Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Bringing Christ's love to the world
Ayantu Bishaka, an MSC candidate gets to know a novice from another religious congregation at the gathering.
On Saturday, September 15,
Tigist Loja, Ayantu Bishaka, MSC candidates, and Sr. Lucy Panettieri, MSC, participated in an Intercultural Day titled “Roots and Wings” sponsored by the Brooklyn Diocese with Sr. Annmarie Seton LoPiccolo SC, Vicar for Religious.
Sr. Marisel Mora made her first profession of vows on August 11, 2018 with her family and Missionary Sisters in attendance. Sr. Marisel did her novitiate in West Park, NY but decided to take her vows in Collegio Sagrado Corazon (Sacred Heart), a beautiful church in her hometown. [Read more…]
by Brian Rowe, National Catholic Reporter
Close to 600 Catholic institutions have signed the Catholic Climate Declaration, which renews Catholic support for continuing U.S. actions to address climate change despite backpedaling by the Trump administration.
The announcement June 18 of the signing coincided with the third anniversary of the publication of Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment and human ecology, “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home.”
Dan Misleh, executive director of Catholic Climate Covenant, which organized the declaration, called it “an unprecedented effort by the U.S. Catholic community to step into the void left by President [Donald] Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement” in June 2017.
“The Catholic Climate Declaration is grounded in Catholic social teaching, and it is a significant step in consolidating and galvanizing the U.S. Catholic Church’s effort to care for our common home and address climate change and to join other U.S. institutions in supporting the Paris Agreement,” he told reporters during a call June 18.
Among the signers are 37 dioceses, close to 200 religious communities, including the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, more than 100 parishes, 61 Catholic universities, and more than a dozen Catholic health care organizations, including the Catholic Health Association.
“As Catholic communities, organizations, and institutions in the United States, we join with other institutions from across American society to ensure that the United States remains a global leader in reducing emissions. We call for the Administration to join the global community and return to the Paris Agreement,” the declaration reads.
“God’s creation is in peril by our own actions,” Sr. Sharlet Wagner, president-elect of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, said on the press call. “If we know creation is a gift for us to enjoy, to safeguard and to protect for future generations, climate change presents us with a moral crisis and a moral question. We must each ask ourselves what our response will be.”
To read the full story: https://www.ncronline.org/news/environment/nearly-600-institutions-back-catholic-climate-declaration
The Sacred Heart of Jesus was transformational in the life of Frances Cabrini. She experienced a powerful, personal experience of God’s love as it was lived and symbolized in the life and heart of Jesus. She was on fire with that love. She experienced Jesus not only as one who was loved by God and who loved her, but also as one who was missioned or sent to share that love. This experience created in her an intimate personal relationship with Jesus and, at the same time, sent Frances out to the ends of the earth as a missionary of the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
An unwavering hope in Jesus was the foundation of her life: confidence, trust, simplicity and security – not in her own powers, but in the one who loved her. I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13) was the central focus of her life.
Love, passionately expressed in her intimate, prayerful dialogue with Jesus, was made visible in concrete actions for others.
Her deep and abiding love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is Frances Cabrini’s legacy to us – a living interplay of faith, hope, and love that is a dynamic source of energy and power.
Feast Day celebrations took place throughout the Guadalupe Province as the Missionary Sisters renewed their vows and Cabrini Lay Missionaries renewed their commitments.
From left: Missionary Sisters Roselle Santivasi, MSC; Isalia Carvalho, MSC; Martha Lopez, MSC; Alice Zanon, MSC; and Eileen Currie, MSC renew their vows at the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, CO.
Greeting guests for the Feast Day are from left: Sr. Bridget Zanin, MSC, Shrine Director; Fr. Ted Ploplis, Shrine Rector; Sr. Benigna Morais, MSC; Sr. Alfonsina Gomes, MSC and Sr. Joaquina Costa, MSC.
Celebrating at The Cottage at Cabrini University are: Seated: Gina Scarpello; Bobbi Jacquet; and Karol Brewer Standing: Lechia Taylor; Beth Moy; Sr. Christine Marie Baltas, MSC; Nancy Costello; Nancy Hutchison; and Sr. Grace Waters, MSC.
Sr. Diane (r.) leads the vows ceremony with from left: Sr Bekelech, Sr. Meseret and Sr. Shiaye in Ethiopia.
The Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus rejoice in God for the gift of the three new sisters, Bekelech Bassa, Meseret Nagamo and Shiaye Esayas, who pronounced their vows on May 19, 2018, in Dubbo, Ethiopia.
Father Samuel, a Salesian priest and friend, who presided at the celebration, spoke deeply about the missionary life highlighting that making vows is for mission. “Go out and follow Jesus as a unique model.”
Sr. Suany, Sr. Maureen and Sr. Diane sign the official document attesting to the vows.
The parents and relatives of the three new sisters came to celebrate with them as well as the Missionary Sisters, MSC candidates, aspirants, the parish priests of the new MSCs, our Capuchine brothers and many collaborators of our mission in Dubbo. After ceremony we had a wonderful lunch, with song, dance and joy. The MSCs entrust these three sisters into God’s hands and rely on the protection of Saint Frances Cabrini. May the Beloved Jesus bless them, give them strength and wisdom, Cabrinian humility and simplicity to serve Jesus through the poor, as well as to the whole Institute of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. May we continue to support these new sisters so that they can announce, with joy, God’s love all over the world, wherever they are sent especially among the poorest people.
All three of the new MSCs were missioned to Swaziland at the end of their profession of vows.
In this special feast of the Ascension, in the Ethiopian Calendar, the Missionary Sisters of Sacred Heart thank the Lord for the gift of the Cabrinian consecrated life in the Church and trust as the loving Mother Cabrini trusted: “I can do all things in He who strengthens me” and ‘All for the great honor and glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus”.
One hundred years after her death, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, founder of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, still keeps watch at Cabrini High School. Her presence has been highlighted in a permanent exhibit of her life in New Orleans on the school’s Esplanade Avenue campus.
The idea for the exhibit dawned on Jack Truxillo when he became president of Cabrini High School a few years ago and he realized that many of Mother Cabrini’s artifacts were scattered around campus.
A more fitting home was in order, he though considering the contributions St. Cabrini had made in the lives of so many through her establishment of orphanages, schools, hospitals and clinics worldwide.
Truxillo chose a little-used room overlooking Esplanade Avenue and began in late 2016 assembling the pieces which were relics since she either touched or wore them. A timeline of her life was written and the room was formally unveiled on March 13 at a benefactors’ reception.
Among Mother Cabrini’s relics are her habit, cape, umbrella and shoes, a head garment and veil, a fan, a desk statue, rosary, reading glasses, sewing scissors, pocket watch, personal prayer cards, a Canal Louisiana Bank & Trust Company bank book, and an orphanage checkbook signed by Mother Cabrini.
It’s very special and an honor to have these artifacts of a saint who actually stayed, prayed and ministered in this very building,” Truxillo said. “Ourstudents, faculty, staff and administration get to experience this every day, and we want to share it with
the community.”
To read the entire article: https://clarionherald.org/2018/05/03/tribute-room-to-mother-cabrini-open-to-public/
~ by Christine Bordelon of the Clarion Herald
We have learned that Sr. Barbara Staley, MSC, General Superior, has signed onto the Declaration on behalf of the entire Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
On numerous occasions Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have called for an international climate change agreement.
Climate change is an urgent moral issue because it compromises the future of our common home, threatens human life and human dignity, and adds to the hardships already experienced by the poorest and most vulnerable people both at home and abroad. We teach that governments exist to protect and promote the common good, and that “the climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all.” (Laudato Si’, 23).
In December 2015, the leaders of 195 nations adopted the Paris Agreement that established a framework for nations to reduce carbon emissions to limit the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels, and to avoid the most dangerous effects of climate change. The Holy See and the U.S. Bishops have repeatedly voiced their support for it.
On June 1, 2017, President Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Paris agreement, the only nation to do so.
As Catholic communities, organizations, and institutions in the United States, we join with other institutions from across American society to ensure that the United States remains a global leader in reducing emissions. We call for the Administration to join the global community and return to the Paris Agreement.
After the receipt of this letter from Bishop Richard Pates from the Diocese of Des Moines regarding the U.S. Catholic Climate Declaration, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Guadalupe Province, have signed this Declaration joining their support with other similarly concerned Catholic organizations. The last paragraph of the letter includes a link where interested entities can enroll.
Dear friends,
I write to seek your support for the U.S. Catholic Climate Declaration, a distinct Catholic expression of the We Are Still In (WASI) campaign. Archbishop Broglio, Bishop Dewane, and I sent a similar appeal to our fellow bishops in the United States, and we now invite you to sign the Declaration.
Why this effort?
The WASI campaign is an effort to demonstrate America’s commitment to address climate change after President Trump announced on June 1, 2017 his intention to withdraw the United States from the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. On that day, the U.S. bishops added their voice to the many groups expressing disappointment with this decision. A few days later, American civil society launched the We Are Still In campaign to show the world that America’s leaders stand by the Paris Agreement and are committed to meeting its goals. To date, over 2,600 institutions—including cities, states, tribes, businesses, investors, universities, non-profits, and places of worship—have joined the campaign, representing the largest cross-section of American society ever to support climate action.
Today, we ask your organization’s endorsement of the Catholic Climate Declaration.
This declaration is a distinct Catholic expression in support of the We Are Still In campaign. The Catholic Climate Declaration expresses the moral imperative to protect and promote human life and human dignity, the poorest and most vulnerable peoples, and our common home. It recognizes—as the U.S. bishops said in 2001—that:
At its core, global climate change is not about economic theory or political platforms, nor about partisan advantage or interest group pressures. It is about the future of God’s creation and the one human family. It is about protecting both “the human environment” and the natural environment. It is about our human stewardship of God’s creation and our responsibility to those who come after us.
Catholic Teaching on Climate Change
Beginning with Saint John Paul in 1990, the Catholic Church has accepted the reality of human-forced climate change and expressed concern about the moral consequences of global warming. The Church has repeatedly advocated for an international climate change agreement in respon
se to this existential threat. The Paris Agreement is an international effort adopted by 195 nations and supported by the Vatican and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). It recognizes that climate change represents an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to human societies and the planet and it establishes a framework to limit the increase in global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels.
This effort is being coordinated by Catholic Climate Covenant, a USCCB-supported organization whose mission is to inspire and equip people andinstitutions in the U.S. to care for creation and for the poor in response to Church teaching on climate change. Commitments to the Catholic Climate Declaration will be made public on the third anniversary of the release of Laudato Sí, June 18, 2018.
If you wish to enroll your Catholic institution, organization, or community, please go to http://www.catholicclimatecovenant.org/catholic-climate-declaration
We hope you will join us in response to our Catholic faith.
Yours in Christ,
Bishop Richard E. Pates
Diocese of Des Moines
Episcopal Liaison, Catholic Climate Covenant
As we continue within the Easter Season, I send to you Easter greetings and my prayer that all of us will prepare our hearts to receive the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. Mother Cabrini had a special devotion to the Holy Spirit. In 1895 she wrote:
“ If we invoke the Spirit with a humble and trusting heart … he will penetrate the depth of our hearts with His blessed light and burning fire. He will purify, strengthen, enlighten and inflame our hearts with the fire of his holy, divine love.”
The Spirit of God has indeed been active! As of January 1, 2018 we are a new Province, with a new name and new locations which form the Province. Prior to this time, we were known as the “Stella Maris Province” which included Australia, Swaziland and the United States. Now we are called the Guadalupe Province, in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the Province includes: Australia, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua and the United States. (Swaziland is now part of another Region.)
Becoming a new Province has been a journey that began with our preparations for the General Chapter of 2014. We were invited during our General Chapter to open our minds, our hearts and our wills in order to effect the transformative changes necessary to live our Cabrini Charism today with renewed creativity and zeal. As we live into taking on this new identity as the Guadalupe Province there is already evidence of “something new”. Perhaps the most significant change is in how we “see” and “think”. Context helps shape how a person sees and thinks and our context has greatly expanded. For example, during the past week our hearts have been deeply disturbed by the events in Nicaragua during which the people have tried to have peaceful protests in response to a change in law that would harm the poor and most vulnerable. In response, the government resorted to violence (over 30 people have died), censorship of the media, and false statements. As a new Province, that includes Nicaragua, our hearts are broken by the loss of life and the treatment of the people who were and are simply seeking justice and their basic rights. We feel their pain because it is not just “breaking news” (although little has actual
ly been in the news!) but it is people we know and care for – context and relationship changes our hearts and our thinking. We recall Jesus’ words to Paul when he asked – “Who are you?” and Jesus’ response, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting!”
You will notice new stories in The Update as our journey of walking together continues. Taking a new name always signifies something new. In her time, Our Lady of Guadalupe sought to build bridges of communion and healing where there was division and misunderstanding. The image of Guadalupe shows her as pregnant – a promise of new life. This is our hope – abundant life – the life promised by the Risen Jesus!
Sr. Diane Olmstead, MSC, Provincial – Guadalupe Province
Thanks to a grant from St. Faith’s House Foundation, the Cabrini Kids from Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS), Dobbs Ferry, NY were able to help some people who are experiencing homelessness in Peekskill, NY. The packages that were made are being donated to CHOP (Caring for the Homeless and Hungry of Peekskill). There are some veterans who are part of CHOP so our Kids made cards thanking them for their service. In addition to the card, an American flag was also put in their bag.
This Giving Back Program had a very special blessing: Missionary Sisters Sr. John Giani, Sr. Joan Marie Sariti, Sr. Patricia Dunleavy and Sr. Damien Ciminera, joined the children of Grades 1-3 for the program. Each Sister worked with 3 children as they made cards for the veterans and packed bags with facecloths, body wash, deodorant, shaving cream, shampoo, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a pair of socks and a notebook and pen. Another special part of the program was the donation of socks from The Joy of Sox, an organization founded by Tom Costello, husband of Nancy Costello of the Province Communications Office.
The Sisters enjoyed listening to the children and learning about their countries of origin. The children also enjoyed hearing the stories of the Sisters’ great works over the years. Interestingly, all the Sisters had worked with children. One Sister worked with children who were sick in Africa while another Sister worked as a nurse in the United States. They both spoke about how hard it was to see children who were sick. One Sister was a teacher and another Sister had a very unique story to tell. Sr. Patricia said that she worked with cowboys and indians! 
The Dalai Lama said, “When educating the minds of the youth, we must not forget to educate their hearts.” Our Kids learned about the need to help those who are less fortunate but more importantly, their hearts were moved. When asked about how they felt helping those experiencing homelessness, we heard responses like, “It’s a wonderful day because we are helping someone else have a wonderful day.” Another child said, “We should always help other people.”
A special thank you to the Cabrini Sisters and to Tom Costello for all their help in making this another successful program.
The Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus conduct the Senior Citizen Care Program in Zone 6 of Guatemala City. As part of this program, Sister Laudir Crócoli visits homes and offers senior citizens spiritual accompaniment. During one of these visits in December 2017, she found very precarious housing conditions. She noticed that the heat and cold were affecting the health of an elderly woman in a sheet metal home lacking any insulation. She found a safe and ecological answer to meet this need.
To do this, milk cartons are collected, opened, and cleaned, before attaching them to each other using thread taken from sacks of flour. They are then installed on the roof with wooden support beams that hold them up.
This effort was possible thanks to other members of the Senior Citizen Program, young people, women, and neighbors from the area. Approximately 200 people were involved in the project. A total of 214 milk cartons were received during the first collection, making it possible to create a first false ceiling.
The big takeaway from this project is that once the need to improve the living conditions of one member of the Senior Citizen Program was identified, various members – not just of her community, but also from other neighborhoods– pitched in to collect the materials that were needed. These actions resulted in interrelation and solidarity among neighbors, environmental awareness, improved living conditions, and proof that there are other ways to improve the quality of life while at the same time taking care of one’s own home as well as the community.