Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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Welcome Home! Cabrini College/University Alumni Return to Campus

The return to campus for Cabrini University alumni during the September 11–12, 2026 Alumni Weekend marked an emotional, full-circle moment for the Cavalier community. Following Cabrini’s closure and acquisition by Villanova University, the Radnor campus underwent extensive renovations over a two-year period.

Following a formal campus dedication ceremony by the Villanova University community on Thursday, September 10th, this past weekend served as the official welcome back for Cabrini alums. An estimated 400 graduates returned to visit their alma mater.

The weekend’s festivities kicked off on Friday evening with a welcome event hosted by Missionary Sisters at their residence on campus.

Saturday’s events included the traditional Alumni Awards luncheon recognizing distinguished graduates and milestone reunion classes, tours of the newly renovated campus, Mass in the campus chapel – now renamed the Sacred Heart Chapel – and the Blue and White Bash, a dinner and dancing wrap-up to the weekend.

Alums enjoyed walking familiar paths, taking in the sparkling campus building renovations, and reliving wonderful memories. It was a bittersweet and nostalgic time for all. Many expressed gratitude to the Villanova community for their deep respect for Mother Cabrini and for continuing the Cabrinian legacy and Mother Cabrini’s “education of the heart.”

Cabrini Campus of Villanova University ~ Dedication

On the afternoon of September 10th, the Villanova University community held the formal dedication ceremony for its 112-acre Cabrini Campus following a two-year revitalization program.

The ceremony was held on what is now known as the Cabrini Arbor – formerly The Commons and Peace Pole Garden. The proceedings featured remarks from Villanova University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., PhD and Sister Diane Olmstead, MSC, former Guadalupe Province Provincial and Villanova trustee.

Their remarks emphasized preserving the spirit and mission of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini. Sister Diane highlighted Mother Cabrini’s philosophy of “the education of the heart” – the whole person—mind, heart, and soul, expressing gratitude that students once again are filling the campus.

Fr. Peter noted that the new campus represents an historic, once-in-a-generation expansion for Villanova.He thanked the Missionary Sisters for entrusting the university to carry forward Mother Cabrini’s legacy of service and faith.

Missionary Sisters, Cabrini alumni, former faculty, staff and friends in attendance noted the many thoughtful Cabrinian touches for the reception such violet centerpieces and Italian cookies and gelato.

The newly dedicated campus accommodates more than 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students, offering modernized classrooms, residential halls, study areas, and academic institutions, including the Mother Cabrini Institute on Immigration.

~ excerpts from Villanova University social media and The Villanovan

Birthday Celebration at the Cabrini Cottage

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.

Cabrini University Alumni on Pilgrimage to the Mother Cabrini Shrine

Mother Cabrini, in passing through Colorado, described this region:

“At every moment, the landscape changes: austere mountains whose peaks are white with glittering snow; hills all verdant with pines and roseate by reason of the color of the rocks and the soil; sharp peaks that seem to touch the sky where only the eagle nests…”

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.

Warmly welcomed by JoAnn Seaman, Executive Director of the Shrine, and her wonderful staff and volunteers, our group stayed in the Stone House which was originally designed by Mother Cabrini and which served as a summer residence for the orphans cared for by the Missionary Sisters. The alums were awestruck by the commanding views of Denver and the surrounding area that could be seen from the Stone House.

Our visit commenced with an orientation presented by Sr. Alice Zanon, MSC, which provided an historical context for our visit.  Then, it was off to explore all the wonders of the Shrine property: the beautifully curated museum, the grotto, the Cabrini Gardens and the spring where Mother Cabrini first discovered water on the property that formerly had been dry.  (The spring has never stopped flowing.)

The big challenge was to climb the 373 steps to the top of the mountain to visit the statue of the Sacred Heart and to view the stone heart first created by the orphans during the time of Mother Cabrini. Mission accomplished!

The weekend provided time for group reflection along with celebrations of the 80th Anniversary of St. Cabrini’s canonization and her birthday.  A festive dinner with the Shrine staff and volunteers, a liturgical concert and an uplifting Sunday morning liturgy were highlights.  Much too soon, our visit ended with the intention to return again.  Our sincere gratitude to everyone at the Shrine for making us feel so welcome.

 

MSCs and Cabrini U CAVS United

Missionary Sisters Eileen Currie (2nd l.) and Christine Marie Baltas (4th l.) and Sr. Roselle Santivasi (our photographer) welcomed Cabrini University CAVS Council and committee volunteers to their home for a springtime wine and cheese gathering. Mother Cabrini shooed away the rainy clouds in time for everyone to gather on the beautiful patio.


Our deepest thanks to the Sisters for their warm and gracious hospitality. Everyone had fun!

Teaming Up to Help Our Immigrant Friends

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.

 

Cabrini Scholarship at Villanova

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.

Unfortunately, neither of the student scholars could attend the dinner – one is studying abroad and one had to cancel at the last minute. We applaud their academic achievements and look forward to meeting them both in the near future.

MSCs, CAVS & Friends Unite to Provide Warmth in Winter

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.

Then, just after the new year, the Immigration Commission received an urgent request for coats for high school students in the Norristown School District. (Many of the earlier donated items were sized for elementary school children.) Our contact in Norristown shared that some high school students were coming to school without coats on the coldest days!

Again, due to the generosity of the Cabrini alumni and friends of the Missionary Sisters, last week, it was possible to purchase and deliver 30 brand new winter coats for high school students. The coats were distributed to students that very afternoon bringing much needed comfort to these young people.

 

CAVS Social Justice Ambassadors Host Webinar on Refugees

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.

Ms. Womack shared that it is more difficult to look away from a person or an issue when you hear the story, the narrative. Data can dominate a conversation, sometimes overshadowing events, however, story can be riveting, humanizing and can change perspectives. We need people to speak out against injustice, she said. Story can arc into resistance. Words matter.

When people ask, ‘what can I do?’ she said, “your heart will tell you what to do. Your past will point you in your own direction, your niche.”

The webinar ended with participants contacting their congressional representatives about the upcoming funding legislation.

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