Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Bringing Christ's love to the world

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Transforming Stress into Positive Outcomes

Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS), Dobbs Ferry, held a workshop entitled,  “Tu Arma Secreta: Convirtiendo el Estres en una Fuerza Positiva.” (“Your Secret Weapon: Turning Stress into a Positive Force”). The workshop was presented by Betsy Suarez, a licensed mental health counselor.

spoke about how stress can lead to anxiety and how it can affect your mental health and other health issues. She explained how understanding and managing stress is essential to your well-being. Betsy shared how turning stress into a positive force can help you. She gave many therapeutic strategies to help create a more positive relationship with stress. She showed how reframing negative thoughts, journaling, walking, etc. can all help create a more positive attitude. Betsy stated that a positive outlook can transform stress from an obstacle into an opportunity.

It is no secret that everyone is dealing with elevated levels of stress. This workshop left everyone feeling empowered and ready to try the new strategies that they learned.

A special thank you to Betsy Suarez. We look forward to her next workshop.

Cabrini University Alums Learn Stark Reality Facing Many Immigrants

What would you do if you were undocumented now? What would you do if you were a mother of two children, one of them one month old, and your husband is detained and sent to a detention center? You had been seeking asylum because of threats of violence in your home country and when you go to your immigration check-in and are told that your asylum petition has been denied and you have exactly one month to come back with tickets to return to the danger in your home country. Your husband is definitely being deported. Should you pay $10,000 to appeal? What should you do with your children who are US citizens?

These are the kind of decisions that thousands of immigrants must make every day as Homeland Security is going after many people who have lived and worked in the US for many years in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, but are undocumented or on Temporary Protected Status or seeking asylum or on a particular visa that is revoked.
Two Cabrini University graduates, who have spent much of their careers working with communities of immigrants, shared stories of the anxiety and fear and stress that these communities face every day.

Cabrini University alumni and friends meet each month to learn about and discuss social justice issues. The June meeting was led by Robin Larkins, Class of 1985, and Meghan Hurley, Class of 2007.

Robin has had a long career with various Cabrini ministries and is currently the co-founder and executive director of Spring Community Partners in Dobbs Ferry, NY - a suburban community just north of New York City. The organization particularly focuses on serving the growing local immigrant community and assisting parents in navigating the complex systems to help their families succeed and to advocate for their children.

Meghan works for CATA, the Farmworker Support Committee in South Jersey and southern Chester County. She is currently the Policy and Advocacy Organizer. She also served as a volunteer after college with the Holy Child Sisters in Peru.

Following the discussion, the 50 alumni participants wrote or called their U.S. Senators who are now debating the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” This budget reconciliation bill will increase funding for immigration enforcement from the current $34 billion to a proposed $200 billion. Funding would come from many sources, but especially by cutting social services such as many funded by Medicaid and SNAP.

If you are interested in learning about future discussions, please let the Cabrini University CAVS Mission and Service Committee know by adding your name here: https://bit.ly/cavs-ambassadors.

 

Vocations Interculturality Workshop

On Friday, June 13th, Sr. Christine Marie Baltas, MSC and Vocation Team Coordinator Nancy Costello attended a workshop sponsored by the National Religious Vocations Conference (NRVC) on Candidate Assessment through the Lens of Interculturality which took place at the Sisters of the Redeemer in Huntingdon Valley, PA. Vocation directors from seventeen religious congregations were in attendance.

The workshop, presented by Crystal Taylor-Dietz, PsyD addressed how to respectfully gather the information needed from candidates without stereotyping, generalizing, or minimizing behaviors that can make community life challenging. It also explored the blind spots, microaggressions, and implicit biases vocation ministers might have during candidate interviews.

The 22nd Annual Migrant Trail Walk

Embracing the spirit of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, Ivonne Moreno-Rodriguez, Social Work Supervisor from Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC (CIS-NYC), joined the 22nd Annual Migrant Trail Walk that ended on June 1st. Ivonne and 43 humanitarian workers completed the 75-mile, seven-day pilgrimage from Sasabe, Mexico to Tucson Arizona to honor the over 8,000 migrants who have died at the border since the 1990s, to denounce decades of inhumane border polices, and this year with the current administration, to oppose the weaponization of the immigration laws.

With temperatures up to 100 degrees during the day, the group walked through the Sonora Desert carrying crosses, some bearing the names of migrants who died in the desert and others bearing the word “desconocido/a” — Spanish for “unknown”. Ivonne carried the crosses of two migrants that were found in 2009 and were not identified. For her, “It was such a humbling experience because I was thinking about the dreams that these migrants had coming to the US, their horrible death, and the pain of their families that are probably still looking for them."

Every few miles during the walk, an organizer would conduct a roll call. Each walker would read the name of the person in their cross and when a name was called out, the group would respond with a loud "present" symbolizing that these deaths are not forgotten. The group also carried the indigenous prayer ties with 154 satchels containing tobacco that represents each of the remains found in the Arizona desert since June 2024 (according to figures from Humane Borders).

As part of a community of faith and having Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini as the Patron Saint of Immigrants, Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC deepens its
commitment to migrants in the NYC area and continues opposing the inhumane immigration “deterrence” polices that intentionally divert migrants fleeing violence and uncertainty in their countries into the most remote and deadly terrain.

Refugee Week 2025 in Australia

This middle week of June marks Refugee Week 2025 in Australia.

The Refugee Council of Australia has Finding Freedom as the overarching theme. This year’s emphasis is on the vital role community plays in all our lives, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, language, disability, sexuality and age.

‘The journey towards freedom represents the challenging path that many refugees take, escaping oppression and uncertainty for safety in a new place’, says the ARC.

Cabrini Health, Breast Surgeon, Dr. Jasmina Kevric, is herself a refugee from Bosnia Herzegovina. Thirty years ago, Jasmina arrived in Australia as a child. Now alongside her specialist services at Cabrini, she volunteers her time at our Refugee Health Hub helping refugees like herself.

Jasmina’s story was captured in the Australian national media this week. Here are the links to the TV story and the podcast.

‘Community is more than just a physical place or a group of people; community is a lifeline. [Cabrini’s Refugee Health Hub] is a space where everyone can feel safe, valued, and empowered to pursue their dreams without fear or judgment.

This Refugee Week, we celebrate the inclusive communities across Australia that open their arms to those seeking refuge, providing platforms for connection and a sense of belonging.’

Cabrini of Westchester’s 26th Annual Sharing in Mission Dinner Was a Great Success!

Cabrini of Westchester recognized several deserving honorees at its 26th Annual Sharing in Mission Dinner. The theme for the event, which was held on May 21, 2025, at the beautiful Tappan Hill Estates in Tarrytown, NY was “An Evening in Spring.”

This year’s honorees included Christopher J. McCarthy, Senior Consultant, PKF O’Connor Davies; Paul Mourning, Partner, Crowell & Moring LLP; and Lorraine Campanelli, Director, Cabrini Immigrant Services of Dobbs Ferry, NY. The honorees were chosen because they reflect the values that Cabrini of Westchester as an organization cherishes: compassion, excellence, commitment and service. Attendees were delighted to dine amidst beautiful spring flowers and décor. Colorful succulent plants were given to all that attended.

We are truly grateful to the honorees, sponsors, donors and the 2025 Sharing in Mission Dinner Event Committee for making the evening such a wonderful success. Thanks to their efforts, the event raised approximately $200,000 to benefit Cabrini of Westchester!

Books Provide the Gateway to Opportunities

Recently, Karol Brewer of the Cabrini Immigration Commission, had the pleasure of meeting Filomena Elliott, Director of the Adult  Program at the Kennett Library in Kennett Square, PA, to whom we delivered books that many of The Update readers generously donated to our Cabrini Immigration Commission of the Guadalupe Province.

The librarians plan on using some of the books for bilingual story time at the library and have made sure that there are copies of each one in their library system.

The mission of Kennett Library's Adult Literacy Program (ALP) is to provide free basic literacy and English as a Second Language instruction to community adults. The goal is to improve literacy to levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job, in the family, and in society.

The program began in 1979 with tutoring in basic literacy, added ESL classes in the 1990s to fill the need for an increasing immigrant population, and now also includes classes for American citizenship preparation, GED preparation, and digital literacy. There are five levels of ESL classes taught weekly in both day and evening, from September through June. Besides attending weekly classes, students may request a volunteer tutor trained by the ALP staff who provides individual help and reinforcement of skills. Each tutor meets weekly with students, offering between one and three hours of individual practice of English skills, Civics, or GED subject material (Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies).

Since 1979, ALP has served over 11,000 adult learners from 62 different countries. In 2024, ALP delivered 16 weekly classes to 477 students representing 26 countries. Of those 477, about 1/3 (168 students) took two, three, or even four classes. There were 13 students who earned American citizenship and two who earned their high school diploma.

ALP staff—the Director and her Administrative Assistant--also offer help and resources to all who need orientation to the Kennett Square community and the agencies and organizations that assist newcomers with needed services.

CAVS Pilgrims Travel to NY Shrine

This past Sunday, June 1st, members of our Cabrini University community traveled to the St Frances Xavier Cabrini Shrine in New York City. We had an diverse group of Cabrini alums (at least one from EVERY decade!!), faculty, staff and friends.

Our group was hosted by the amazing Julia Attaway, Executive Director of the Shrine, who gave an educational presentation on Mother Cabrini. Mass, a tour of the Shrine and its interesting displays, a delicious lunch and a trip to the gift shop for mementos and keepsakes rounded out the experience.

It was a day filled with joy, memories and camaraderie. Thank you to all who made the trip possible.

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.

MSCs Welcome Cabrini University Alums

The closing of Cabrini University in Radnor, PA may have taken place one year ago, however the mission, our loyalty, and friendships continue to remain open and deeply rooted in our hearts as alumni.

In the past year, the Cabrini Alumni Volunteers and Supporters (CAVS) association has been launched to keep our 18,000+ alumni ties strong, to keep communications flowing, to engage one another in the mission and in service for the common good, and to enjoy each other’s company at sporting events and social gatherings.

We, as alumni, have always taken our cue from our beloved Missionary Sisters. The Sisters’ charism, their warmth, their sense of inclusion and hospitality created a campus culture of welcome and of a shared endeavor that was transcendent. As students, we felt valued, and a part of something greater than ourselves. As alumni, we seek to keep that distinctive Cabrinian spirit flourishing.

Last evening, Missionary Sisters Christine Marie Baltas, Eileen Currie, and Roselle Santivasi, invited the alumni who are currently serving on the CAVS Council to their home for a social event. For many of these alums, who represent a wide range of graduation years, this was the very first opportunity to meet one other. As the alums gathered, our Cabrini bonds were immediately evident. Smiles, hugs, and laughter filled the air as we greeted one another. As one alum so aptly said, “I am so happy. This feels like home.”

Thank you, Sisters, for welcoming us into your home and for your encouragement to grow and strengthen our Cabrinian connections.

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