Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Cabrini Lay Missionaries Renew Commitments

June 13, 2024

The Feast of the Sacred Heart was a very special day for the Cabrini Lay Missionaries (CLMs), in the Guadalupe Province. We started the day with a beautiful Mass at St. Cabrini Nursing Home in Dobbs Ferry, NY. During the Mass, Adela Jarquin, Marianne McGowan and Digna Merchan made their
recommitment to the CLMs for 3 years.

Later in the afternoon, we came together on Zoom for a prayer service and the recommitment of several CLMs. Due to distance, several of our CLMs were not able to join us at the Liturgy. However, via Zoom, Melanie Paccillo, Sheny Hernandez, Susan Pierson, Veronica Hernandez, Victoria Ortiz, Julia Attaway, Angela Campbell and Kaitlyn Franzone all made their commitments for either one or three years.

We were also blessed to welcome Stefany Fuentes Meza to the CLMs. Stefany lives in Nicaragua. Stefany made a one-year commitment as a CLM.

May we follow in the footprints of Mother Cabrini who lived by the words of St. Paul, “I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:14)

The CABRINI film – A Catalyst for CLMs.

April 24, 2024

The Cabrini Lay Missionaries (CLMs) of the Guadalupe Province, met via Zoom to discuss the movie, Cabrini. Since the movie has opened, we have received many inquiries about the CLMs.

At our April CLM meeting, we invited the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart along with the men and women who have shown an interest in becoming CLMs, to talk about the movie. We had a very lively discussion! Everyone agreed that it was a very powerful movie. The movie piqued an interest to learn more about Mother Cabrini. Many found themselves asking, “What more can I do?”

Many of our CLMs and those who are interested in becoming CLMs were finding ways to collaborate with each other to help others in need. What a wonderful way to spread the love of Jesus. Cabrini, the movie, has certainly touched many hearts.

CLMs Gather to Pray for Peace

January 23, 2024

The Cabrini Lay Missionaries (CLMs) held a prayer service to pray for peace for the people in Ecuador and Nicaragua. We met via Zoom and had people join us from Italy, Nicaragua and many different states in the USA. The prayer service was offered in both English and Spanish.

We have several Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus living in Nicaragua as well as a CLM. In addition, one our CLMs has family members residing there. We have a CLM who is from Ecuador and has family there, as well. There are also several friends of the CLMs who have family members in Ecuador.

We prayed together using scripture and song. The songs were very powerful as we listened to the lyrics asking God to bring peace and light into our broken world. The petitions were very moving as we saw the names of the MSCs and the CLM living in Nicaragua as well as the names of the CLMs who have family living in these countries.

We continue to pray for peace in these countries as well as for peace around the world.

CLMs Honor Our Lady of Guadalupe

December 13, 2023

On Saturday, December 9th, the Cabrini Lay Missionaries (CLMs) of the Guadalupe Province, held an Advent prayer service. It was a time to come together in faith and pray that our hearts will be ready to receive the Christ-child. The theme of our prayer was faith. We focused on Mary, our Blessed Mother and Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Sr. Lucille Souza, MSC, gave a beautiful reflection on the way Mary said “yes” to God. She spoke about how that required great faith on her part. Sister went on to share how her own faith has empowered her to say “yes” to God. As part of her reflection, Sr. Lucille invited each of us to share the ways that faith has helped us to say “yes” to God.

Digna Merchan, CLM, shared about her devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. She also shared a very meaningful video with us.

We wanted to include prayers of peace for our world. Srs. Genet, Abaynesh and Abebech sang, ‘Peace for the World Song’ in Amharic, their native language. We ended with everyone singing, ‘Let There Be Peace on Earth’ in their native languages.

A special thank you to Susan Pierson who prepared the prayer service in both English and Spanish.

A Joyful Day of Recommitment

November 15, 2023

The Feast of St. Cabrini is such a beautiful day especially for those of us who are part of the Cabrini Family. It is such a beautiful day to remember Mother Cabrini and all the work she did for God’s people. She is an example to all of us to strive to know God’s will and to do all that we can to achieve what God is calling us to do.

The Cabrini Lay Missionaries (CLMs) of the Guadalupe Province, had a very special celebration on the Feast Day. Patricia Krasnausky and Vicky Lucio renewed their recommitments as CLMs for 3 more years. To quote Mother Cabrini, “Today, love cannot be hidden; it must become active, living and true.” As CLMs, we are called to witness to the love of God. We are so grateful for Pat and Vicky. Truly, they bring the love of God to all those they meet.

Embracing the Future in Hope

October 19, 2023

The Guadalupe Province Assembly 2023

Missionary Sisters, Cabrini Lay Missionaries (CLMs), and lay collaborators hailing from eleven countries gathered this week in New Jersey for the Guadalupe Province Assembly with the theme, “Embracing the Future with Hope”.

Sr. Diane Olmstead, MSC, Provincial, opened the Assembly by sharing the greetings of MSC General Superior Sr. Maria Eliane Azevedo da Silva, MSC, who offered the image of a mosaic, each person being a vibrant part of the Institute, saying that we express the charism according to the gifts we each have received.

During the Assembly, each session had a distinct focus such as Encounter/Re-Encounter; Sharing Ministry; Co-responsibility; Our Call to Live the Charism. Each session was presented with its own interactive dynamic.

Prior to the sending forth of the lay collaborators, in addressing the Assembly, Sr. Diane said that those present were “attracted by the charism and that our understanding of the charism develops over time.” She went on to say that we have made a choice to respond to the call to be women and men who share love, that we are called to live love which has to do with healing and reconciliation. She said that we are called to be a healing presence in the world.

Sr. Diane noted that those of us present at the Assembly have a sense that ‘I belong [here].’ That I fit. That we complement each other and that we are so much better for the presence of one another; that we should build on that sense of belonging – having a co-responsibility for the charism and mission.

She concluded by saying that we journey together, that we are sent by God and to go forth with courage.

The Cabrinian lay collaborators departed the Assembly midday yesterday. The Sisters will conclude their session tomorrow at noon. Continue to pray for the MSCs.

The CLM Corner

September 28, 2023

Cabrini Lay Missionaries (CLMs) are women and men who desire to live out their Christian Baptismal commitment as a special call from God, in order to grow spiritually, to witness Gospel values, and to be agents of transformation in the world. CLMs hear and respond to their call by committing themselves to embrace and give witness to the love of the Heart of Jesus, according to the living legacy and spirit of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini.

We are blessed to have 17 CLMs in the Guadalupe Province. Our CLMs live in California, Colorado, Guatemala, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Nicaragua, Pennsylvania and Washington State. We all strive to bring the love of the Sacred Heart to all those we meet.

For information on the CLMs, please contact Lorraine Campanelli, CLM Director:
cabrinilaymissionariesgp@gmail.com

Deepening the CLMs’ Connections

June 28, 2023

The Cabrini Lay Missionaries (CLMs), Guadalupe Province, and some members who are in initial formation to become CLMs, participated in a 3-part presentation given by Sr. Bernadette Anello, MSC. The presentations were based on Chapters 9 and 14 in the book, Free Yourselves and Put on Wings by Sr. Maria Barbagallo, MSC.
As CLMs, we are part of the Cabrinian family. We live as witnesses to the love of God and share the Cabrinian charism as we journey with the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart (MSCs).

During the 3rd presentation, Sr. Bernadette shared about the process of discernment. Although not always easy, discerning God’s will for our lives is what allows us to have peace of heart in knowing we are doing God’s will. We were ask to reflect on “What is the more that God may be calling me and/or the CLMs to?” As we just welcomed three new CLMs on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, we know that God is calling us to pray, to continue to be a presence and to continue to bring the love of God to others.

A Most Sacred and Celebratory Feast

June 13, 2023

The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a most special and sacred day for the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is on this day that the Missionary Sisters worldwide renew their vows.

For the Cabrini Lay Missionaries (CLMs), as well, this is the day on which they renew or make their first commitments.

For our Missionary Sisters and our Cabrini Lay Missionaries, we will hold you in our prayers and hearts on this day and we will ask the Sacred Heart of Jesus to pour down upon you those graces that flow from His love.

Therefore, according to Mother Cabrini, “Always and everywhere, the gleaming and glorious MSC motto is: ‘All for the greater glory of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.”
~ Travels, London to NY 8.25.1902

Putting on Wings as CLMs

June 8, 2023

The Cabrini Lay Missionaries (CLMs) of the Guadalupe Province, and several members who are in initial formation to become CLMs, are blessed to participate in a three-part presentation given by Sr. Bernadette Anello, MSC. The presentations are based on the book, Free Yourselves and Put on Wings by Sr. Maria Barbagallo, MSC. To date, we have had two presentations. At the end of each presentation, Sr. Bernadette gives us questions to reflect upon. At the end of the second presentation, Sr. Bernadette asked us to reflect on:
 The Cabrini Lay Missionaries as part of a larger mission footprint: Cabrini World.
 How is Mother Cabrini inviting me/us to be more connected with our global reality?
As we looked at our “Brady Bunch” screen during our Zoom meeting, we heard and saw a wealth of responses to these questions. Through our baptismal promises, we are called to live among God’s people, to share the Word of God, to proclaim the Good News through word and deed, to serve all people and strive for peace and justice.

As CLMs and those journeying with us, we have responded to our call through prayer, education, social services, and health care. We work with the elderly, the young, college students, immigrants and refugees.

Some of us are administrators, educators, social workers and health care workers. Each of us has been called to be a pray-er. Whether we are called to help our family members, the less fortunate, the homeless, those in nursing homes, the immigrants and refugees, we do it out of God’s love for us. We strive to respond to our baptismal promises.

We are looking forward to Part Three of the presentation later this month.