The National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini joined the Cabrini Retreat Center on Tuesday, May 5th for GivingTuesdayNow, a day of Global Action for giving and unity in response to COVID-19. It was the decision of Sister Bridget Zanin, MSC, Director of the National Shrine, to explore the needs of immigrants in our local community in Chicago. Nancy Golen, Director at the Cabrini Retreat Center located in Des Plaines, IL, put [the Shrine staff] in contact with Exodus World Service, a Christian organization that empowers people to be champions for refugees.
Exodus World Service discussed with us the need for Chromebooks. During this pandemic, immigrant children in Chicago are falling increasingly behind in their education. They don’t have access to computers for e-learning, so, we dedicated this Global Day of Giving to raise a minimum of $1000.00 for the purchase of four Chromebooks for four immigrant families.
Mother Cabrini based her work on the “education of the heart.” As a teacher, her aim was always the formation of the whole person as it instills a special concern for those in need. We asked each of our communities if they would help us “educate the hearts” of immigrant children and we were delighted in their response as we were able to provide Exodus World Service with the funds to purchase five Chromebooks for five immigrant families