Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Bringing Christ's love to the world

Topics

Archives

Tags

anti-human trafficking Australia Black History Month Cabrini Action and Advocacy Cabrini Action and Advocacy Coalition Cabrini Health Cabrini High School Cabrini Immigrant Services Cabrini Immigrant Services Dobbs Ferry Cabrini Immigrant Services NYC Cabrini Immigration Commission Cabrini Lay Missionaries Cabrini Mission Foundation Cabrini of Westchester Cabrini University Cabrini University CAVS Catholic Sisters Week Chicago Christmas Earth Day Education environment human trafficking immigration Migrants and Refugees Missionary Sisters Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Mother Cabrini Mother Cabrini Shrine National Eucharistic Pilgrimage National Shrine of St. Frances X. Cabrini National Vocation Awareness Week New Orleans Jazz Fest NRVC Pope Leo XIV religious life Sacred Heart of Jesus St. Cabrini Nursing Home St. F.X. Cabrini Shrine St. Frances X. Cabrini St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Shrine st. josephine bakhita Villanova University vocation World Day for Migrants and Refugees
Masthead Image for Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Jubilee for Consecrated Life

The Holy See has designated a number of Jubilee Days throughout 2025 to recognize and celebrate different groups of people and various ministries in the Church. The Jubilee of Consecrated Life will be held from Wednesday, October 8, to Thursday, October 9, 2025.

Consecrated life is the permanent state of life in which a person deepens their baptismal consecration through profession of the three evangelical counsels: poverty, chastity, and obedience (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 915-930).

Consecrated men and women, “like the Apostles... have left everything behind in order to be with Christ and to put themselves, as he did, at the service of God and their brothers and sisters” (Pope John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Vita Consecrata, no. 1).

Through a commitment to a form of life patterned on Christ, "the consecrated life thus becomes one of the tangible seals which the Trinity impresses upon history, so that people can sense with longing the attraction of divine beauty" (Ibid., no. 20). Consecrated persons, in a “spirit of the beatitudes,” visibly witness to the Church and the world the invisible reality of heaven (Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, no. 3).

In lives engaged in active ministry or in hidden prayer, consecrated men and women perpetually proclaim the Gospel by virtue of their consecration.

Next week, Missionary Sisters from across the worldwide Cabrinian Institute will travel to Rome for the Jubilee. There will be 25 Sisters from the Guadalupe Province alone in attendance. ~ USCCB website

To learn more and to access resources about the Jubilee of Consecrated Life please click here

Cabrinian Communicators Attend Virtual Seminar

Those in the global MSC Institute who are responsible for communications gathered via Zoom on Wednesday, September 24th for the first of a seven-part instructional seminar on communications sponsored by the MSC Generalate in Rome.

The first session was entitled The Foundations and was presented by Sr. Therese Raad, a Sister of Charity of Sr. Jeanne Antide Thouret, and covered such topics as: ● Why do we communicate externally? ● What are different ways we can communicate externally? ● What are the essentials for good external communication? ● How to develop priorities in building a communication function. ● Building a shared language and vision for Cabrini communication.

In future sessions the instructional course will address deepening the Cabrinian heritage, storytelling, and practical elements of communications.

CHS Brazilian Student Video-Greets MSC General Superior

Antonella was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but moved to Brazil as a baby. A talented trilingual student fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, she wanted to strengthen her English skills, reconnect with the country of her birth, and complete her high school education at an American school in preparation for college.

She was encouraged to attend Cabrini by her cousin, Isabella Carvalho, a Cabrini sophomore, who knew that the school’s rigorous academics and supportive community would help Antonella achieve her goals. Working closely with Antonella’s family, Cabrini’s administration created a course of study that will enable her to graduate fully prepared for university.

Antonella is thriving academically and embracing the strong sense of sisterhood that defines the Cabrini experience. Her arrival coincides with two special milestones: the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus’ rededication of Cabrini’s Moss Street Building in New Orleans, and the celebration of the MSC family’s first Brazilian Superior General, Sister Maria Eliane Azevedo da Silva.

In this spirit of unity, Antonella shares a heartfelt message of gratitude in Portuguese to Sister Maria Eliane and the entire MSC community, honoring the global ties and shared mission that make Cabrini so special. ~ submitted by Anne Argus DiPaola, ’96, Communications Director, CHS

To watch Antonella’s video greeting please click here

To see how Cabrini High School’s science curriculum is using cutting edge technology, please click here

Cabrini Tradition of Service ~ Alive and Well

On Saturday, September 20th, two of Cabrini College/University alumni volunteered alongside Villanova University students for the 20th Annual St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service.

Each year on this day, Villanova students and alumni travel to hundreds of different service sites throughout the Philadelphia area to garden, paint, make food packets, and send letters to schools about service opportunities.

Many thanks to Faith Pitsikoulis '22 and Hollie Havens '98 for joining in this special day!

The CAVS look to grow this collaborative service day with Villanova in years to come.

New Mural Dedicated in St. Patrick’s Cathedral

The mural, created by Adam Cvijanovic, pays tribute to generations of immigrants who came to New York in search of faith and hope. It is the first major work of art commissioned for the Cathedral since the installation of its bronze doors in 1949.  The mural prominently features Mother Cabrini among the immigrants.  To watch a video from the Good News Room about the creation and dedication of the mural please click here

Celebrating Our 2025 CMF Gala Honorees

Each year, the Cabrini Mission Foundation (CMF) Gala brings together our extended Cabrini family for an evening of gratitude, joy, and hope. More than just a fundraiser, our Gala feels like a reunion—a chance to celebrate community, reconnect with friends, and honor those whose lives and service embody Mother Cabrini’s mission.
This year, we were proud to recognize three honorees whose faith, generosity, and dedication inspire us all: His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Felix and Francesca Avitabile (posthumously), and Vincent Iannelli.

His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan

nearly two decades, Cardinal Dolan has shepherded the people of New York with his characteristic warmth, humor, and steadfast devotion to the Church. Appointed Archbishop of New York in 2009 and elevated to the College of Cardinals in 2012, his leadership has touched countless lives, not only in our Archdiocese but across the world. From his boyhood sense of vocation in St. Louis to his nearly 50 years of priestly service, Cardinal Dolan’s life reflects unwavering faith. He has also shown a deep affection for Mother Cabrini and her mission. As Sr. Pietrina Raccuglia, MSC, Chair, Cabrini Mission Foundation, shared during his introduction, the Cardinal warmly received a relic of our foundress shortly after becoming Cardinal of New York, beginning a friendship that continues to this day. His presence and support have been a blessing, and this year we joyfully honored him for his lifetime of service to God’s people.

Felix and Francesca Avitabile

The story of Felix and Francesca is, at its heart, a love story rooted in faith and family. They met in Italy just after World War II, when Felix, a young American soldier, traveled overseas to visit relatives. Francesca joined him in Brooklyn in 1947, where they married and built a life grounded in hard work, devotion, and hospitality. Though neither had the benefit of higher education, they sacrificed tirelessly so that their children could pursue their dreams. Their home became a beacon of welcome for friends, neighbors, and strangers alike. Among their four children, their daughter Sr. Antonina answered the call to religious life as a Missionary Sister of the Sacred Heart, carrying forward their legacy of service. Even after their passing—Felix in 2018 and Francesca in 2020—their generosity continues. In 2024, the sale of the family’s Brooklyn home resulted in a transformative gift to the Cabrini Mission Foundation, ensuring their values of faith, family, and community will benefit generations to come.

Vincent Iannelli

true builder of both structures and community, Vincent Iannelli represents the strength of tradition and the power of service. Beginning as a teenager working alongside his father and uncle in the family’s construction business, Vincent rose with his brother Tom to lead Iannelli Construction, one of New York’s premier public works contractors. Yet, beyond the buildings he has helped raise, Vincent has built a life rooted in family, faith, and generosity. For over fourteen years, he has served as a trustee of the Cabrini Mission Foundation, offering both leadership and vision. His service extends far beyond Cabrini, including a number of roles he has held with other community organizations. His dedication, integrity, and commitment to community embody Mother Cabrini’s spirit of service.

Together, these honorees remind us of what it means to live out Mother Cabrini’s legacy—with faith, hope, and love. We are blessed to count them as part of our Cabrini family and grateful for the ways their lives continue to “make hope” in our world.

Cabrini University Community Gathers for Alumni Weekend

 

The CAVS (Cabrini Alumni Volunteers and Supporters) were warmly welcomed to the Villanova University campus for an evening of dinner, awards, friendship and memories.

CAVS Leadership Chair Hollie Havens ’98 and CAVS Event Committee Co-Chair Andrea Rodgers ’99 extended a warm welcome to all. Highlights of the evening included a warm welcome-back to faculty members who had taught at Cabrini College/University for 50 years or more: Jim Hedke, PhD; Marilyn Johnson, PhD; Kathleen McKinley, PhD; Joseph Romano, PhD, Sharon Schwarze, PhD, Anthony Tomasco, PhD and Jerry Zurek, PhD.

Alumni were honored for Community Service – Craig Vagell, ‘05; Distinguished Alumni Service - Jackie Marciano, ’10; Career Achievement - Robin Larkins, ’85; Urban Education – Alycia Plowman ’15, and Young Alumni Award – Treci Butler, ‘18, Jason Fridge '25 (St Joe's University) and Mother Ursula Award Sam Sturkey '25 (Eastern University).

Honorary Alumni Awards were presented to Kate Corcoran, former Cabrini University Vice-President of Athletics and StudentEngagement, and posthumously to Larry Stauffer, who had served as the electrician for Cabrini College/University for forty years. Larry’s award was accepted by his wife Kate Connolly Stauffer ’83 and his daughter Liz Stauffer, G ’15.

The spectacular evening was followed up the next day with a tailgate and outing to the Philadelphia Phillies baseball game.

CIS-NYC Staff Attends Center for Migration Studies Conference

Screenshot

Last week, members of our CIS-NYC team attended the Center for Migration Studies Conference on Immigration Integration. On Sunday, we were honored to welcome a group of conference participants to our office. Visitors toured the St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Shrine, joined us for a presentation on our work, and participated in a thoughtful Q&A.

Attendees came from across the country, including as far away as Seattle, Washington. It was an opportunity to connect in a small group, share strategies, and discuss how to move forward together in support of immigrant communities.

On Monday and Tuesday, we joined the rest of the conference at Fordham University, where we listened to compelling panels on immigration, integration, and Catholic teachings, and engaged in regional discussions. Especially in times like these, knowing we are unified in our work and faith brings hope for a way forward where everyone in this country can live with dignity, care, and respect.

This is National Migration Week 2025

For 45 years, the Catholic Church in the United States has celebrated National Migration Week (NMW). This is an opportunity to reflect on our history as an immigrant Church and the ways in which our country has been enriched by generations of immigrants, including the many Catholics who have adopted this land as their own. It is also an occasion to grow in appreciation of the challenges faced by migrants and refugees, both in the United States and beyond, and to express solidarity through prayer, accompaniment, and advocacy. Pope Francis had chosen “Migrants, missionaries of hope" for this year's theme.

This year, National Migration Week takes place September 22-28 and culminates with the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR). Although WDMR typically occurs on the last Sunday of September, this year it will take place on October 4-5 to coincide with the Jubilee of Migrants. The primary theme for this year’s WDMR is “Migrants, missionaries of hope,” which “highlights the courage and tenacity of migrants and refugees, who bear witness daily to hope for the future despite difficulties.”

In solidarity with the Holy Father, National Migration Week is using the same theme as WDMR and emphasizes the ways in which this theme and its application to the migration question is important for the Church in the United States. Given the timing of WDMR this year, we have developed resource for the Jubilee of Migrants, “Pilgrims on the Way of Hope”, which will help people to prepare both for the Jubilee and WDMR.

One concrete way to participate in this year's NMW is by signing The Cabrini Pledge that appears on the USCCB website:

The Cabrini Pledge

The Cabrini Pledge on the USCCB website is both a reminder of our immigrant heritage and a call to deeper engagement with our faith in response to current events. At a time when our culture is dominated by deep political divisions and reasonable disagreements about immigration policy, progress can feel impossible. But by witnessing to the God-given dignity of every person, including the migrants and refugees in our midst, we pave the way for an approach rooted in mercy, justice, and the common good. And together, like Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, we can be keepers of hope. To take the pledge online, please click here

I PLEDGE:
• To affirm, in word and deed, the inherent dignity of every person, regardless of immigration status or country of origin, seeing each as a child of God before all else.

• To engage with Scripture and the Church’s social teaching, reflecting on the role of migration in salvation history, the history of the United States, and the history of my own family.

• To listen and learn about the circums tances facing migrants and refugees, including those in my community, with an open heart and mind.

• To seek opportunities for encounter, so as to grow in deeper understanding and communion that leads to an authentic solidarity with those in need.

• To consider what it means to be a good neighbor and how I am called to reflect the love and hope of Christ to others.

• To encourage civic dialogue that places the human person and the sanctity of families at the center of policymaking, especially toward the end of meaningful immigration reform.

• To join with Pope Leo in praying for all migrants and refugees as fellow travelers on the journey to our true homeland.
• © 2025 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops -reprinted with permission of the USCCB

 

Academic Engagements Kickstart the New CHS Year

Our teachers spent the summer enhancing their mastery and expanding their instructional impact across subjects. Several completed ACT Instructional Mastery credentials. Some earned AP Certifications while others trained in TestBright ACT/SAT Curriculum. One faculty member completed ASCA Training to better support student transitions into high school.

Our world language faculty deepened cultural immersion abroad. Dr. Loreque Colimon studied French language and culture at the Université libre de Bruxelles. Vivian Coutin explored Spain from Santiago de Compostela to Salamanca, and Maria Vargas spent a month in Madrid. Cabrini faculty also represented the school at the national AP Annual Conference in Boston.

Student Crescents made their mark across the city, nation, and globe through Xavier University’s dual enrollment program, Xavier University’s College of Pharmacy and Tulane University’s neuroscience program.
Other students trained with Broadway Artists Alliance and made sure to make time for a visit to the St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Shrine, as well. Student leadership flourished at Louisiana Girls State and at the Louisiana Youth Seminar.

From Brussels and Madrid to Broadway and Louisiana leadership camps, Cabrini students spent the summer expanding their knowledge, talents, and personal impact. Our faculty and students’ collective efforts inspired our community and ensured the 2025 school year began with energy, confidence, and pride.

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