Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Bringing Christ's love to the world

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Paint and Sip

Cabrini Immigrant Services – Dobbs Ferry (CIS-DF) held a Paint and Sip Program on November 4th. Ethel Zai, a well-known artist from Dobbs Ferry, NY and a longtime CIS-DF volunteer led the group. Ethel, along with her two helpers, Melanie and Angela, led us in creating our very own fall-inspired works of art.

While ‘sipping’ on coffee, the participants changed a blank white canvas into a beautiful fall scene. Pictures of colorful autumn leaves and trees brought out the beauty of season.

Ethel and her helpers provided instructions and encouragement along the way. The experience was enjoyable for both the experienced painters and for beginners. There was plenty of laughter, smiles and pride as we shared our paintings with each other.

Thank you, Ethel, for sharing your talent with us. We look forward to your returning so we can paint our winter scenes.

We Remember and We Celebrate

On November 2nd, the Feast of All Souls, some of the clients from Cabrini Immigrant Services, Dobbs Ferry, (CIS-DF) celebrated Día de los Muertos, (the Day of the Dead), with the residents at St. Cabrini Nursing Home.

Prior to the start of the prayer service, a beautiful altar, the ofrenda, was created in the lobby of the nursing home. There was such reverence and love that went into creating the altar. Each piece that was added had great meaning. There were marigolds, butterflies, fresh fruits (bananas and oranges), bread, skulls, candles, pictures of some of our deceased loved ones, colorful banners, etc. It is customary in Mexico and many of the countries in South America to build an altar in your home to remember the dead. Our CIS clients were from Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, and Venezuela. Many of our clients are not able to go to their countries to celebrate with their families so they are so appreciative of being able to celebrate as part of the ‘Cabrini Family.’

The prayer service, which was held in the chapel, was presented in Spanish and English. Some of the clients from CIS-DF spoke about what Día de los Muertos means to them. A focus on the monarch butterfly and its connection to Dia de los Muertos was presented. As part of the service, several people held paper monarch butterflies while others held butterfly cutouts with special words in English and Spanish such as Hope/Esperanza, Love/Amor, Faith/Fe and Family/Familia. Those holding the monarch butterflies came to the front of the altar to symbolize the arrival of the butterflies. Those holding the cutouts, raised them up to represent the enduring values that connect families across generations.

The residents were then led out of the chapel to the lobby where there were luminaria bags in the hall that lit the way. One of our clients led the procession as she held the Book of the Dead. The clients spoke about the altar and the meaning of the different items.

Everyone was invited to write the names of their deceased family and friends on a card and then place it on the altar. They will be remembered in our prayers.

A special thank you to Bonnie Burke, CEO/Nursing Home Administrator at St. Cabrini Nursing Home and Fr. Ron Galt, Vice President for Mission Integration and Pastoral Care, for inviting us to celebrate such a meaningful time at the nursing home.

National Domestic Violence Month

A workshop on Domestic Violence was presented at Cabrini Immigrant Services-Dobbs Ferry (CIS-DF) in honor of Domestic Violence month in the US. The workshop was presented by Talytta Silvestre-Deoliveira and Delia Polanco Jimenez, both social work interns at CIS-DF.


The workshop presented information about the different types of domestic violence that can occur. It addressed some of the causes and warning signs leading to the abuse. The discussion helped those attending to understand that abuse is about power and control and that no one deserves to be mistreated. The group also spoke about the effects of domestic violence on the individual, on children, families and communities. Also covered were the concerns and challenges that may prevent someone from reporting abuse because of immigration status.
The participants were very grateful to receive a folder filled with information about domestic violence that they can share with others. By increasing awareness, we can help to prevent the violence.

Angels Watching Over You

The Knitting/Support Group at Cabrini Immigrant Services – Dobbs Ferry (CIS-DF), has completed another project. The group decided to try a new craft, working with plastic canvas. Despite this being something new, they created 130 ‘angel wings’ which will be given to parents who lost their child either during pregnancy or at birth. The angel wings will be a reminder to them of their little angel who is with God. The group said a special prayer and blessed the angel wings before they were donated to a health organization in Westchester County.

Each angel wing was made with love and prayers. We pray that these angel wings will help the parents feel comfort in knowing that someone prayed for them and their child.                                     

Celebrating Migrants, Refugees, and Hispanic Culture!

Last Friday, Cabrini Immigrant Services – New York City (CIS-NYC) held an event in recognition of National Migration Week and World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

We were joined by the families we serve, allies, current and former clients, neighbors, and advocates who support us.

Together we celebrated our culture and contributions and prayed, led by Sr. Yolanda Flores, MSC, for vulnerable children who are detained or in transit to new destinations. We enjoyed a variety of foods from Latin America and we danced. Thank you so much to everyone who joined us!”

Getting the School Year Off to a Great Start!

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is observing National Migration Week from Monday, September 21st through Sunday, September 27th. The theme of the week is, “Even just one of these children.”

To start off National Migration Week, Cabrini Immigrant Services – Dobbs Ferry (CIS-DF) distributed much needed school supplies to many of our children. The Mission Integration Advisory Committee at St. Cabrini Nursing Home held a ‘Mission in Action’ project. They chose to collect school supplies to benefit our Cabrini Kids. What a beautiful way to honor our children.

We received an amazing number of supplies. The children and their parents were so happy and relieved to receive them. There were so many smiles on their faces. Fr. Ron Galt, Vice President of Pastoral Care and Mission, visited CIS-DF to help distribute the supplies. He blessed the supplies, each child, their families and the staff of CIS-DF. He also blessed each individual family and prayed that they would have a very good and safe school year.

Thank you to all who donated to the Mission in Action project. We are so grateful for all your prayers, love and support.

Creating a Truly Rich Life

On August 21st, Cabrini Immigrant Services – Dobbs Ferry (CIS-DF) held a workshop entitled: “Una Vida Verdaderamente Rica: Estrategias para vivir bien con menos (A Truly Rich Life: Strategies for Living Well on Less). Betsy Suarez, a licensed mental health counselor, presented the workshop.

Betsy spoke about how a fulfilling life is not measured solely by the things we buy or own. Everyone agreed that the cost of living has created significant challenges for individuals and families. Betsy discussed that financial stress affects everyone. It can affect sleep, mood, concentration and relationships. She emphasized the importance of asking for help rather than trying to manage everything alone. Sharing responsibilities with others can help reduce stress and create a healthier lifestyle.

One strategy that she spoke of was cutting back without sacrificing your quality of life. She stated that you need to look at the essentials first, housing food, health care, insurance, etc. before spending on ‘secondary needs.’

Betsy also discussed the importance of self-care and taking time to engage in activities that can help relieve stress. Various behavioral activation strategies and activity-planning techniques were presented. She emphasized that it is okay—and important—to take time for “YOU.” Prioritizing self-care can help a person better manage the demands of everyday life.

Family Fun at Cabrini Immigrant Services NYC

On July 25th, the Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC Social Services Department hosted their second annual Family Field Day, welcoming over 150 families and community members for a day filled with sunshine, laughter, bouncy houses, face painting, tug-of-war, lunch, and so much more!

At Cabrini Immigrant Services -NYC, we have been doing a Mass for the immigrant community on the last Thursday of every month. We always pray for specific intentions that we read during the Mass.

On July 30th we held in prayer many intentions for those in the immigrant community and their needs at this time.

Showtime!

Cabrini Immigrant Services-Dobbs Ferry (CIS-DF) offered a Sharing Stories! Making Movies! Summer Program. Children in Grades 3-7 attended the 3-week program. In addition to helping the students with reading and writing skills, the program helps children expand their imagination and creativity.

Parents and siblings were invited to our ‘Movie Premiere’ on the last day of the program. Each child stood up, welcomed everyone and then explained the story that they had written and then filmed. The movies were shown on a ‘large screen’ (Smart Board). After showing their movie, the children answered questions from the audience about their films. Some of the film titles were: Snowy the Penguin, My Friend Ishi, All About Helen Keller and Panky’s Pool Day.

The celebration ended with pizza and punch. What a great way to end the program!

A special thank you to our teacher, Anne Marie Santoro, who goes above and beyond to help our students learn and succeed

Our Mission Finds Life here…

Cabrini Immigrant Services – Dobbs Ferry, NY (CIS-DF) has been focusing on Mission. As we welcome our clients, we want them, both adults and children, to know who St. Cabrini is and why we are called Cabrini Immigrant Services. With the theme, ‘Our Mission Finds Life…’ we wanted to highlight how in our current times, we continue to walk in the footsteps of Mother Cabrini.

In addition to showing the movie, CABRINI, we had Sr. Bridget Zanin, MSC speak to our clients about the life of St. Cabrini.  Several of our clients have created their own timelines using their personal stories and have shown how they are part of the Cabrini Mission. We had a recent visit with some Carmelite Sisters, as well. Our clients shared with them their personal stories and explained how they, too, are part of the Cabrini mission.  ~ submitted by Lorraine Campanelli, Director, CIS-DF

We would like to share some pictures of our Mission Project:

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