Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Bringing Christ's love to the world

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Mother Cabrini Mosaic from School to School to School:


Our Lady of Mercy Academy to Cabrini University’s School of Education
to St. Frances Cabrini Regional Catholic School.

In 2020, the 4th and 6th grade students of Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Forest Hills, NY, created a wonderful artistic rendition of Mother Cabrini under the tutelage of Anna Marie Prono, playwright and artist. In 2021, Anna Marie was looking for a home for the mosaic artwork and connected with Sister Christine Marie Baltas, MSC at Cabrini University. Sr. Christine Marie worked with Dr. Beverly Bryde, former Dean of the School of Education at the University, to find a place for this symbolic piece in the School of Education to represent all children young and old who are educated by the charism of Mother Cabrini’s Education of the Heart.

With Cabrini University closing in 2024, Sr. Christine and Beverly found the perfect home for this special piece of children’s artwork at the St. Frances Cabrini Regional Catholic School in Philadelphia, formerly known as the St. Donato’s School where Sr. Christine Marie once served as principal. St. Donato’s School was founded by Mother Cabrini. St. Frances Cabrini Regional Catholic School is now part of the Independent Mission Schools in Philadelphia. Currently, Ms. Van Robinson serves as principal and welcomed the artwork into their school. On November 9th, Sr. Christine Marie and Beverly met with the principal and Cabrini alumni teaching at the school to share this magnificent mosaic and plaque.

This is all a wonderful way to share the charism of Mother Cabrini from the creative hands of the 4th and 6th graders in one school in 2020, to touch the lives of educators at the Cabrini University School of Education in 2021 and now to have the welcoming hands from a principal and Cabrini alumni in the St. Frances Cabrini Regional Catholic School. From School to School to School, hands, lives and hearts are connected by the charism of Mother Cabrini.

Cabrini University Observes the Feast Day

A multi-faceted feast day observance took place at Cabrini University.  The day began with Mass with Fr. Fidelis  Olokunboro presiding.  At the conclusion of the Mass students and alumni shared their reflections on what the Cabrini experience has meant to them; how the Cabrinian charism has shaped their outlook on the world, and how they will carry the mission with them throughout their lives.

A beloved Cabrini Feast Day tradition is the luncheon in the cafeteria for the campus community during which faculty and staff serve as celebrity chefs.  Immediately following the luncheon was a special showing of the new film CABRINI which is set to debut in March 2024.  There was standing room only for the movie!

 

The day was interwoven with academic presentations by students.

 

While surely festive, the day was bittersweet in that all who attended acknowledged that this will be the final Feast Day celebration at Cabrini University.

Merry little Christmas at Cabrini


You’re invited to Merry Little Christmas at Cabrini University—join us for one or all of our festive events!

Sunday, December 3, 2023 from 3–7pm
RSVP today!

3–4:15pm, Holiday Crafts and Cookies, Grace Hall Atrium
Enjoy hot cocoa and cookies while creating Christmas and winter themed crafts—something for all ages.

3–4:15pm, Holiday Photos, Mansion
Formal, professional photos will be taken in front of the Christmas tree, and a selfie station will be set up.

4:15pm, Catholic Mass, Bruckmann Memorial Chapel of Saint Joseph
A celebration that brings together our Cabrini Community as we remember the birth of the Messiah.

5pm, Live Nativity, Commons
Watch as we revisit the birth of Jesus Christ, with actors, live animals, and a Christmas hymn sing-along.
Visit with the animals on the Commons before the Live Nativity, beginning at 4pm.

5:15–7pm, Holiday Dinner, Cav’s Corner (first floor of Founder’s Hall)
$12.50 adults; Children 6-12: $6; under 6: free
Pay at the door—cash and cards accepted. Students with meal plans will use regular meal swipe.

Cabrini University Domestic Violence Symposium Honors Jordan Center

Cabrini’s Barbara and John Jordan Center for Children of Trauma and Domestic Violence Education held its 13th Annual Domestic Violence Education Symposium in October on Cabrini’s campus. This year’s symposium honored the leadership of Barbara (HON’08) and John Jordan, the Center’s founders, and Director Colleen Lelli, EdD (’95), Professor of Education, as well as the Center’s many partners and friends.

Lynn Rosenthal, Director of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence for the US Department of Health and Human Services and longtime friend of the Center, served as keynote speaker and received its Resiliency and Advocacy Award.

“Walking into this room this morning, I was so overcome by this feeling,” she said. “It is that education with love, it is that heart of love, it is that common ground, it is that sense of community that Cabrini has given as a gift to the world.”

Rosenthal recalled that when she first met the Jordans in the White House years ago, she was impressed by their clarity of mission: to help children who had experienced the trauma of domestic violence.

“They were perfectly clear that we all had a role to play in ending this violence,” she said.

Before the program concluded, Barbara and John Jordan offered an emotional address.
“To Colleen and your Cabrini team, you are our heroes,” said John Jordan, speaking about the importance of the Center’s outreach and noting that 1 in 3 families are touched by domestic violence and 1 in 5 girls are sexually abused (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). “All of us involved with the Jordan Center share a common bond with a goal to end domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.”

The symposium ended with words of appreciation from Lelli to the Cabrini community, the Center’s community partners, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, her students, and the Jordans.
“Thank you to the masterminds behind designing [the Jordan Center] and walking alongside us as a community every step of the way,” she said of the Jordans. “You’re both always in my heart.”

Alumni Weekend at Cabrini University

The rainy weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the hundreds of Cabrini College/University alumni who returned to campus this past weekend. The weekend had an energetic kick-off at the Philadelphia Phillies game with alumni tailgating at the ballpark. Back on campus on Saturday, sports games, food trucks, tours of the Mansion were on tap followed by a dinner and dance party on Saturday evening in the historic Woodcrest Mansion.

On Sunday, the reunion continued with a special Mass in the Bruckmann Chapel of St. Joseph. Fr. Richard Jasper, ’96 was the celebrant. He delivered an uplifting and inspirational homily saying that although our hearts our deeply saddened by the closing of our beloved alma mater, each of us as alumni have been touched by Mother Cabrini’s ‘education of the heart’ and that we are called to go out into the world to bring the good news of God’s love and compassion to all those we encounter. He exhorted us to be BOLD, as Mother Cabrini was.

The weekend festivities continued with a special showing of the film CABRINI which is scheduled to make its debut in March 2024. Mr. Eustace Wolfington, the force behind the production of the movie, delivered remarks on the genesis of the film to the alumni and their families, faculty and friends.
Following the movie, campus guests were invited to visit the Cabriniana Room in the Holy Spirit Library to view the many artifacts and ephemera of St. Cabrini.

Thanks to the tireless work of the University staff and services, the weekend was a most welcome time of friendship, shared memories, laughter, tears, and gratitude for all that has been.

Cabrini University presents Ivy Young Willis-Martha Willis Dale Award

Each year, the History and Political Science Department of Cabrini University recognizes a woman who has made a noteworthy contribution to the civic life of her community; local, regional, national, or international. She is invited to Cabrini to speak to our students and receive the Ivy Young Willis and Martha Willis Dale Award.

This year’s recipient, PA State Representative Jennifer M. O’Mara, is being honored for her creative, innovative and progressive contributions to public affairs. Jennifer believes there is more that unites us than divides us and is committed to being part of a government that serves the people.

Established through the generosity of their respective families, in addition to many friends and alumni, the Ivy Young Willis and Martha Willis Dale Award and lecture series was initially established in 1992 by William G. Willis to honor Ivy, his late wife and modified in 2013 by John Dale to honor his late wife and daughter of Ivy and William. Martha’s son, Ian Anderson, offered a family history during the program.

Ivy Young Willis was a teacher, administrator, and reading consultant whose work, at WQED in Pittsburgh led the way for the teaching of reading on public television. Martha Willis Dale, a much-beloved alumni director at Cabrini College for 26 years, modeled her mother’s teachings through her life of service to students, alumni and the community. This series is dedicated to their memory and the strong belief a that women have a unique talent for improving the climate and conduct of public affairs.

Sharing Life and Belonging

Dr. Angela Campbell, Vice President of Mission, DEI and Belonging and Chief Mission Officer, at Cabrini University, recently presented a workshop on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion which was held at the Sacred Heart Novitiate in New York City on Tuesday, September 5th. The workshop focused on the history and current realities of African Americans.

Dr. Campbell shared, “We enjoyed our time learning and dialoguing together. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to support the education, empowerment and socialization of the novices. To Christ be the glory!”

Three Cheers for the Cabrini University Graduate!

Many MSCs traveled to Cabrini University to witness Sr. Amarech Lefamo, MSC, from Ethiopia, receive her degree in Educational Studies.  Congratulations, Sr. Amarech!

A Message from the Sr. Amarech Lefamo, MSC

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” 1. Thessalonians, (5 .16-18).

My words can’t express my gratitude to God and to everyone who has helped me along this four-year journey, by offering me various forms of psychological and substantial support. Without all of you compassionate people who supported me along the way, I would not have been able to complete this endeavor. I want to start by expressing my sincere gratitude to the Guadalupe Province, and the Holy Spirit Region’s sisters and laity, who worked hard to get me accepted as an international student at Cabrini University.

I would like to thank Sr. Therese Merandi, who prayed and dreamed for a very long time about the opportunity for my education as an international student; Sisters Barbara Staley and Diane Dalle Molle, who successfully made it happen for me; Sr. Christine Marie Baltas, who guided me in different levels, who accompanied me from the beginning of my school year and directed my every step when I was a freshman; Sr. Regina Peterson, who supported me in many ways until the end of my school year and all the sisters who walked with me during my studying journey with their prayers and words of the encouragement. I am so grateful for each one of them and I offer you my humble thankful gratitude.

I continue to express my gratitude to Cabrini University for providing an exceptional environment for my growth and development in so many ways, including the opportunity to learn about Mother Cabrini’s teaching philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of providing children with holistic development through an education of the heart. Being a part of Cabrini University gave me the chance to develop my academic skills with the help of the generous and kind professors, librarians, cooks, and other staff members whom I encountered on numerous occasions. I also had the chance to experience and learn from Cabrini University’s welcoming environment for students of all faiths, cultures, and backgrounds.

Likewise, as an international student, there were good chances to exchange multicultural experiences. I am happy to offer my profound gratitude to everyone at Cabrini for allowing me the chance to grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally throughout the course of my four years there. On this occasion, I would also like to express my gratitude to all of my classmates who, alongside my professors, have been my companions throughout my journey and who have inspired and positively impacted me in a variety of ways from the very beginning of my school years to achieve my goal. As a result, I appreciate and thank everyone who has come into contact with me in various ways.

In addition, I am deeply thankful to my sisters who attended my graduation ceremony both in person and online. Your presence warmed my heart, and I was touched by your generosity.

Last but not least, I want to express my gratitude to my parents and families for having raised me with a sense of knowledge and of fear God. They also encouraged me to join the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to serve God’s people as a Missionary Sister because being a missionary had a big impact on my decision to enroll at Cabrini University as an international student. God is great in my life, and I rejoice always and praise Him without ceasing.

“I can do all things with Him who strengthens me.”
(St. Francesca Xavier Cabrini)

Television Anchor Lucy Bustamante Cabrini University Commencement Speaker

When graduates from the Class of 2023 cross the Commencement stage to complete their Cabrini journeys on Sunday, May 21, their Commencement speaker, Lucy Bustamante, will be completing a full-circle Cabrini journey of her own.

Long before Bustamante delivered Philadelphia’s morning news as an Emmy Award-winning news anchor and journalist for NBC10 and Telemundo62, she was a Cabrini High School student in New Orleans who traveled to Radnor, PA, to volunteer with the retired Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (MSCs) at the former St. Cabrini Home in Philadelphia.

As the daughter of Cuban refugees who fled Fidel Castro’s regime, Bustamante said she and her family found a home in St. Frances Xavier Cabrini’s story, passion and life’s work as the Patron Saint of Immigrants. Bustamante’s sister who came from Cuba at age 4 was also educated at Cabrini High School in New Orleans.

Bustamante encourages graduates, particularly first and second-generation Americans, to embrace their cultural identity as an asset as they discover their own vocations.

“I don’t think there’s a better character to be in the American story than a first-generation American,” she said. “It is the front row seat for why this country is so special, at least in its ideals. As graduates, they need to really focus on what they have to offer and realize that the duality of being an American and whatever other culture they came from is a humongous benefit—more now than ever.”

Bustamante developed her craft as a broadcast journalist under some of “the first women in broadcast.” Early in her career, she rose to the challenge of covering Hurricane Katrina, which devastated her hometown of New Orleans in 2005.

At Cabrini’s 63rd Commencement Exercises later this month, Bustamante will amplify messages of inspiration to graduates and their families. She said she hopes to impart a lesson learned from her immigrant parents: visualize yourself living the American dream in the form of a vocation based on your passion.

610 King of Prussia Road, Radnor, PA 19087
Phone: 610-902-1039
Fax: 610-971-0396
info@mothercabrini.org