Nearly twenty years after Hurricane Katrina disrupted their education and scattered the Cabrini High School New Orleans community across the country, a group of former Crescents finally experienced the moment they had long been denied. On Thursday, November 13, 2025, the Feast Day of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Cabrini High School welcomed back alumnae from the Classes of 2006, 2007, and 2008 for a special honorary commencement ceremony.

The day began with Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Church where honorees gathered with classmates, families, and faculty members who had supported them through the storm’s aftermath. Afterward, the celebration continued on campus with a reception recognizing the honorees’ perseverance and their place within Cabrini’s lifelong sisterhood. Account continues on following page.

Each woman crossed the stage carrying Cabrini’s signature yellow rose, a symbol of unity, resilience, and the unbroken bond shared by generations of Crescents, the same rose carried at all Cabrini High School graduations. Each Crescent received an honorary diploma, a Mother Cabrini rosary, and an official welcome into the alumnae association, bringing long-awaited closure to a chapter interrupted nearly two decades ago.

“This ceremony was more than a graduation; it was a homecoming,” said Deacon Uriel Durr, President of Cabrini High School. “These women’s perseverance and faith embody what it means to be a Crescent.”

Director of Communications and Alumnae Affairs Anne Argus DiPaola, Class of 1996, reflected on the significance of the day. “Every yellow rose carried down the aisle symbolized not just a true Cabrinian woman, but a bond that was never broken. Cabrini has always been their home.”

The honorees included Dr. Alane J. Anthony ’06, Amber Christine Clay ’06, Lauren Easterling ’08, Angelle Charlet Goodwyne ’08, Jessica Lucas Higginbotham ’06, Monique Hagan ’07, Candice McGee ’06, Stacey Windon Matthews ’07, Bethany Alaina Miles ’07, and Erica Gaines Moore ’06.

The celebration served as a powerful reminder that even twenty years after Katrina, the Cabrini spirit remains strong, rooted in faith, strengthened by friendship, and carried proudly into the future by its alumnae.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) has recognized several of our outstanding student-athletes for their excellence both in the classroom and in competition. We are proud to announce that Raimee Collins, Mia Crotwell, and Makayla Richoux have been named to the All-Academic Volleyball Team; Logan Dempsey and Jenna Trabeaux have earned recognition for Cross Country; and Dylan Moisant has been honored in both Swimming and Volleyball.

The LHSAA All-Academic Program celebrates senior student-athletes who have demonstrated an exceptional balance of academic achievement and athletic dedication. To qualify, students must have participated in their sport for at least two years, including their senior season, and maintained a six-semester unweighted grade point average of 3.50 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

This distinction highlights the commitment, discipline, and determination of these students, who exemplify what it means to be leaders both on and off the field. Balancing academics and athletics is no small feat, and these honorees have set an outstanding example for their peers by striving for excellence in every arena. We congratulate Raimee, Mia, Logan, Dylan, Makayla, and Jenna for their remarkable accomplishments and for representing our school community with pride and integrity.

What happens when busloads of Cabrini Crescents show up at Second Harvest Food Bank for a service day? Hearts open wide, and the Holy Spirit transforms lives! Service was at the core of Mother Cabrini’s mission to uplift the marginalized, and we are honored to continue that legacy through our Campus Ministry Department.

This fall, our students began a new service and retreat initiative designed to help them live out their faith in tangible ways. Each class is participating in a two-day retreat experience: day one dedicated to service at Second Harvest Food Bank, and day two a class retreat focused on reflection, prayer, and community building. These experiences remind our students that living the Gospel means putting love into action.

At the heart of these efforts is our Campus Ministry Retreat Team, a group of passionate students who are pouring their hearts for Jesus into leading retreats not only for our Cabrini community but also for schools across the Archdiocese. Guided by Campus Minister Mrs. Nicole Jouandot, the team has joyfully hosted retreats for St. Louis King of France Catholic School, during which 5th and 6th graders toured the Cabrini Shrine, Mother Cabrini’s bedroom, chapel, and museum, learning about Mother Cabrini’s courage and deep faith. The team also collaborated with the Brother Martin High School Retreat Team to welcome Saint Dominic School’s 5th graders for a day of spiritual growth, prayer, and connection.

As Mother Cabrini once said, “You, my dearest daughters, are destined to live the life of the apostles.” Our Campus Ministry Department embraces that call with joy, serving others, spreading Christ’s love, and helping students encounter Jesus in both service and spiritual formation. The seeds being planted today promise to bear beautiful fruit for years to come.

Antonella was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but moved to Brazil as a baby. A talented trilingual student fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, she wanted to strengthen her English skills, reconnect with the country of her birth, and complete her high school education at an American school in preparation for college.

She was encouraged to attend Cabrini by her cousin, Isabella Carvalho, a Cabrini sophomore, who knew that the school’s rigorous academics and supportive community would help Antonella achieve her goals. Working closely with Antonella’s family, Cabrini’s administration created a course of study that will enable her to graduate fully prepared for university.

Antonella is thriving academically and embracing the strong sense of sisterhood that defines the Cabrini experience. Her arrival coincides with two special milestones: the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus’ rededication of Cabrini’s Moss Street Building in New Orleans, and the celebration of the MSC family’s first Brazilian Superior General, Sister Maria Eliane Azevedo da Silva.

In this spirit of unity, Antonella shares a heartfelt message of gratitude in Portuguese to Sister Maria Eliane and the entire MSC community, honoring the global ties and shared mission that make Cabrini so special. ~ submitted by Anne Argus DiPaola, ’96, Communications Director, CHS

To watch Antonella’s video greeting please click here

To see how Cabrini High School’s science curriculum is using cutting edge technology, please click here