Following an unforgettable week of prayer, service, leadership formation, and fellowship, ten Cabrini High School New Orleans student leaders recently returned from the inaugural Cabrini High School Leadership Summit at the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, Colorado
. Representing Student Council and Campus Ministry, the students journeyed to one of the most sacred places in the Cabrinian world, where they immersed themselves in presentations, discussions, and service-learning experiences centered on compassionate leadership, missionary discipleship, and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Leadership workshops challenged the students to reflect on questions such as What Is the Cabrinian Charism?, What Does It Mean to Be Called to Lead Like Mother Cabrini? and How Can We Lead with Courage, Compassion, and Faith as the Apostles Did? Inspired by these discussions, the students also prayerfully planned the upcoming year for Student Council and Campus Ministry with renewed enthusiasm and a deeper sense of purpose of what their roles as student leaders mean to school’s success.
The summit extended far beyond the classroom. Students hiked Mother Cabrini’s mountain, climbed the Stairway of Prayer to the Mount of the Sacred Heart, and visited the miraculous spring that has flowed since Mother Cabrini instructed the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to dig where she trusted God would provide water. Along the way, they witnessed hundreds of pilgrims from across the country making the same climb in search of hope, healing, and renewal. For students who already live the Cabrinian mission each day in New Orleans, seeing the worldwide reach of Mother Cabrini’s legacy firsthand was profoundly moving. The experience helped them recognize that they are part of a global family carrying forward the same mission begun by Mother Cabrini more than a century ago.
Throughout the week, shared prayer, meaningful conversations, service, laughter, and moments of quiet reflection strengthened not only the students’ faith but also the bonds they share as leaders. The experience opened their hearts even further to faith-filled leadership and inspired them with the same missionary zeal, boldness, and unwavering courage that fueled Mother Cabrini’s remarkable work. They returned with a forward-focused commitment to serve their classmates with humility, joy, and Christ-centered leadership throughout the coming school year.
The Leadership Summit is one component of Cabrini High School’s expanding commitment to leadership formation. The initiative began this summer with the inaugural Cabrini Leadership Academy for rising seventh-grade girls and will continue throughout the 2026-2027 school year with a monthly leadership speaker series for all Cabrini students. Inspired by Mother Cabrini’s conviction that “The world is too small,” these experiences are forming a new generation of Cabrinian women who understand that true leadership begins with faith and finds its purpose in serving othersImages:
We also put together several reels highlighting each day’s activities. Links to social media:
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DXwn4qnXD
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BwU97ZvUu/
On July 7, the Cabrini High School community gathered in the historic Sacred Heart Chapel to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Canonization of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. The celebration was especially meaningful as Mass was celebrated in the chapel on campus where Mother Cabrini spent hours in prayer while expanding her mission in New Orleans and beyond. Praying in the very place where she once worshipped offered alumnae, students, and friends a profound opportunity to reflect on the enduring legacy of Mother Cabrini, whose faith, courage, and example of leadership continue to shape the Cabrinian mission in New Orleans today.
Inspired by Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, a trailblazer whose faith, determination, and commitment to serving others changed lives around the world, Cabrini High School’s inaugural Leadership Academy empowered rising seventh-grade girls to discover their own potential as leaders. Held June 1–5 on Cabrini’s campus, the weeklong experience reflected the school’s commitment to leadership, encouraging young women to lead with conviction, compassion, and confidence.
What made the Academy especially remarkable was that, while Cabrini faculty and staff provided guidance and oversight, the program was entirely planned and led by Cabrini students. Student leaders who excel in academics, athletics, clubs, and service designed and facilitated every presentation, small-group discussion, and activity, creating a powerful celebration of young female leadership in action.
academic journey. The gift recognizes students’ hard work and growth while also helping families prepare for senior year and the transition to college and future careers. The Highland Scholars Fund, based in New Orleans, is dedicated to expanding educational opportunities through scholarships and mentorship programs that help students overcome financial barriers.
Together, these milestones highlight both the remarkable accomplishments of Cabrini students and the continued community support helping shape the next generation of leaders.
Cabrini High School continues to live out Mother Cabrini’s powerful words, “The world is too small for me. I want to bring the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to all people,” by forming students who can truly engage across cultures, and language is at the heart of that mission.
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.
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’s annual St. Joseph Altar opened on March 18, 2026, welcoming students with the traditional “Tupa-Tupa” ceremony, a reenactment of the Holy Family seeking shelter before the birth of Jesus. Created in partnership with the Elenian Club, the oldest Italian women’s club organization in the United States, the altar reflected months of care, shared devotion among students, alumnae, and volunteers, and a strong commitment to tradition.
