Now is such a time in our history that our working in unity towards our greater mission will shape our journey together. How we act, what we say, the way we treat one another, the heart with which we respond, will be recounted by generations to come.
We have been through so many challenges as an Institute over the past nearly 140 years since our courageous foundress set sail to New York for the first time in 1880. Over the years we have faced great wars, internal conflict, disease, and many other trials, and yet we have always overcome.
Sister Barbara Staley, MSC
General Superior
Read the letter statement from Sister Barbara Staley, MSC General Superior.
Over the next weeks, we have been asked by the MSC Generalate in Rome to invite you to submit stories of the Missionary Sisters who have touched your life, particularly, perhaps, in time of difficulty. These stories will be posted on the website of the Generalate: www.cabriniworld.org and we will also feature your stories in The Update and on www.mothercabrini.org
We also encourage each of you to send brief messages of faith and inspiration from your own lives, both from the past and from what you are witnessing or experiencing now. Share how you are coping with our current reality. What is your routine? What gives you joy? What gives you strength? Have you developed a new spiritual practice? Do you have a favorite prayer or mantra that would be helpful for others? In this way, it is hoped that we can draw upon our Cabrinian friendships and connections to give us strength and optimism during these challenging times. Invite younger voices to share how they are dealing with this new reality as they miss their teachers, classmates, their school sports, clubs and extra-curricular activities. And with your narratives, please feel free to share photos, as well.
In submitting stories and reflections please send to both of these emails:
communications@cabriniworld.org and cabrini-news@mothercabrini.org
Mother Cabrini once said, “There is room here for every talent and inclination.” We know that a vibrant sense of community is at the heart of the Institute of the Missionary Sisters. At this time when we must engage in social distancing, it is hoped that by sharing our stories we will strengthen those Cabrinian ties we hold so dearly.
From March 8 – 14, National Catholic Sisters Week (NCSW) is an annual celebration that began in 2014 to honor women religious with a series of events that instruct, enlighten, and bring greater focus on the lives of these incredible women. It’s a chance to recognize all that they do, with the hope that as more young women learn about women religious, more will choose to follow their example.
congregations including Missionary Sisters Antonina Avitabile, Christine Marie Baltas, Amarech Herego LeFamo, and MSC candidate Evarlyne Ndeti, sorted a total of 22,730 pairs and packaged 260 bags of socks for later distribution to shelters in the greater Philadelphia, PA and Trenton, NJ region, and shipment to shelters throughout the United States. The work of sorting and packaging was made lighthearted with the sounds of oldies and Motown songs to which everyone joined in singing.
areas and more in Golden where the Mother Cabrini Shrine is located. She was happy to see the beautiful wonderland of white snow-capped mountains, trees, houses and beautiful white fields. What a WONDERLAND!
On the weekends she is also missioned at Mother Cabrini Shrine to meet the pilgrims and to do odds and ends. She has shown her amazement at the people that come to the Shrine to visit and to fulfill promises made to St. Frances X. Cabrini for favors received. She was sharing that one woman was cured of cancer and came to fulfill her promise not by walking on her feet but by moving forward on her knees towards the Grotto. The woman told her story to Sr. Tigist and they both cried together. What a tender and touching experience.
Each year, the Missionary Sisters participate in the Gift of Mission interactive vocation program for high school juniors. Yesterday, over 60 students hailing from Bishop Shanahan H.S., Pope John Paul II H.S., York Catholic H.S., and McDevitt H.S. in PA and Gloucester Catholic H.S. in NJ joined an inter-congregational team of vocation directors for the workshop.
felt called by God to live a life as a Cabrini Lay Missionary since 1990. I was first missioned in Nicaragua teaching religion in one of our schools. Then the Provincial asked me to go to Argentina to work in a parish where I worked as a catechesis coordinator. During that time, I lived in the Provincial house and enjoyed sharing life and prayer with the sisters.
Sister Alfonsina Gomes, MSC will be retiring from Saint Anthony later this month.