Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Christmas Clowns Bring Smiles to Kiddos

December 12, 2025

The Knitting Group at Cabrini Immigrant Services – Dobbs Ferry, NY (CIS-DF) have been Santa elves as they have crocheted clowns that will be donated to the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, NY. The very colorful clowns will bring big smiles to the faces of the children who are patients in the hospital.

Before donating the clowns, a special blessing was held. Everyone prayed over the crocheted clowns and asked God to send special blessings and healing to the children who will be receiving them. In addition to the clowns, a few more octopuses were crocheted and will be donated to the NICU at the hospital.

We are so proud of our Knitting Group as they continue to bring God’s love to so many people. They are happy knowing that they are helping children who will not be home for Christmas.

A Well-Deserved Recognition

November 20, 2025

Sandi Schreier, Director of Social Work at Cabrini of Westchester, was presented with the 2026 Professional of the Year Award from LeadingAge New York, part of a national association of 5,500 not-for-profit organizations. Ms. Schreier graciously accepted the award from Kristen Meyers, Chief Operating Officer of LeadingAge New York, on November 13, 2025 at a celebration held in her honor. While presenting the award, Ms. Meyers stated “This award honors a long-term care, housing and services professional for their contributions to the well-being of the elderly or chronically ill in his or her community. It is open to professionals who demonstrate civic involvement as well as professional dedication, accomplishment and field expertise. I’m very pleased to present this award to Sandi on behalf of LeadingAge New York.”

. Meyers shared that the nomination included comments from several of Ms. Schreier’s peers and truly got to the heart of why she is such a deserving recipient of this award. In his nomination letter, Fr. Ronald Galt, Vice President of Mission and Pastoral Care wrote: “she is without a doubt one of the most dedicated, hardworking and accomplished leaders I have had the pleasure to work with in my career. She is deeply respected and admired by her fellow department leaders, her own staff, as well as other interdisciplinary staff, our volunteers and our residents.”

Another peer, David Leyden, Director of Rehabilitation, wrote, “I am blessed to have a colleague who not only supports and encourages me, but also challenges me in a way that makes me see things from a different perspective.”

At the reception, Bonita Burke, Chief Executive Officer and Administrator stated, “Sandi, you are someone who truly knows compassion, integrity and dedication and this award could not have gone to a better person.” Congratulations Sandi!
~ submitted by Susan Herceg, Director of Development and PR, Cabrini of Westchester

Music to Their Ears!

September 3, 2025

The captivating music of Liszt and Debussy has echoed around the corridors of Cabrini Malvern in the past week or so as concert pianist and Cabrini patient Pauline Pidgeon practised for her upcoming recital in the hospital Chapel.

Pauline, an acclaimed pianist who has played with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and is a Conservatorium of Music alumnus, fell and broke her pelvis late last month, but her Cabrini doctors uncovered something far more sinister after a series of scans.

“They found I have stage 2 lung cancer,” the award-winning pianist said. “I’m having radiation treatment and chemotherapy here at Cabrini, but fortunately they’ve found it’s only spread to one lymph node, so that’s good news.

“I guess God wants me to keep playing music and make more people happy.”

It’s hard not to be happy listening to Pauline play the piano and watching her fingers effortlessly glide over the keys.

Pauline, originally from regional Victoria, began playing piano before the age of three, and was recognised early as having an extraordinary gift.

“When I was growing up, I had no idea that my ability to play was anything special,” Pauline said. “It was a natural gift, but I took it for granted to be honest. I just went up to the piano and played by ear. But by the age of seven, I was playing for the school dances.”

[Years later], she made her debut as a soloist for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra playing Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 in 1966 under the baton of Sir Bernard Heinze, and even accompanied acclaimed Australian ballerina Kathleen Gorham.

Since retiring to Melbourne, Pauline has generously gifted audiences, both large and small, her incredible music, including our Cabrini patients and staff.

“Playing while I’m having my treatment is helping me,” she believes. “And I think people here at Cabrini are also enjoying listening.”

was invited to play by Cabrini’s Manager of Pastoral and Bereavement Service, Michael Taylor.

Pauline, who is still a patient on 5 West, didn’t hesitate to offer her services – until she realised something significant.

“I didn’t have any clothes and would be wearing my spotted dressing gown, so I asked Michael if that would be OK, and that’s when he told me that that our gathering hymn for the Mass was ‘Come as you Are,’” Pauline laughed.

And so, she came as she was. The wonderful Pauline went along to Mass in her spotted dressing gown and accompanied the choir during the very special service.

“It was the least I could do,” Pauline said. “Everyone here at Cabrini has been so wonderful to me – and it also gave me some valuable practice before my recital.”

To read the entire account please click

Palliative Care Week at Cabrini Australia

May 15, 2025

This week is National Palliative Care Week, a time to recognise the work of Cabrini’s palliative care teams who bring comfort, peace and healing, and above all compassion.

Here are two wonderful examples of our care:

In our specialist palliative care ward, music and compassion are used every day to support patients and families as they navigate end of life. Wendy Snook, Harp Therapist, is one of 4 South Nurse Unit Manager Nicola Lowrie’s important team members.

“I learned pretty early on when I started playing the harp that there’s something about the sound of the harp that affects our bodies in a positive way for our wellbeing and our healing,” Wendy, a cancer survivor herself, said. “It’s a great privilege to be with patients and families during difficult times.”

Wendy’s presence on the ward is a true gift – one supported by a kind Cabrini
Foundation donor – but she is just one of the many people who contributes to this extraordinary care.

So too is Pastoral Practitioner Alexandra Wilde, who last week gave a patient the “best day” of her life.

“The family of a terminally ill patient requested a living wake for their mother, Evelyn, who was expected to pass away soon,” Alexandra said.

“Within 24 hours, with the support of a number of people from around Cabrini, we were able to get everything organised and had about 40 people turn up to celebrate
Evelyn’s life, which she told me was the best day of her life.

“Evelyn died the next day with her family at her bedside, at peace.”