Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Bringing Christ's love to the world

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Renewal of Vows on Canonization Anniversary

On Monday, July 7, 2025, Cabrini of Westchester celebrated the 79th Anniversary of the canonization of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. During a special Mass in the Cabrini Chapel, some of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus who reside in the nursing home renewed their vows in front of all who gathered. Live music was provided and a blessing was bestowed on all by Fr. Ron Galt, Vice President of Pastoral Care and Mission. After the Mass, a festive luncheon, prepared by Cabrini’s Food Service Department, was held in the Board Room for the Sisters.

A wonderful day was had by all! Please keep the Missionary Sisters in your prayers this day always as they serve the people of God.

Happy 175th Birthday, Mother Cabrini!!

Francesca Cabrini was born on July 15th 1850 in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, a small town of Lombardy not far from Lodi. The tenth of eleven children, Francesca was baptized on the same day.

She took her place with two sisters, Maddalena, age 17 and Rosa, age 15 and three brothers, Francesco, who was 9, Giuseppe Santo, a 7-year-old, and Giovanni Battista, 2. The parish records of Sant’Angelo list eleven children, seven of whom met early deaths.

Her mother, Stella Oldini, was a God-fearing woman of unshakable faith, as was also her father Agostino Cabrini. Both parents know how to pass on those timeless values which are the inheritance of every Christian.

Her family played an important role in the formation of Francesca’s personality. The loving atmosphere of the home developed in her an affectionate nature and a strong self-identity.

Francesca’s father had his livelihood in the land. Sant’Angelo, situated in the fertile “Low Country” of Lombardy, is irrigated by tributaries of the Po River. The young Francesca, who was raised closed to the land, became familiar with the region’s abundant fruits and flowers and she learned early to value nature. Throughout her life she would be acutely sensitive to cloud formations, birds, and the variegated hues and aromas of harvest.

A brief summary of the years 1850 – 1870 in which Maria Francesca Cabrini grew to maturity attests to the fact that the times were tempestuous. Rising political aspirations ushered in a decade of dissent. Even in the pastoral and relatively isolated setting of Sant’Angelo, the contending forces of liberalism and conservatism were locked in conflict.

With the polarization of Sant’Angelo’s townspeople, Francesca Cabrini was made acutely aware of the historical realities of her time. This awareness, influenced by the intense Christian piety of her immediate household, contributed to the development of a personality open to examining the broad social and religious currents of the day, while staunchly maintaining the traditional practices of faith inculcated in her from childhood.
~ excerpts from Mother Cabrini, “Italian Immigrant of the Century” by Sr. Mary Louise Sullivan, MSC pp. 1-18

Sacred Heart Feast Weekend at Mother Cabrini Shrine

Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, Colorado, marked the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with a weekend of meaningful events centered on faith, tradition, and community.

On Friday, visitors gathered to celebrate the Feast Day with a special noon liturgy, which included the renewal of vows by our beloved Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is always inspiring to witness their recommitment and service to the church and the Shrine community.

The celebration continued on Sunday as a group of traditional, Hispanic, Matachines Dancers arrived at the Shrine, walking and dancing their way up the road in thanksgiving to Mother Cabrini for her intercession.

Later that morning, Mass was celebrated in the chapel by Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, bringing together the Shrine faithful during this Jubilee Year of Hope.

Together, the two days reflected the Shrine’s ongoing role as a place of prayer, devotion, and hospitality in Colorado.

Cabrini Australia Observes the Feast of the Sacred Heart

On June 27, Mass was celebrated in the Chapel of Cabrini Hospital Malvern to mark one of the most significant days on our local calendar, the Feast of the Sacred Heart. The Chapel was filled with representatives of departments and services Cabrini wide who witnessed the moving moment that Sr. Theresa Cervasio MSC, the only MSC Sister in Australia, renewed her religious vows in front of Fr. Tony Kerin, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and Cabrini Board director.

In his Homily, Fr. Tony described Cabrini Health as ‘extensive and profound’. He described how Mother Cabrini’s ‘love of the Sacred Heart sustained her to overcome many obstacles.’ Group Director Identity & Mission, Margaret Stewart, expressed her hope that experiencing today’s Mass would be ‘…a source of strength for us so that we remain a living reflection of the spirit of the Sacred Heart in all we do.’

Occasions such as the Feast Day are made even more special by the involvement of so many staff in the parts of the Mass, the beauty created by the music of the Cabrini choir and the hospitality extended by our food services team.
~ submitted by Margaret Stewart, Group Director, Identity & Mission,

Sacred Heart Feast Day Celebrations

Cabrini Lay Missionaries Renewal of Commitment

The Cabrini Lay Missionaries (CLMs) renewed their commitments on the Feast Day. Julia Attaway, Angela Campbell and Kaitlyn Franzone renewed their pledge for 1 more year. CLM Director Lorraine Campanelli renewed for 3 years. We thank the CLMs for making this pledge to live their lives in harmony with the Cabrini charism

Gathering in Wayne, PA

During Mass celebrated in community in Wayne, PA, the Cabrini Lay Missionaries renewed their commitments. CLMs Dr. Angela Campbell and Dr. Susan Pierson were joined by Anne Schwelm, formerly of Cabrini University, Nancy Costello, following the Mass celebrated by Fr. Carl Janicki, former Cabrini University chaplain. during which Sr. Christine Marie Baltas, MSC and Sr. Roselle Santivasi, MSC renewed their vows.  A festive dinner followed.

 

 

Our Grand Feast

Today it’s happening in Asia, the Americas, Europe and Africa. Yes, on this Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Missionary Sister of the Sacred Heart, wherever they may be, are making new again their vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. No doubt, at some time of the day their thoughts will fly back to the very first time that they committed themselves to the love of Jesus in a very special way.

For some who celebrate 50 or 60 years in religious life as well as those sisters who recently made their first vows, each one of us comes before the Lord today with hearts filled with gratitude. We are overflowing with a great sense of being loved and cherished. We did not choose to be religious, but rather, we responded to a divine call that we could not deny, so I suppose you could say it’s all His fault.

We were gifted by the call to be religious in the community founded by St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and we try to follow in her footsteps. Cabrini responded with tremendous zeal in a way that we lovingly refer to as “disponibilita.” Though her heart was set on China, only a word from Pope Leo XIII changed her long dreamed of plans.

Today we pray that the same spirit enflames each of us so we may be willing to reach out to those who are hurting, those who are victimized and suffering and those whose lives are marked by poverty and desperate circumstances. We must strive to bring the same passionate love of Christ which urged Mother Cabrini’s missionary vision of reaching out to a world that was too small.

May this missionary fervor incite all of us, sisters and laity to respond with great courage and boldness in making real the strategic vision of our last General Chapter. Together we are all challenged to make sacrifices and to engage in hard work to transform these dreams into reality.

Hope! A Cause for Celebration!

Despite the rain, last Saturday’s fundraiser was a beautiful, joy-filled evening that reminded us of the strength and love in our community. We celebrated 26 years of Cabrini Immigrant Service with this year’s theme of HOPE. Hope is a word that reflects not just what we feel for the future, but what we actively build together. In a time when many in our community face fear and uncertainty, hope is our refusal to give up. We gathered to celebrate our collective work, honor incredible leaders, raise support for immigrant justice, and commit to hope for a more just future for all.
The energy throughout the night was vibrant and warm. Guests shared Mexican and Dominican food prepared by the incredible Street Vendor Project — “a membership-based organization of over 2,900 members who champion the rights of street vendors as small businesses to earn a living and contribute to the culture and life of New York City.” We danced to live music by La Cumbiamba NYE and Foreign Affair and listened to powerful speeches from several members of our staff.

We were proud to honor Lorraine Campanelli and Father Scott Leet OFM Cap., two individuals whose service and leadership have left a lasting impact on our community. Their words and work were reminders of what it means to show up every day with love and commitment to building a legacy of hope, just as Mother Cabrini did.Photos from the night can be found on our website: https://cis-nyc.org/celebrate-2025-photos

The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Spirit worked in Mother Cabrini to increase her love for Jesus. Mother Cabrini felt herself by Him to take upon herself the sufferings of humanity, the injustices and oppression which their hearts endured. God worked within her almost like an ongoing osmosis in which the Spirit gave her life: “Francesca Cabrini was drawn by the Sacred Heart of Jesus who loves all as no one else has ever loved them. She confronted herself yearning to penetrate the depths of his words and attitudes. Led by the Spirit to humble attentiveness and response, Francesca Cabrini sought to comprehend the love of Jesus – His mercy toward sinners, His empathy with the poor, His compassion for sufferings of every kind.

“Docile to the Spirit, Francesca Cabrini allowed him to be active in her so that she might learn to love as Jesus loved. She knew that his loving heart had redeemed the world through perfect correspondence with the Father’s will.” ~ Frances Cabrini, Remembering the Journey, Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Rome

 

 

 

 

Oh, Jesus, what are you like?
If only all would know you!
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Journal of a Trusting Heart, p. 83, September 1897

How good the Sacred Heart is to us.
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Travels, New Orleans to Panama, May, 1895

 

 

Explore, Learn, and Dream: Experiences That Transform Childhood

Childhood needs more than just basic care; it needs experiences that awaken curiosity, spark dreams, and invite children to discover the world with new eyes. Guided by this belief, the Shekiná and Positive Parenting programs from Dispensario Madre Cabrini, along with the Chispa Modificado program from Dispensario San José, recently carried out two unforgettable activities that left a lasting impact on the children involved.

Children from the Shekiná program and their mothers, participants in Positive Parenting, enjoyed a magical visit to the Zoo. For many, it was their first time seeing animals like giraffes, elephants, lions, or toucans up close. Their faces lit up with wonder, reminding us how important it is to create moments that connect children with nature and inspire new questions. Together with their mothers, they not only learned about the animal world, but also strengthened emotional bonds in a joyful, playful environment.

Meanwhile, the children from the Chispa Modificado program explored the fascinating world of the Children’s Museum. They moved through educational stations where science, art, communication, and daily life came alive through interactive exhibits. Every space was a chance to imagine, experiment, learn, and be amazed. More than just learning, the visit boosted their self-esteem and fueled their desire to grow.
These kinds of experiences go beyond education—they dignify childhood and reflect Cabrini Guatemala’s commitment to the families we serve each day. Because one joyful moment can plant the seed of hope in a child’s heart.

1260 Upper Gulph Road, Wayne, PA 19087
Phone: 484-581-7163   Fax: 484-581-7164
info@mothercabrini.org