Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Bringing Christ's love to the world
Volunteers do not necessarily have the time…they just have the heart.”
Sr. Renee Kittelson, MSC attended a Volunteer Appreciation Event at the Gouverneur Skilled Nursing Facility on April 22, 2026. Sr. Renee has been a Catholic Volunteer at the facility for the past three years where the Missionary Sisters have been a presence t for many years.
We thank Sr. Renee for her dedicated volunteer service.
At Cabrini High School, excellence in teaching is not only a goal but a lived reality, one reflected in the recent achievements of several distinguished faculty members whose work extends from the classroom to the global stage.
This year, Social Studies teacher Jose Lozano was named a recipient of the inaugural Bischof Research and Travel Scholarship, awarded by the Center Austria at the University of New Orleans. This prestigious honor supports academic research and cultural exchange between New Orleans and Austria. Lozano earned the award for his extensive study of the Habsburg dynasty, which culminated in a research trip to Vienna last summer. Through firsthand archival work and immersion in European history, he deepened his scholarship in ways that directly enrich his teaching. His recognition, shared with an Austrian student at UNO, underscores both his academic rigor and the global perspective he brings to Cabrini students.
Cabrini also celebrates the continued recognition of its faculty closer to home. Elizabeth Leblanc, Science Department Chair, and Lisa Dubus, Social Studies Department Chair, have been named Top 10 finalists in the New Orleans Mom Blog Teacher of the Year campaign. Selected from a highly competitive pool of educators across the region, this distinction reflects their exceptional dedication to student growth and achievement. Both educators are widely respected for their ability to engage and inspire, fostering intellectual curiosity that extends well beyond the classroom.
Further highlighting this commitment to excellence, Mrs. Dubus is also a recipient of the FOX 8 News Golden Apple Award, a respected regional honor recognizing teachers who demonstrate creativity, passion, and an unwavering dedication to their students. Nominated by students, parents, and peers, Golden Apple recipients are celebrated in local Fox broadcasts for going above and beyond in shaping meaningful learning experiences.
Together, these achievements reflect the strength of Cabrini’s faculty and its mission to cultivate excellence, leadership, and lifelong learning.
In the mid-afternoon of Tuesday 14 April, a call came to me from Cabrini Malvern Reception. A lady named Elizabeth was asking to see me.
To my delight and surprise, it was Elizabeth Barmann from Mother Cabrini Shrine in Denver, Colorado. Elizabeth and her husband Terry were here visiting their daughter who lives locally in Malvern. What a long way from home!
Elizabeth is the Liturgist and Music Director at the Shrine. So, I immediately rang our own Cabrini Liturgist and Cabrini Choir Director, Mission Integration Lead, Leesa Horrigan to join us for coffee. What a great connection for each of us to have on the other side of the world.
A visit to our Chapel meant that we could have a beautiful snap taken by a colleague.
And all too soon our wonderful conversation about Mother Cabrini, her spirituality and the beautiful legacy we carry in our different ministries was over.
Last Thursday evening, members of our Cabrini University community attended the Villanova University Endowed Scholarship Award Dinner, specifically to honor the recipients of the Cabrini High School Scholarship and the Cabrini University Alumni Association Scholarship.
Unfortunately, neither of the student scholars could attend the dinner - one is studying abroad and one had to cancel at the last minute. We applaud their academic achievements and look forward to meeting them both in the near future.
Cabrini Immigrant Services -Dobbs Ferry, NY (CIS-DF), is thrilled to announce that we have a new US citizen! Maria Cordon passed her US Citizenship exam! She came to the United States in 2016 from Guatemala. Maria worked very hard with her tutor, Anne Zucker, to improve her English, her reading and writing skills and to also learn the civic questions.
We are so proud of Maria and congratulate her on becoming a new American citizen. She is looking forward to her swearing-in ceremony on June 9th.
Ciao from Italy! This April, members of the Mother Cabrini Shrine Colorado community participated in a pilgrimage across Italy, following in the footsteps of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and visiting places central to her life and mission.
The pilgrimage began in Codogno, where Mother Cabrini founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and continued to Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, her birthplace. The group also paused in Assisi for time set aside for prayer and reflection before arriving in Rome.
In Rome, pilgrims celebrated Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter at the Vatican and visited the statue of Mother Cabrini inside St. Peter’s Basilica. They also visited St. John Lateran and St. Paul Outside the Walls, where a recently installed statue reflects her global impact.
One of the most significant moments of the pilgrimage took place when six members of the group were welcomed to the General Curia of the Missionary Sisters in Rome. They were received by the General Superior, Sr. Maria Eliane Azevedo da Silva, along with members of her council. During the visit, the group viewed portraits of the congregation’s leadership, dating back to Mother Cabrini, and spent time in prayer before her relic in the Curia chapel.
They also visited the archives, where Mother Cabrini’s writings and volumes are carefully preserved, offering a direct connection to her life and work. The visit included time at the statue “Cecchina’s Dream” and concluded with conversation and hospitality before continuing on to Casa Cabrini.
At Casa Cabrini, the broader group gathered to celebrate Mass in the chapel built by Mother Cabrini and to pray before her relic. The pilgrimage concluded at St. Mary Major Basilica, where the group gathered in prayer, carrying with them the intentions of the Shrine community.
Throughout the journey, the experience offered a deeper understanding of Mother Cabrini’s life and the continued relevance of her mission.
Photos from the pilgrimage can be found on the Mother Cabrini Shrine Facebook page. Thank you to all who followed along and for your continued prayers throughout the journey.
They spent time in Rome visiting with MSC General Superior Sr. Eliane Azevedo da Silva and Councilors Srs. Patricia Godoy and Gilda Mendoza Argueta as well as visiting Sant' Angelo Lodigiano, birthplace of Mother Cabrini and Codogno, where Mother founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Cabrini High School’s Night of Green and Gold Gala brought together alumnae, parents, and friends last Saturday for an unforgettable evening celebrating the Crescent spirit. Guests enjoyed a festive night filled with signature cocktails, delicious cuisine, and lively entertainment from the Wise Guys band, which had partygoers dancing until the very end. The event also featured both a silent and live auction, with attendees bidding on an array of sought-after items, including vacation packages, dining experiences, retail finds, and recreational experiences—all in support of Cabrini’s mission.
A highlight of the evening was the recognition of Sr. Catherine Garry, MSC, who received the Heart of Cabrini Award. Sister Catherine’s lifelong dedication and influence have inspired generations of Cabrini women in New Orleans. Her impact on the founding of Cabrini High School and the school community was celebrated with deep gratitude and admiration for the legacy she established in New Orleans.
The school was also honored to welcome Sister Diane Olmstead, MSC, Sister Pietrina Raccuglia, MSC, and Sister Maria Loretta Caeti, MSC, as special guests. The Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus served as a sponsor of the event, helping to make the evening possible and especially meaningful for alumnae, who remain deeply grateful for the Cabrinian education that has shaped their lives.
As Cabrini’s largest annual fundraiser, the Night of Green and Gold Gala plays a vital role in sustaining the school’s commitment to academic excellence and the formation of young women as faith-filled leaders. Thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of all who attended and supported the event, the evening was a great success.
Cabrini High School extends heartfelt thanks to its sponsors, donors, and volunteers who made the night possible, ensuring that the legacy of Cabrini High School remains strong for years to come.
Tuesday of this week was a ‘picture-perfect day.’ The sun was shining brightly, the temperature was in the high eighties, you didn’t need a winter coat or an umbrella. I thought, could this day get any better? It did!
The children wrote a story about one of Ms. Kaufman’s critters, whom they named Bella. Anne Marie Santoro, the teacher of our Sharing Stories! Making Movies! Program, shared the story with Ms. Kaufman who thought it was so wonderful that she published it in her new book.
I was honored to present a copy of the book to the librarian at Springhurst Elementary School in Dobbs Ferry, NY. Many of the authors’ classmates and teachers attended the ceremony that was held in the library. On display in the library was a sign that read, “We’re so proud of our student authors.”
One of the authors read the story to the group. After the reading, I presented the book to the librarian. She then asked each of the authors to sign the book. It was such a proud moment to see our students being recognized in such a unique way. It was beautiful to see all the support and accolades that they received from their teachers and classmates. ~ submitted by Lorraine Campanelli, Director, CIS-DF
Pope Leo XIV asked the world to join him in praying a rosary for peace on Saturday, April 11. A handful of regulars at St. Frances Cabrini Shrine thought the perfect place to do that was on Mother Cabrini's bench! Clear blue skies, sunshine, and spring temperatures made it a beautiful time of prayer.