Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Bringing Christ's love to the world

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Feeling Thankful and Blessed

Cabrini Immigrant Services, Dobbs Ferry (CIS-DF), held a STARS (StoryTelling, Art, Reading and Socialization) for Kids Program for students in Grades Kindergarten-. The STARS program has helped our students by increasing their attention span, improving their imagination and creative thinking as well as building confidence in their verbal and artistic expression.

Dr. Wendy Mages, a trained storyteller, told the story, Thankful, by Eileen Spinelli. After listening to the story, the students discussed all that they were thankful for. What a wonderful reminder to know how blessed we all are! The students worked on two art projects. Everyone wrote on a piece of construction paper what they were thankful for. The papers were then linked together to create a ‘I Am Thankful For…” chain. The students were then given jars which they filled with words of thankfulness. Some of the words chosen were Mom, Dad, grandparents, sisters and brothers, school, friends, books, and so many other things. The students can add more papers to their jars as they discover new things they are thankful for.

The students were so happy to receive a copy of the book, Thankful. They were going to read the story at home and ask their family to share what they are thankful for.
~

Healthy Recipes – Healthy You!

Our Nutrition Group, hosted by the CIS-NYC Social Services team, carried out its first recipe session last Friday with 17 participants. During the session, participants prepared healthy salad wraps and learned practical ways to add more fruits and vegetables to their daily meals. This hands-on activity is part of our ongoing effort to promote healthy eating habits and increase access to nutritional education for immigrant families.

At Washington Conference, Attorneys Address an Unsettling New Era on Immigration

At Washington Conference, Attorneys Address an Unsettling New Era on Immigration
~ by Rhina Guidos for National Catholic Reporter/Global Sisters Report
Reprinted with permission from Global Sisters Report

"We gather today in unprecedented times," Anna Gallagher, executive director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., told the crowd. Her organization, known as CLINIC, along with the Migration Policy Institute and Georgetown Law organized the 22nd Annual Immigration Law and Policy Conference. That's where immigration attorneys, paralegals, community advocates, as well as some priests and least one Franciscan sister, gathered on October 9 to hear a range of legal experts, historians and journalists speak. Panelists painted a picture of migrants consumed by fear and a legal community seeking to defend them, but lacking the resources to do so.

Conferences of the past provided a legal bird's-eye view of policy in the country's immigration realm, but scholars and experts like Doris Meissner agreed that this year, it's different.

"We have entered a new era," said Meissner, senior fellow and director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at Migration Policy Institute, as she moderated one of the panels.

No one exactly knows how this era will evolve.From the president's public call to end birthright citizenship for children whose parents aren't in the country legally, using information from the Internal Revenue Service to seek out migrants for deportation, and employing military and other law enforcement resources in that effort — those actions raise "profound questions about our society," Meissner added.

A lawyer at the conference addressed the obstacles the government is putting in place to make it difficult for attorneys to contact their clients. An economist voiced worries about the impact of ICE raids at work and said the actions are at odds with economic strategy. A reporter said he had seen the negative impact of immigration enforcement on communities of faith.Immigration, after all, said CLINIC's Gallagher, touches "every aspect of our country."

Cabrini Students Shine at Archdiocesan Respect Life Gathering


Cabrini High School was proudly represented at the annual meeting of archdiocesan high school Respect Life Club Leaders with Archbishop Gregory Raymond. The event brought together two student leaders and one moderator from each high school in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, providing an opportunity for dialogue, reflection, and collaboration on the pro-life mission within Catholic education.

Representing Cabrini for the evening of faith and fellowship were junior Janaé Haynes and senior Makayla Richoux, along with campus minister, Nicole Jouandot. Haynes and Richoux are active on Cabrini’s Campus Ministry Board, Pro-Life Club, CHS retreat team and the new Bible Study Club. Both young women attended the national March for Life in Washington, D.C., and plan to return again this year.

The Cabrini representatives shared their school’s creative initiatives promoting a culture of life on campus. Archbishop Raymond commended them for being innovative and inspiring. The students expressed pride in wearing their signature pink Pro-Life sweaters as a visible symbol of their faith and conviction.

Before departing for the evening, Ms. Jouandot offered the students a tour of the nearby seminary, where she is pursuing a Master’s of Arts degree in pastoral leadership. The evening was filled with meaningful discussion, laughter, and genuine pride as Cabrini’s students spoke with confidence, grace, and conviction. Their strong voices and leadership true examples of what it means to be a Cabrini girl: faithful and courageous in living their values.

CIS-Dobbs Ferry and Crittertown – Where Magic Truly Does Happen

 

On Thursday, October 2nd, the walls at Cabrini Immigrant Services – Dobbs Ferry, NY (CIS-DF) were bursting with excitement and pride. A special celebration was taking place for four of our students who attend our Sharing Stories! Making Movies! Program. We invited the students’ parents, siblings and some other special guests to share in the celebration. Everyone knew what was going to happen except for the four students. We wanted them to be surprised.

This day was a culmination of many things. A few months ago, Anne Marie Santoro, the teacher of our Sharing Stories! Making Movies! Program, brought in a ‘critter’ and asked some of the students to write a story about the critter. The critter, which was made of wood, was created by Patti Kaufman, an author and artist. The children named the critter, Bella and then wrote a special story about her. Anne Marie shared the story with Ms. Kaufman who thought it was so wonderful that she decided to publish it in her new book, Adventures in Crittertown – Where Magic Happens. The book is filled with many stories about the different critters that Ms. Kaufman has created. But ‘Bella the Cow’ is the only story. written by children!

What an honor to have four of our students called authors. Ms. Kaufman was able to join the celebration via Zoom. It was wonderful to have her see the children’s faces when they received their own copy of the book. Each child was also able to speak with Ms. Kaufman and thank her for all she had done for them.

We were thrilled to receive a copy of the book for our office. The book sits on a shelf along with the critter which hangs in our classroom. We are looking forward to presenting Springhurst Elementary School, where the students attend school, with a copy of the book which they can proudly have in the school library.

A very special thank you to Ms. Santoro for all her hard work in the program. She not only teaches the program, but she was instrumental in making this day a reality!

Cabrini Day 2025 in Colorado: A Joyful Celebration of Faith and Community

Over the weekend, Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, Colorado celebrated Cabrini Day 2025, a beautiful weekend honoring St. Frances Xavier Cabrini’s enduring legacy of faith, service, and love. In 2020, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed into law Frances Xavier Cabrini Day, the first paid state holiday in the nation that honors a woman. Cabrini Day is celebrated each year on the first Monday in October.

Festivities began on Sunday with Masses at 8 a.m., 11 a.m., and 2 p.m. (Spanish), each one drawi ng even more attendees than the last. The first-ever Celebration of Nations followed, as members of the Shrine community shared food, traditions, and stories from around the world. The day concluded with Adoration at 5 p.m., featuring music, prayer, and readings from Mother Cabrini’s writings. On Monday, the celebration continued with a special Cabrini Day Mass at noon, bringing our community together in gratitude and reflection.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini’s mission continues to inspire hearts across generations, and her spirit was truly alive at the Shrine throughout this meaningful weekend.
~ submitted by JoAnn Seaman, Executive Director, Mother Cabrini Shrine

The Denver Catholic featured an article by guest contributor Molly Johnson in honor of Cabrini Day. Read 10 Lessons to Inspire Us This Cabrini Day here

National Shrine Brims with September Events

September was a busy month for the National Shrine of St. Frances X. Cabrini in Chicago, IL.

• Our Shrine hosted our first ‘Coffee with the Exec’ on September 7th, where our community joined Laurie A Halaska, National Shrine Executive Director, to dialogue on current and future areas of focus.
• Two pilgrimages, one of 150 Hispanic pilgrims and the other of 180 Italian Americans visited our Shrine on September 13th and September 21st respectively. Both groups were treated to an in-depth tour of our chapel, museum area, Mother Cabrini’s room and meditation garden, followed by Mass.
• Two different speakers joined us after our 10 am Mass.
o Sr Patricia Godoy, MSC, General Councilor, visited on September 14th and shared her excitement about her time in Rome with the many young people at the Jubilee Week for Young People.
o Fr Corey Brost, CSV, who is the Executive Director of Viator House of Hospitality for young men seeking asylum joined us on September 28th. Fr Corey shared the work he and his staff are doing to promote interfaith relationships, reverence and leadership.
• Finally, the month of September ended with our annual dinner/fundraiser, Pilgrims of Hope, held on September 25th. Final amounts are still being calculated but we anticipate that well over $100,000 has been raised due to the generosity of our attendees and sponsors.
These and other happenings at our Shrine can be found here:

Meditation and Art Create Connections

Last week, four members of our Justice for Immigrants program, Silvia, Ciria, Antioneta, and Angeles led a workshop titled “Memoria y Archivo” – “Memory and Archive” at the Mexican Consulate. The session began with a guided meditation inviting participants to create a narrative about a place in their mind. Participants then worked on art projects that encouraged reflection on how we understand and tell the stories of where we come from.

As part of the workshop, we printed photos of our homes onto fabric pieces that will be sewn together, symbolizing how our homes, stories, and lives are connected. ~submitted by Amelia Scdoris, Justice for Immigration Coordinator, Cabrini Immigrant Services, NYC

October – the Month of the Holy Rosary

October is recognized as the Month of the Holy Rosary in the Catholic Church. This month-long devotion is intended to encourage the faithful to pray and meditate on the lives of Christ and Mary.

This devotion emphasizes seeking the Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession for protection of the Church and for personal intentions.

The practice of the daily rosary is encouraged for promoting peace in families, communities and throughout the world. Mary, Our Blessed Lady, in her appearance to the children at Fatima, urged the daily recitation of the rosary for world peace.

In the late 19th century, Pope Leo XIII enthusiastically promoted the rosary by issuing multiple encyclicals on the devotion. It was he who officially dedicated this month – October – to its devotion.

This week, Pope Leo XIV implored people to pray the rosary daily for peace in our world.

To learn more about Pope Leo’s appeal please click here

CAVS Social Justice Ambassadors host CIS on Zoom

The Cabrini Social Justice Ambassadors of the Cabrini University CAVS (Cabrini Alumni, Volunteers and Supporters) under the direction of Dr. Jerry Zurek, former Chair of the Communications Department, hosted a Zoom with Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS) leaders Lorraine Campanelli, Director of Cabrini Immigrant Services, Dobbs Ferry, NY and Amelia Scdoris, Justice for Immigrants Coordinator, at Cabrini Immigrant Services-NYC.

With small-but-mighty staffs, Lorraine and Amelia shared the many services and outreaches that CIS-Dobbs Ferry, NY and CIS-NYC provide for immigrants ranging from reading programs for children, to nutrition classes, to food pantries, to field trips for families, to help with citizenship test preparation, to assistance with visas.

The Cabrini Immigrant Services staff members also provide educational programs on knowing your rights as well as active engagement in rallies and advocacy with legislators.

This was the sixth in a series of social justice webinars sponsored by the CAVS Social Justice Ambassadors.

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