Asking ‘what would Mother Cabrini do during these uncertain and perilous times for immigrants and migrants?’, the CAVS Alumni Association, in collaboration with the Guadalupe Province Immigration Commission, hosted a birthday party for Mother Cabrini at the Cabrini Cottage in Wayne, PA, for members of the Cabrini University and Villanova University communities.
Guests were invited to honor Mother Cabrini by donating gift cards to Walmart, Target and Giant Foods which will be donated to nearby school districts that serve large populations of immigrant students.
The Immigration Commission collaborates with the school district social workers who intimately know the students and their families who are in dire need – many of whom suffer from inadequate housing and food insecurity.
Providing the families with gift cards enables them to purchase food, clothing, and other necessities on their own which confers a sense of dignity and autonomy, especially during such stressful periods in their lives.
Deepest thanks to all who joined in celebrating Mother Cabrini in such a meaningful and impactful way. Once again, this year, we have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity of the Cabrini and Villanova communities.
We trust Mother Cabrini would have been smiling…and is very grateful.
Thus, it was here, at the Mother Cabrini Shrine, nestled in Golden, at the foothills of the Rockies, that Cabrini University alums embarked upon a pilgrimage. It was the first time that such a trip had been organized by the CAVS Alumni Association, and we were delighted that ten alums – spanning many years of graduation – embarked on travels to Colorado to walk in the footsteps of Mother Cabrini.
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.
Last Thursday evening, members of our Cabrini University community attended the Villanova University Endowed Scholarship Award Dinner, specifically to honor the recipients of the Cabrini High School Scholarship and the Cabrini University Alumni Association Scholarship.
Cabrini University alumni and friends, in collaboration with the MSC Cabrini Immigration Commission, rallied before Christmas to donate winter clothing essentials – hats, gloves, scarves – for children in need in our partner school districts in Southeast Pennsylvania. These items were delivered just in the nick of time before Christmas to bring smiles and warmth.
The Cabrini University (CAVS) Social Justice Ambassadors, under the leadership of Dr. Jerry Zurek, former Chair of the Communications Department, welcomed former Cabrini University faculty member Vonya Womack to speak on refugees and the power of story and community as tools of seeking justice and freedom.
Missing their beloved Radnor campus, the Cabrini University community members take every opportunity to gather whenever and wherever they can…especially to celebrate the good cheer of Christmas
