The Sister with the Suitcase
~ excerpts from an article by Lucetta Scaraffia,
Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 100 Years of Cabrinian Mission
This fragile, determined woman from the Lombardy region [of Italy] traveled extensively having dedicated her life to helping the Italian immigrants who, filled with hope, made the trip to America [in the late 1880s.] Francesca Cabrini had received this mission from Pope Leo XIII and to serve them, became an immigrant among immigrants. She left Genoa, Italy with seven Missionary Sisters in 1889, unfamiliar with the sea, exactly like most of the women and men packed into third class and during the crossing she began to comprehend the appalling conditions in which immigrants lived. Like them, she thought she would find a warm welcome and assistance when she arrived in New York, but, bitter disappointment was what she found.
The Scalabrini Fathers, who awaited her arrival, told her that they had not expected her so soon and that they had not yet prepared their accommodations. The next day, after 
having rested in appallingly filthy conditions [overnight] she want to see Archbishop Corrigan, where she discovered that the situation a was even worse. The prelate ordered them to go back on the same ship that brought them.
This experience only confirmed to Francesca Cabrini that the presence of her mission here was a necessity. Like other immigrants, without anyone to protect her and her Sisters and without knowing a word of English, she went to work immediately. Nothing seemed to work out the way it should have and everything seemed to conspire against her projects.
Yet, from every ministry she founded, a network of initiatives emanated towards its neighborhood, from parochial schools to family visits. Immigrants knew the Sisters would assist the unemployed in finding work, rescue orphaned children, and ensure legal assistance to the poor families who needed it. The Sisters also took care of prisoners who were the most shunned group of Italian immigrants.
Mother Cabrini always chose beautiful places to open a school, an orphanage or a hospital destined for immigrants. In this way, she dispelled the negative image that weighed on the Italian community.
The migratory movements at the time of Mother Cabrini involved mainly the poor of Europe, whose destination was the Americas. Today, migration concerns [span the globe.] Immigrants, migrants and refugees have become the pressing issue of our time and precisely for this reason, the Saint who died in Chicago in 1917, is today more relevant and important than ever.
To commemorate the Feast Day of Mother Cabrini which will be observed on Thursday, November 13th, the Cabrini Alumni Volunteers and Supporters (CAVS) will be hosting their first annual Day of Service on this Saturday, November 8th. No matter where they are located, alumni, faculty, staff, former students, family members and friends are encouraged to do something beneficial in your community inspired by Mother Cabrini’s example of helping immigrants, children, frail elders and the poor.
recent days in the Chicago area, specifically, at the Broadview Processing Center, for the second time in three weeks, ICE agents barred a group of clergy, religious sisters, and lay people from entering the facility to offer Holy Communion to migrants being detained there.
An estimated 2.9 million New Yorkers, including 1 million children, did not receive their food benefits on November 1st. While partial SNAP payments have been ordered to resume, it’s still unclear when families will get their full benefits. In the meantime, community food pantries, like ours, across the city are trying filling the gap and feed our communities.
As November approaches, we begin to think about our deceased family, friends and loved ones in a special way. On October 29th, some of the clients from Cabrini Immigrant Services, (CIS) Dobbs Ferry, NY, shared their celebration of Día de los Muertos, (the Day of the Dead), with the residents at St. Cabrini Nursing Home.
We are deeply saddened over the loss of our friend, Brigid K. Sullivan. It has been two months since she passed, and to honor her life and care, we have dedicated our community room at CIS-NYC in her name: the Brigid K. Sullivan Community Room.