Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Teaming Up to Help Our Immigrant Friends

May 7, 2026

The Cabrini Immigration Commission of the Guadalupe Province, and the Cabrini University CAVS and community responded to an urgent need in a local school district in Southeast Pennsylvania. Three immigrant families in that district are in dire straits due to varying circumstances. When contacted by Karol Brewer, Co-Chair of the Cabrini Immigration Commission, Holly Oliver, the district social worker, explained the differing plights of these families. Due to the overwhelming generosity of Cabrini University alumni, faculty and staff and Villanova University staff members over the past year, Cabrini was able to provide support in the form of gift cards to assist these struggling families. Holly Oliver administers the gift cards to ensure that they provide the necessities needed. Abundant thanks to everyone who allows our support to continue.

Be sure to mark your calendars for Mother Cabrini’s 176th Birthday on July 15th from 1 – 4 pm at the Cabrini Cottage when we will once again be giving Mother “birthday gifts” that will enable us to support these families in meaningful ways.

Cookies, Mulled Cider and Mittens!

December 12, 2025

In collaboration with the Cabrini Immigration Commission of the Guadalupe Province, the Cabrini University CAVS Alumni Association held a drive to collect winter hats, gloves, and scarves for the immigrant children of the Norristown and southern Chester County, PA school districts. Alumni, faculty and staff were invited to stop by the MSC Cottage in Wayne, PA, for an Open House where the warm aroma of mulled cider and Christmas cookies greeted guests as they dropped off their donations. Cabrini friends reunited for a time of relaxed conversation and camaraderie united in a meaningful cause.

Continuing to Share the Birthday Bounty

September 16, 2025

week, Karol Brewer of the Cabrini Immigration Commission, made a delivery of school supplies, healthy snacks, toiletries and clothing items to the Norristown School District in PA that had been donated by Cabrini University and Villanova University alumni, faculty, staff, and friends to commemorate the 175th Birthday of Mother Cabrini on July 15th.

The outpouring of support was overwhelming.

Michael Evans, Family Support Specialist will oversee the distribution of these items to students of immigrant families in the district.

Books Provide the Gateway to Opportunities

June 4, 2025

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.

Visiting Our School Partners

May 8, 2025

As a part of its outreach, members of the Cabrini Immigration Commission of the Guadalupe Province, with thanks to Commission Chair Karol Brewer and Commission member Dr. Susan Pierson, have established a partnership with three school districts in southern Chester County, PA: Avon Grove, Kennett Square and Oxford that each serves a large population of children from immigrant families.

Thanks to the generosity of Update readers and many generous donors, the Cabrini Immigration Commission has been able to provide multiple copies of colorfully illustrated books on the topic of immigration, written in English and Spanish, and appropriate for grammar school age children in each of the districts.

Additionally, in consultation with the district social workers, the Commission members have ascertained the ongoing needs of their immigrant students. Such necessities as toiletries, underwear, socks, footwear, and school supplies as well as individual packages of healthy snacks were cited as items that these children often lack.

Earlier this year, Immigration Commission members brought gift cards to Target, Walmart, Giant Foods and a variety of these items to the Avon Grove and Oxford districts and this week, they made a return visit bringing summer clothing, sandals, hairbrushes, toiletries and more healthy snacks that will help to see these children through the summer months.