” that the U.S. has, many Americans like Christian have no idea that human trafficking is an international occurrence and not just another misfortune third world citizens have to endure.

Thankfully, the Cabrinian community continues spreading awareness on social justice issues and providing for those in need. The Cabrini Action and Advocacy Coalition is an MSC ministry that promulgates the MSC’s two corporate stances: to SUPPORT the rights and dignity of all immigrants and STOP human trafficking once and for all.

“The coalition was formed to do whatever we [could] to stop human trafficking,” current chairman, Karol Brewer explains. Karol began her work with the Cabrini Action and Advocacy Coalition many years ago, and because of her dedication to helping the most vulnerable, the MSCs asked her to chair this initiative.

Karol is also the founder of The Cabrini Closet, “a trendy Goodwill” — as I call it — which specializes in providing human trafficking victims with new and contemporary attire to better accommodate them in their transition into society once again. She began this work after forming a friendship with an FBI agent who worked solely with trafficking victims and hearing the stories of what these people go through. “We have to do something — we can do something!” Karol recalled telling herself. So she took matters into her own hands and thought: “Why not do this on our own?” And so, The Closet was created!

To further spread the word on The Closet and promote awareness as well as support for Human Trafficking and its victims, the Cabrini Action and Advocacy Coalition will be hosting a sale to raise funds for the cause. The sale will take place on Wednesday, March 16th in the College’s Grace Hall Atrium from 10:00 am-3:00 pm. (See flyer on page 6.) They will be selling designer purses, shoes, belts, and many more items, which were donated to The Closet by generous people from all over the country. These items will be sold at reasonable prices.

Karol has reached out to top designers to ask them to donate at least one of their bags. She has sent out about 15 requests to designers ranging from Michael Kors to Ralph Lauren and even Coach. She is still waiting for replies but is hoping at least one agrees. Being as though this is the first fundraiser the coalition has hosted, she expressed her nervousness for the turnout of the sale. But she was enthused about the Cabrini community and their support of the cause. Though she admits that it is a lot of work, Karol finds it all to be exceptionally “gratifying…[and] wonderful that [we] get to do this.”

All proceeds will go directly towards the Coalition to provide funds and gift cards for trafficking victims, and to Dawn’s Place, a shelter in Southeastern Pennsylvania for women who are victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse. Trafficking - SKU number

Cabrini College students speaking truth to power

December 9, 2015

18 Cabrini College students made 38 lobby visits Friday on behalf of our brothers and sisters around the world who are refugees fleeing war, experiencing climate change, or hoping to live a fully human life. So proud of these students, as well as several hundred Cabrini students in prior years, who have risen to the challenge to master difficult material, negotiate political differences, discover their core values, overcome nervousness, in order to speak truth to power.

Well done! Wanda Hernandez, Cabrini Mission Corps Rachel Recolcolin, Julia Alexis, Sarah Davis, Cabrini Missioner Morgan Perry, CRS Ambassador Casey Semenza, Cabrini Missioner Vanessa Miranda, Katie Montella, Cristabel Ruiz, Mike Burrell, Jordan Floyd, Alissa Oliveras, Kiley Sharp, Jerome Bailey, Steve Halko, Leonard Brock, Amina Etienne, Kalle Blindenbacher

They spoke with aides to Senator Pat Toomey, Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr.,Congressman Joe Pitts, Congressman Robert Brady, Congressman Chaka Fattah, Congressman Patrick Meehan, and Congressman Brendan Boyle

Supporting the work of Catholic Relief Services and CRS University, they delivered 400 letters supporting CRS’s ‪#‎IAmClimateChange campaign and the Green Climate Fund. They spoke in support of $1 billion in additional funding for Syrian refugees, as well as to maintain or increase poverty-focused development assistance.

Beginning in 2008, students each semester have traveled to our nation’s Capitol to meet with our elected representatives in conjunction with Catholic Relief Services and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops to “Confront Global Poverty.” This year, Pope Francis has placed special attention on Caring for Our Common Home and climate change, and these students responded by discussing climate change with congress during the very weeks leaders from around the world are meeting in Paris to come to an historic agreement.

Similarly, in this contentious time, these students also bravely spoke about Syrian refugees and our duty to protect refugees seeking safety.

These students truly continue the work of St. Frances Cabrini, the patron saint of immigrants, after whom Cabrini College is named. #JusticeMatters

More photos at https://www.flickr.com/ph

Cabrini College Hosts Involvement Fair

September 17, 2015

On Thursday, September 10^th, the staffers at the Cabrini Cottage attended Cabrini College’s annual Involvement Fair. The event is focused on providing students, both incoming and veteran, with information about clubs and organizations that are available to them on campus. Our staff wanted to be sure that we maintained a presence throughout the event to welcome students and to become familiar with or be reintroduced to our MSC sponsored organizations.

As some Cabrini students are looking towards their post-graduate future, our staff was there to remind them of the opportunity to possibly volunteer with the Cabrini Mission Corps. Cabrini students were also reminded of the urgency of anti-human trafficking efforts and the awareness that is being raised through the Cabrini Action and Advocacy Coalition (CAAC).

Our staff, as well as having a presence at the fair, wanted to informally introduce the new CMC missioners to the college community – Ashley Block, Vanessa Miranda, Morgan Perry and Rachel Recolcolin.

Lastly, another of our goals was to create increasing familiarity of the Missionary Sisters as the religious sponsors of Cabrini College; to meet Sr. Christine Marie Baltas, MSC and Sr. Grace Waters, MSC whom we are blessed to have on our campus; as well to heighten awareness of the MSCs’ presence and ministries throughout the world.