Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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Cabrini University Community bids Sr. Grace a Fond Farewell

Beloved by all on campus, on Thursday, September 8th, faculty, staff and administrators turned out to wish Sr. Grace Waters, MSC a fond farewell as she leaves for her new mission at Sacred Heart Convent in New York.

Sr. Christine Marie Baltas, MSC, hosted a reception for Sr. Grace in the University’s Wolfington Center. Interim President Ms. Helen Drinan joined the festivities as Sr. Grace did the honors of cutting the cake.

For years, Sr. Grace has been a gentle presence, stopping by the various campus buildings to share a pleasant word with staff members, attending sporting events, and encouraging students to keep up with their studies. She and Sr. Christine Marie would take regular strolls through campus and share greetings with all whom they encountered.

Sr. Grace would often remark, “how come everyone knows who I am?” We would respond, “because you are famous!”

The campus community will deeply miss her warmth and friendship.

Godspeed, Sr. Grace!

 

Cabrini University Cupboard Serving More Students Than Ever

The Cabrini Cupboard, the University’s on campus food pantry, will offer an expanded variety of fresh food and accessories this year in an effort to serve students across the food insecurity spectrum.

The reimagined Cupboard has been open all summer, offering students fresh vegetables, meats, and dairy products, as well as toiletries and other items. Angela N. Campbell, PhD, Vice President, Mission, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Student Engagement, said the aim was to create the feel of a market inside the Cupboard – a vision that has been realized through partnerships with the University’s Wolfington Center and Campus Ministry forged with local farms and community organizations.

Ray Ward, PhD, Director, Cabrini’s Wolfington Center, through which students engage in service work with the Cupboard, said that the Pierce Foundation enables some of Cabrini’s “brightest and most civically minded students” to “pursue innovative approaches to ending hunger and food insecurity in our own communities.”

Hunger and food insecurity are best addressed in partnership with those who understand it first-hand, and we have seen that some of our most powerful advocates in this fight have been students working out of their own struggles with obtaining good meals,” said Ward.

The Wolfington Center has partnered with Martha’s Choice Marketplace, a food pantry in nearby Norristown, PA, bringing in fresher, healthier foods than standard grab-and-go snacks and microwave meals. Increased refrigeration capacity has also brought a wider variety of food, such as meats and dairy.

The Cabrini Cupboard receives two shipments of food monthly from Martha’s Choice and has seen great support from the Pincus Family Foundation. More food and accessories are donated each year from the Cabrini Cavalier community at large, including faculty, staff and alumni.

To see a brief video and to read the complete account, please click here

 

Sharing Precious Cabrinian Artifacts

On June 7th, Julia Attaway, Executive Director of the St. Frances Cabrini Shrine, NYC receives a document case from Janet Bauman, Scanning Specialist Holy Spirit Library, Cabrini University. The document case contains materials from the St. Frances Cabrini Collection at Cabrini University.

The materials which include Mother Cabrini’s business card, checks and promissory notes signed by Mother Cabrini, and a facsimile of the Saint’s will are on loan to the shrine for the upcoming exhibit, “The Everyday Life of Mother Cabrini.” The exhibit is set to open in July.

Cabrini University Celebrates Founding Day

Sixty-five years ago, Cabrini College, located at 610 King of Prussia Road in Radnor, PA was founded and incorporated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, June 7th the University community came together to commemorate this august occasion.

“The purpose for which the corporation is formed is to establish, conduct, operate and maintain, at the above address a college for the education, training and spiritual guidance of young women, with power to confer upon students who have successfully completed the required courses, the Degree of Bachelor of Arts and the Degree of Bachelor of Sciences, and such other Degrees as may be approved and authorized by the Department of Public Instruction of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania….The corporation is to exist perpetually.”

For many members of the faculty and staff, this was their first opportunity to meet and greet Ms. Helen Drinan, the Interim President of the University. Ms. Drinan offered welcoming remarks noting the University’s distinguished history and educational traditions which emanate from the educational philosophy of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini – “the education of the heart” – and the charism of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Ms. Drinan said that these guiding principles are central to all we do as a University. She further commented that in the short time she has been on campus, she has found Cabrini University to be a most welcoming place.

Sr. Christine Marie Baltas, MSC, a Cabrini College alumna and Campus Ministry Associate, offered a lively and entertaining glimpse into the storied journey of the University since its founding as Cabrini College in 1957.

All those gathered appreciated the summertime fellowship while enjoying ice cream treats to celebrate Founding Day.

Cabrini University Grads Put Lobbying Skills to Work For World’s Needy Kids

~ by Gia Myers, Cabrini College Class of 1987 for Catholic Philly.com
Reprinted with permission from Catholic Philly and with appreciation to Dr. Jerry Zurek, Cabrini University

Dr. Jerry Zurek: “Cabrini University alumna Gia Myers ’87 did an absolutely wonderful job profiling the accomplishments of 6 of our recent grads and their work for Global Justice through Catholic Relief Services.”

Among the graduates at Cabrini University’s three commencement ceremonies on May 22 were six student ambassadors for Catholic Relief Services, who along with their fellow graduates heard from speaker Sean Callahan, president and CEO of CRS.

“This is a hopeful moment, and we need to be people of hope,” Callahan told the graduates and guests. “Yet, as I say this, I know that the world is being pulled apart.” He referred to news reports of mass shootings in the United States, the global COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

Callahan encouraged students to “do the impossible,” saying he has seen that the impossible is possible through the 17-year relationship between CRS and Cabrini in which student ambassadors dedicate time during their college years to grow in global awareness, learn valuable advocacy skills and make a difference in the world.

During fall 2020, in the midst of the COVID lock down, Cabrini students still managed to advocate actively for the Global Thrive Act that became law in January 2021, much earlier than expected. The new law mandates that early childhood development activities be integrated into relevant U.S. foreign aid programs, and CRS official attribute its enactment to successful student lobbying.

Cabrini CRS Ambassadors advocated by visiting about 15 virtual classrooms. They spoke with their fellow students and encouraged them to get involved by calling and writing to their government representatives.

“(Students) were excited to ehar that the bill was passed,” said Cabrini graduate and CRS Ambassador president, Layal Srour. “We definitely felt we made an impact. It made us want to do more, want to help more.”

Srour, who is Muslim and the child of immigrant parents from the Middle East, emailed her congressional representatives including Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, representing Pennsylvania’s fifth district, and U.S. Senator Pat Toomey.

Srour said she had never heard about CRS before attending Cabrini, but was attracted to CRS because “they help everyone” in need regardless of creed, race or nationality.

“We called; we lobbied. When we saw the results of it, we were in awe,” said graduating Cabrini CRS Ambassador Ixchele Ortiz about advocating for the Global Child Thrive Act.

Ortiz was born in the Philippines and came to the U.S. when she was 15.

“CRS made me more open-minded,” she said, and also taught her to “go beyond the mindset of being comfortable to realize other people (around the world) might not be.”

In conversation after the graduation ceremony, Callahan told the six Cabrini CRS Ambassadors that CRS “really counted on” their advocacy for passage of the act.

“We heard back from senators and congress,” Callahan told the ambassadors, “and they said (the advocacy) was really super important to them in getting the new law passed so quickly.

 

To read the complete article, please click here

Dr. Donald Taylor Resigns as Cabrini University President

~ from the communication from Dr. Taylor to the Missionary Sisters and the campus community

At Friday’s winter Board Plenary, I informed the Trustees that I am resigning as President of Cabrini University, effective at the end of the current academic year. This summer I will start my presidency at the University of Detroit Mercy. It has been a tremendous honor and privilege to serve as the eighth president of Cabrini University, since taking office in July 2014.

During my presidency, I have been blessed to have tremendous support from the Board of Trustees and the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I especially want to acknowledge my sincere appreciation to Board Chairs Tom Nerney ’77, HON’15, John Schanz, HON’18, Frank Emmerich, ’92, HON’21, and Amy Lambert. Thanks again for our partnership in leading the University. Your guidance, support and mentorship has meant a great deal to me.

A special thanks to Sisters Christine Marie Baltas and Grace Waters who have blessed our campus with their daily example of what an Education of the Heart means.

Servant leadership of a university requires collaboration, and I would like to thank every Cabinet member I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside during my time at Cabrini.

I’ve been blessed to have the best staff in the Office of the President. Thanks for all you do on a daily basis. I would also like to thank the faculty, staff, coaches, alumni, donors, and friends of the University for your support and all you do for our students.

Finally, a huge shout out to Cabrini’s amazing students. My wife Lechia and I have been blessed to know you, and we hope you learned as much from us as we learned from you these past eight years.

A transition plan is underway, and details will be announced by Amy Lambert, Board Chair, as soon as they are available. In addition, there will be an opportunity to say goodbye at a farewell event this spring. Details of which will be shared in a future communication.

Also at Friday’s Board meeting, Trustees endorsed the Mission 2027 Strategic Plan thereby ensuring that Cabrini is in a strong position with programs and plans to continue to build on its strengths and successes. I will leave Cabrini knowing that the future is bright for the University.

My best wishes to you and Cabrini University in the future.

In the Cabrini Spirit,

Donald B. Taylor, PhD

Cabrini University Dedicates Underground Railroad Table

Cabrini University Dedicates Underground Railroad Table
~ from Cabrini University Dedication Program

Vachel Catlin, born in 1814, traveled from the South to western Pennsylvania around 1834 through the network known as the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a network of diverse people offering shelter and aid to escaped enslaved people from the South. Vachel’s family was able to bring with them only one piece of furniture, a small wooden table. Vachel became a barber and opened up the first barbershop in West Newton, PA.

The table was passed through family members and sat near the front window of a barbershop run by George Catlin, a descendent of Vachel Catlin.

After over seventy years of being a barber, George retired and gave his family table that sat in his barbershop to a good friend and customer, John Sarnosky who kept it in his home until his death in 1980. At that time, the table was given to his grandson Johm Bachkay who was studying to be a priest at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, PA. Fr. John was ordained in 1983. The table traveled with him to his many church assignments. After his retirement in 2021, he donated the Catlin family table to Cabrini University.

The University community is honored and thrilled to be recipient of this significant piece of our nation’s history.

Cabrini Cavaliers for Life Stand Up for Life

Members of Cavaliers for Life (l to r, Manny, Adriana, Kenzi, Rodrigo) attended Pennsylvania Pro-Life Union’s Stand Up for Life event in Philadelphia on Nov. 21. The students made new friends over dinner, learned about organizations that support women and children and were captivated by keynote speaker, Patricia Sandoval’s moving testimony.

Cabrini University First in PA to Partner with The Dream.US

Cabrini University First in PA
to Partner with The Dream.US

In an email to the Cabrini University community, President Donald B. Taylor announced:

Cabrini University has been selected as the first school in Pennsylvania to partner with TheDream.US to provide scholarships for the Commonwealth’s undocumented immigrant youth as they achieve their dreams in higher education.

In selecting Cabrini, TheDream.US noted our mission as a Catholic institution with a long standing commitment to helping the underserved and serving the social justice charism of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The nonprofit also admired the work of Cabrini’s Center on Immigration, which advocates on a local and national level on behalf of immigrants, and has provided pro bono legal assistance for students seeking citizenship or facing deportation.

Our namesake St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was herself an immigrant, and is the Patron Saint of Immigrants, so it is fitting that the University aid Pennsylvania DREAMers in pursuing their college aspirations.

.US, the nation’s largest college access and success program for DREAMers, provides scholarships which include tuition, fees, books, and supplies of up to $37,000 for first-time college students or up to $31,000 for community college graduates to earn a bachelor’s degree. These students attend over 70 partner colleges in 21 states and Washington, DC.

We look forward to welcoming applications from DREAMers for the 2022-23 academic year. To apply for the scholarship, applicants must have DACA or TPS authorization, or have come to the country before November 1, 2016 (before the age of 16), and otherwise meet the DACA eligibility criteria.

We are thrilled to support the mission of the Office of Mission, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Student Engagement, as it continues to create an atmosphere of belonging and support for all students. ~ Cabrini University email communication

To learn more about The Dream.US please click here

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