Twice a year St. Frances X. Cabrini Shrine is blessed to be the site of Archdiocesan Adult Confirmations. On Wednesday, June 7 we welcomed Bishop Edmund Whalen, a lifelong visitor to the Shrine, to confirm 28 adults. Please pray for these inspiring young people! 
Strengthening Our Cabrinian Connections
Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS), Dobbs Ferry, NY, had a very special trip for some of our adult students on March 29th. We visited the St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in NYC. We received such a beautiful and warm welcome from Julia Attaway, the Director of the Shrine. One of the staff members at the Shrine spoke to us about Mother Cabrini and the beautiful mosaics that tell the story of Mother Cabrini’s travels and great works. We were also able to view the many exhibits and enjoy the beautiful grounds.
During our break, Javier Ramirez Baron, the Director of CIS – NYC, spoke with our group. He spoke about the different services available in his office. He, too, welcomed everyone as a part of the Cabrini Family.
The day ended with a bi-lingual Mass. It was so beautiful to have one of our clients read the Responsorial Psalm at the Mass. She was so honored. Thank you to Fr. Rodriguez for not only celebrating a bi-lingual Mass but for also having a special blessing for the items that were purchased at the Gift Shop.
The day was perfect. It was so beautiful to be able to share together as a Cabrini Family. From the welcome to the good-byes, we truly felt like we all were family.
A Citizenship Collaboration
On March 18, 2023 over a hundred people eligible for U.S. citizenship arrived at St. Frances Cabrini Shrine where they were helped by pro bono attorneys and volunteers to complete the complicated application. They were also able to apply for fee waivers, sign up for citizenship classes, and enroll in English classes. Many thanks to the good people at Dominicanos USA and CUNY Citizenship Now for their collaboration on this event!
Collecting Winter Clothing for Bused-in Migrants
St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in New York has been collecting toiletries and other items for migrants bused-in from the southern U.S. border since August. Now with colder weather setting in, the Shrine reached out to neighbors for donations of gently-used coats, sweaters, boots, hats, scarves and gloves. What generosity!
All these items are heading downtown to a parish situated between two huge migrant shelters, where it will be distributed to people in need.
~ submitted by Julia Attaway, Executive Director, St. F.X. Cabrini Shrine
To view a brief video of the many donations please click here
Citizenship Event at St. Frances X. Cabrini Shrine
On
Saturday, September 17 a citizenship drive was held at St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in conjunction with the non-profit Dominicanos USA and the City University of NY. A team of 20 pro bono attorneys reviewed over 95 applications for U.S. citizenship. Seventeen applicants who lacked the ability to pay the application fee were granted fee waivers. Most applicants had lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years, with some here as long as 40.
Sharing Precious Cabrinian Artifacts
On June 7th, Julia Attaway, Executive Director of the St. Frances Cabrini Shrine, NYC receives a document case from Janet Bauman, Scanning Specialist Holy Spirit Library, Cabrini University. The document case contains materials from the St. Frances Cabrini Collection at Cabrini University.
The materials which include Mother Cabrini’s business card, checks and promissory notes signed by Mother Cabrini, and a facsimile of the Saint’s will are on loan to the shrine for the upcoming exhibit, “The Everyday Life of Mother Cabrini.” The exhibit is set to open in July.
An Afternoon of Hope
In every age, O God, you have been our refuge. In every age, O God, you have been our hope.” (Psalm 90 1-4; Janet Sullivan Whitaker).
Uvalde school massacre. Eleven year old Miah smeared herself with the blood of her best friend and played dead. Miah
survived. Nineteen classmates and two teachers did not.
Tulsa massacre: Four fatalities. Dr. Phillips shot to death.
Buffalo massacre: Thirteen shot. Ten fatalities.
“In every age, O God, you have been our hope.”
Ukrainians continue to be executed by Russian soldiers.
Covid continues.
“Oh God, you have been our hope.”
On Saturday, June 4th, Cabrini Lay Missionaries of the Guadalupe Province, along with caring Cabrini partners, gathered at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Shrine in New York City for an afternoon of song, prayer, discussion and reflection on the meaning of hope. Our afternoon was facilitated by Lucille Larrivee Naughton, retreat leader, spiritual director and music minister.
Our afternoon began with a lovely buffet lunch followed by song and prayer. We were then ushered into the conference area where Lucille asked us to examine and reflect on the meaning of hope for ourselves, beginning with our personal hope and extending outward to include family, local community and finally the global community and Mother Earth.
We gathered in small groups at discussion tables, shared with one another and then reported to the entire group. All of this took place virtually as well, and included participants from all over the United States and Central America. Simultaneous translation was provided.
There was room for creativity as well. Participants were given the opportunity to express how hope lives in them by designing a patch that will become part of a quilt representing this hope.
We wish to thank Lucille Larrivee Naughton for sharing her passion, creativity and expertise with us.
“In every age, O God, you have been our refuge.
In every age, O God, you have been our hope.”
Cabrini Immigrant Services NYC is on the move!
After months of deliberation, we have decided to relocate our office to another part of the city to continue the mission of bringing God’s love to vulnerable communities. On May 2nd, our office will officially open at the St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in Washington Heights (701 Fort Washington Ave, New York, NY 10040). Our Food Pantry will also be located nearby at the Church of the Good Shepherd (608 Isham Street, New York, NY 10034). We will be forever grateful to the Lower East Side/Chinatown community for welcoming us and allowing us to be of service. We will not forget the gestures, both big and small, that made us feel welcomed and at home in this neighborhood.
We are looking forward to continuing our work, strengthening existing relationships, and building new relationships in our new neighborhood. All of our programs will continue to operate and serve clients from all over New York City, as they have for many years. This new, larger space will provide more opportunities for growth for our organization, and the possibility of exciting new projects as we continue to expand.
Thank you for supporting us through many transitions, moments of growth, and challenges over the past two decades. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us more than ever the importance of community, and we are grateful to have you as part of ours.
Should you have any questions about our move or need additional support, please feel free to reach out to us! Thank you again for your support through this transition.
Cabrini Sisters Gather in NYC for Perpetual Vows
Cabrini Sisters Gather in NYC for Perpetual Vows
More than 50 Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus from around the world gathered at St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in New York City to witness the perpetual vows of three Sisters from Ethiopia.
Sr. Asnakech Asefa, MSC, Sr. Aynalem Paulos, MSC, and Sr. Berhane Ashebo, MSC made lifelong vows of chastity, poverty and obedience in the presence of Sr. Barbara Staley, MSC, General Superior. Each asked the Holy Spirit to transform their consecration “into a commitment of love, an offering of praise, adoration and reparation in the Cabrinian spirit, so that I may bring the love of the Heart of Jesus to
the World.”
“Religious life and the missionary calling are alive and growing,” said Sr. Barbara following the Mass, “It is a blessing to welcome these Sisters into a vibrant, perpetual relationship with Christ. The world needs them, because it needs Jesus.”
The Missionary Sisters follow in the footsteps of St. Frances Cabrini, the Patron Saint of Immigrants. They seek to respond to the unmet needs of those excluded from basic human rights. Active in 17 countries, their missions include schools, hospitals and clinics, spirituality centers, low income housing for the elderly; and community-based immigrant and social services.
Sr. Evarlyn Ndeti, who entered the novitiate earlier this month, found the ceremony deeply moving. “I am so inspired to see these women committing their lives completely to Jesus,” she said.
The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Thomas Faiola, OFM. Cap, with Rev. Ambiorix Rodriguez assisting. Missionary Sisters from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Italy, Nicaragua, Russia, Uganda, and the United States joyfully welcomed their new Sisters with the pax tecum, an embrace of welcome.
On a Pilgrim Journey
Last week, the St Frances X. Cabrini Shrine in Upper Manhattan hosted over 1,500 youth on pilgrimage. The energy and faith of the teens was electrifying! It was an honor to introduce them to Mother Cabrini, to answer their questions, and to pray with and for them. All were headed toward a Redemptorist Mater conference. The first Redemptorist Mater seminary is outside Newark, on the grounds of an orphanage founded by Mother Cabrini.