Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Bringing Christ's love to the world

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CIS Hosts Parenting Workshop

Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS), Dobbs Ferry, NY, offered a workshop for parents of toddlers. Betsy Suarez, LMHC, presented: “Effective Strategies: How to Get Your Children to Listen to You More Consistently.”

Our clients from CIS as well as some of the asylum seekers from neighboring towns joined us for the workshop. They discussed achievable goals when raising young children and different ways of achieving the goals. As a group, they discussed what worked with their child and what needed improvement. Betsy assured them to be patient with themselves. She reminded them that no one is an expert.

While the parents were attending the workshop, our social work intern kept the toddlers entertained with puzzles, coloring and different toys. It was very evident that toddlers have an enormous amount of energy!

 

Education of the Heart: Cabrini Mission Foundation Launches Education Grant

Embracing Mother Cabrini’s ‘Education of the Heart’ principle, t he Cabrini Mission Foundation has launched its 2024 education grant for students across New York. The primary objectives of the grant are to support faith-based Catholic education in New York, provide financial assistance to students, and promote academic achievement and community engagement.

Through this initiative, the Cabrini Mission Foundation aims to empower students with the values and skills necessary to become compassionate leaders who positively impact their communities and the world at large.

Application details and can be found on the Cabrini Mission Foundation website. Students will need to complete the application form as well as write an essay, all submissions are reviewed internally. The schools of students selected to receive a grant will receive a check in the student’s name that will be applied to their tuition bill for their current academic school year. ~ submitted by Caitlin Della Rocca, Cabrini Mission Foundation

For application information please visit:

Empowering New York School Children

Alumni Weekend at Cabrini University

The rainy weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the hundreds of Cabrini College/University alumni who returned to campus this past weekend. The weekend had an energetic kick-off at the Philadelphia Phillies game with alumni tailgating at the ballpark. Back on campus on Saturday, sports games, food trucks, tours of the Mansion were on tap followed by a dinner and dance party on Saturday evening in the historic Woodcrest Mansion.

On Sunday, the reunion continued with a special Mass in the Bruckmann Chapel of St. Joseph. Fr. Richard Jasper, ’96 was the celebrant. He delivered an uplifting and inspirational homily saying that although our hearts our deeply saddened by the closing of our beloved alma mater, each of us as alumni have been touched by Mother Cabrini’s ‘education of the heart’ and that we are called to go out into the world to bring the good news of God’s love and compassion to all those we encounter. He exhorted us to be BOLD, as Mother Cabrini was.

The weekend festivities continued with a special showing of the film CABRINI which is scheduled to make its debut in March 2024. Mr. Eustace Wolfington, the force behind the production of the movie, delivered remarks on the genesis of the film to the alumni and their families, faculty and friends.
Following the movie, campus guests were invited to visit the Cabriniana Room in the Holy Spirit Library to view the many artifacts and ephemera of St. Cabrini.

Thanks to the tireless work of the University staff and services, the weekend was a most welcome time of friendship, shared memories, laughter, tears, and gratitude for all that has been.

Three Cheers for the Cabrini University Graduate!

Many MSCs traveled to Cabrini University to witness Sr. Amarech Lefamo, MSC, from Ethiopia, receive her degree in Educational Studies.  Congratulations, Sr. Amarech!

A Message from the Sr. Amarech Lefamo, MSC

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” 1. Thessalonians, (5 .16-18).

My words can’t express my gratitude to God and to everyone who has helped me along this four-year journey, by offering me various forms of psychological and substantial support. Without all of you compassionate people who supported me along the way, I would not have been able to complete this endeavor. I want to start by expressing my sincere gratitude to the Guadalupe Province, and the Holy Spirit Region’s sisters and laity, who worked hard to get me accepted as an international student at Cabrini University.

I would like to thank Sr. Therese Merandi, who prayed and dreamed for a very long time about the opportunity for my education as an international student; Sisters Barbara Staley and Diane Dalle Molle, who successfully made it happen for me; Sr. Christine Marie Baltas, who guided me in different levels, who accompanied me from the beginning of my school year and directed my every step when I was a freshman; Sr. Regina Peterson, who supported me in many ways until the end of my school year and all the sisters who walked with me during my studying journey with their prayers and words of the encouragement. I am so grateful for each one of them and I offer you my humble thankful gratitude.

I continue to express my gratitude to Cabrini University for providing an exceptional environment for my growth and development in so many ways, including the opportunity to learn about Mother Cabrini’s teaching philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of providing children with holistic development through an education of the heart. Being a part of Cabrini University gave me the chance to develop my academic skills with the help of the generous and kind professors, librarians, cooks, and other staff members whom I encountered on numerous occasions. I also had the chance to experience and learn from Cabrini University’s welcoming environment for students of all faiths, cultures, and backgrounds.

Likewise, as an international student, there were good chances to exchange multicultural experiences. I am happy to offer my profound gratitude to everyone at Cabrini for allowing me the chance to grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally throughout the course of my four years there. On this occasion, I would also like to express my gratitude to all of my classmates who, alongside my professors, have been my companions throughout my journey and who have inspired and positively impacted me in a variety of ways from the very beginning of my school years to achieve my goal. As a result, I appreciate and thank everyone who has come into contact with me in various ways.

In addition, I am deeply thankful to my sisters who attended my graduation ceremony both in person and online. Your presence warmed my heart, and I was touched by your generosity.

Last but not least, I want to express my gratitude to my parents and families for having raised me with a sense of knowledge and of fear God. They also encouraged me to join the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to serve God’s people as a Missionary Sister because being a missionary had a big impact on my decision to enroll at Cabrini University as an international student. God is great in my life, and I rejoice always and praise Him without ceasing.

“I can do all things with Him who strengthens me.”
(St. Francesca Xavier Cabrini)

The Formative Education of the Heart

Dr. Nick Rademacher, former faculty member at Cabrini University in Radnor, PA, is now on the faculty of the University of Dayton, in Dayton, OH. The photo clip below is from an article that recently appeared in the University of Dayton Magazine. Nick and his faculty colleague, Joy Willenbrink Conte, taught together in new 12-week minicourse, entitled Educating the Whole Person.

In the course of the article, Nick states, “My approach to teaching and learning has been inspired by the educational philosophy of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, an immigrant to the United States and the first U.S. saint, who wrote about the ‘education of the heart’. This approach seeks to facilitate intellectual development and the formation of one’s heart and then putting that into action in service of others. That’s one of the reasons why I really appreciate the title of this mini-course.”

We are grateful to Nick for continuing to espouse and model the “Education of the Heart” as he teaches his students at the University of Dayton. We are also grateful to Michelle Sherman, Nick’s wife and a former Cabrini Mission Corps missioner for sending this article to The Update. Nick and Michelle really continue hold the Cabrinian charism deep within their hearts.

Cabrini High School Freshman Earns Honors

Cabrini High School freshman, Marcia Quispe, has been awarded the Jose Luis Banos Award for Excellence in Spanish by Sociedad Espanola.

The Honorary Consul of Spain in New Orleans, Maria Page, presented the award to Marcia Quispe at a ceremony hosted by Sociedad Espanola. Cabrini Assistant Principal and AP Spanish Instructor Vivian Deschapelles Coutin accompanied Quispe and as President of Sociedad, she opened the ceremony with a talk to the students about the importance of Spanish in the 21st Century.

Very Exciting News from CIS, Dobbs Ferry, NY

Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS), Dobbs Ferry, NY, is thrilled to announce the start of a General Educational Development (GED) class on our premises.

CIS is working with Southern Westchester Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), which is providing the instructor and will be teaching the class at CIS. The GED is made up of four subjects: Math Reasoning, Reasoning through Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science. The class, which is offered in Spanish, meets twice a week for 3 hours.

Our clients are very proud to be participating in the class. Along with the feeling of accomplishment, they will have so many more opportunities available to them when they receive their High School Equivalency Diploma.

Thanks to a very generous donation, we are able to offer this great opportunity to our clients at no cost. We supply the books, notebooks and other supplies needed for the course. It is our hope to continue to offer the GED program in the future.

Cabrini High Faculty and Staff ‘Putting on Wings’

Cabrini High School’s faculty and staff had a retreat on Tuesday, January 3rd at a retreat center in Loranger, LA. We had the privilege of welcoming Sr. Bernadette Anello, MSC as our presenter. Sr. Bernadette led us through various reflections based on the book Free Yourselves and Put On Wings, A Journey of Cabrinian Spirituality by Sr. Maria Barbagallo, MSC. amidst Sr. Bernadette’s presentations, we had time for personal reflection and exploring the grounds, small group discussions with Sr. Bernadette, prayerful music in the chapel, and prayer devotions like the Rosary, Divine Mercy chaplet, or Lectio Divina.

The retreat was a perfect way to begin the spring semester refreshed, energized, and prepared to educate the minds and hearts of our wonderful students!

Cabrini Students Honor Distinguished Educators

NEW ORLEANS – Four elementary school teachers were honored on May 4, 2022, by Cabrini High School students. The Distinguished Educator Award is presented annually to teachers who have done an outstanding job preparing their students to succeed in high school. Cabrini High School’s Distinguished Educators include:
 Teresa Anasagati – Morris Jeff Community School, nominated by Grace Cook ‘25
 Julie Mallory – Lake Harbor Middle School, nominated by Emma Graff ‘23
 Stacie Seube – Our Lady of Prompt Succor, nominated by Eaden Roberson ‘26
 Emily Tornabene – St. Dominic School, nominated by Emma Thomason ‘25

Each year, Cabrini students who demonstrate outstanding character and hold a GPA of 3.5 or higher are given the opportunity to nominate an elementary school teach who has had a positive impact on their lives. In the nomination, students are asked to share why they selected the teacher and the impact the nominee has had in their lives and in preparation for high school and beyond.

Cabrini High School President, Jack Truxillo, addressed the Distinguished Educators and guests. “You have made such an impression and had such an impact on your former students that they chose to go through the nominating process. That itself speaks volumes. The influence you have daily on students is immeasurable. The terms, parent, protector, counselor, nurse, referee, disciplinarian, coach, leader, expert, task master, time keeper, planner, janitor decorator, supervisor and finally, instructor, all fit in your job description. But, as we all know those are just a sampling of the jobs you do. Be assured that the work you do is valued. It is recognized.”
To view additional photos from the event, please click here

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info@mothercabrini.org