Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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Cabrini Immigrant Services, NYC and Cabrini University rally on May Day for Immigrants

Cabrini Immigrant Services Marches in New York City

On May 1st Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC staff and Justice for Immigrants members joined immigrant rights, labor, faith and allied organizations for a May Day action in support of immigrants and workers. Thousands came together in New York City to stand up against anti-immigrant and anti-worker policies and to demand that President Trump end his attacks on immigrant, refugees and Muslim communities. Activists, community leaders, City Council Members and even the Mayor were present to show their support for our immigrant brothers and sisters. To stay up to date on how CIS-NYC continues to stand up for immigrants every day follow us on Twitter or Facebook or check out our website!

 

Cabrini University Students and Staff Rally in Washington, D.C.

On Monday, May 1, Cabrini students and staff took time away from preparing for finals to make their way to the nation’s capital for a march and rally in solidarity with workers and immigrants. Earlier in the semester students had made protest signs with slogans like, “No Human Is Illegal,” and “Fight Ignorance, Not Immigrants,” and these signs were hung on a barricade constructed on the University Commons for a Border Solidarity Mass celebrated on April 19 to commemorate Pope Francis’s visit to the US-Mexico border the year prior.

Cabrini students took those signs and joined thousands of other protesters in DuPont Circle to protest anti-immigrant sentiments and policies, representing the namesake of the Patron Saint of Immigrants. Chants worked their way through the crowds, alternating between English and Spanish: “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here!” “¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!” We arrived at Lafayette Square, named for an immigrant hero of the Revolution and cheered facing the White House for the hope that we can be better together.

Walking back to the van we passed through the MLK Memorial, with tired legs and hoarse voices, reading his words: “Out of a mountain of despair, a stone of hope.” And “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

Cabrini Immigrant Services, NYC Hosts Community Coat Drive

On Friday, November 18, 2016 Cabrini Immigrant Services, NYC held its second annual coat drive at St. Teresa’s Church. It was a successful event that was led by staff and volunteers. Cabrini Immigrant Services provided over 130 families with new and gently used warm coats and jackets resulting in the distribution of 238 coats and jackets but also clothing, shoes, socks, hats and scarves to the immigrant community in preparation of the cold winter that is to come.

The event was filled with joy and excitement as many families and children expressed their gratitude to staff and volunteers for caring for the immigrant community and surrounding neighborhoods. Thank you to the donors, community groups, volunteers and parishes for making this amazing event happen and giving us the opportunity to show that we care for New York City. We look forward to the next coat drive!

Cabrini Mission Foundation’s “A Tribute on the Hudson”

The Cabrini Mission Foundation remembered the 15th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks by holding a “Tribute on the Hudson” luncheon yacht cruise. Held aboard the Majestic Princess, guests boarded on Manhattan’s west side and enjoyed a three-hour cruise of New York Harbor.

A memorial program, led by Stella Maris Provincial Sr. Pietrina Raccuglia, MSC and Dr. Lawrence J. Ottaviano, was held while the yacht idled off One World Trade Center. Psalm 46 was read by

Sr. Catherine Garry, MSC and Paul Michels. The highlight of the presentation was a tossing of the memorial wreath by Sr. Frances Xavier Brogan, MSC and the release of 12 live butterflies led by Sr. Tommasina Lanski, MSÇ. These two symbols remembered those who were lost and those who continued to live on after this tragedy. Closing remarks were given by Sr. Diane Olmstead, MSC.

Cabrini Mission Foundation would like to thank all those in attendance, as well as, those who offered their prayers and support of this event.

 

 

A Voice for Immigrant Rights

Last Friday, a member of our Justice for Immigrants campaign spoke at her first press conference! Monica is undocumented, but she has two children who are US citizens. On Friday, she spoke during a press conference hosted by the New York Immigration Coalition. Her daughter Liliana kept her company while she spoke.

Monica speaking_3 croppedMonica was very nervous, but we’re so proud of her for speaking in front of the crowd and on the news! She urged the Supreme Court to hear the case about Obama’s 2014 executive actions of Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). These actions were announced in November 2014 and would allow parents and more young adults to gain lawful status in the country, but the actions have been tied up in the courts for months. We’re very excited that after months of activism, the Supreme Court announced on Tuesday that they will hear the case for DACA and DAPA! This announcement gives hope to our community members who have been living in fear that they will be separated from their families. We expect that the Supreme Court will give its ruling in the early summer. Please keep this case and all of our clients’ families in your prayers! ~ submitted by CMC missioner Madison Koenig

You can read about the press conference (in Spanish) here: http://bit.ly/1P4PiEK

Or in English here: http://bit.ly/1ODEJ5T

And watch a clip from the news (in Spanish) here: http://bit.ly/1WfgUXk

St. F.X. Cabrini Shrine NYC Opens the Holy Door

Opening the Holy Door

Sunday December 13th was an historic day for St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in New York. Pope Francis opened the extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy on December 8, 2015 and all cathedrals and designated shrines opened their Holy Year Doors on December 13, 2015 – the Third Sunday of Advent. St. Frances Cabrini Shrine was designated an official pilgrimage site by Cardinal Egan and thus a door of the Shrine was blessed by Bishop Walsh as the Holy Year Door.

The Shrine was packed for a bi-lingual Eucharistic Celebration. St. Elizabeth Church choir provided the music and the staff and volunteers of the Shrine contributed countless hours to prepare for the celebration.

In his homily Bishop Walsh reminded the people of the words of Pope Francis: “I present, therefore, this Extraordinary Jubilee Year dedicated to living out in our daily lives the mercy which the Father constantly extends to all of us. In this Jubilee Year, let us allow God to surprise us. He never tires of casting open the doors of His heart and of repeating that he loves us and wants to share his love with us.”

All are encouraged to make a pilgrimage to any of our three Shrines (New York, Colorado or Chicago) all of which have been designated as official sites of pilgrimage. As Pope Francis said: “May pilgrimage be an impetus to conversion: by crossing the threshold of the Holy Door, we find the strength to embrace God’s mercy and dedicate ourselves to being merciful with others as the Father has been with us.”

 

National Shrine of St. Frances Cabrini – On Tour – Open House Chicago

National Shrine of St. Frances X. Cabrini, Chicago, IL

Open House, Chicago

Open House Chicago 2015 cr1On Saturday, October 17 & Sunday, October 18, the Shrine, once again, participated in Open House Chicago, a free annual event sponsored by the Chicago Architectural Foundation that invites visitors to experience the architecture of Chicago by participating in self-guided tours in over 150 buildings across Chicago. Over the course of the weekend, over 1200 guests were captivated by the Chapel’s colorful frescoes, Carrera marble, Florentine stained glass, gold mosaics and Romanesque splendor.

The Shrine was delighted to hear that the Chicago Architectural Foundation has chosen them to participate in a Chicago Church Tour featuring 5 north side churches in September of 2016. The tour will be available to the first 200 guests that sign up.

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