Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Weekly Update February 2, 2012

www.mothercabrini.org www.cabrinifoundation.org

A New Experience!
Im excited!words that are usually heard from people who are going to visit a place or other people, especially if its their first time.

Upon arrival at The Pink Sisters the students from the Save Our School Children Foundation, Inc. (SOSCFI) along with Sr. Bernadette Anello, MSC (3rd r. back) take time for a photo to record the experience. ~ Crystal Catalan photo

We, Save Our School Children Foundation, Inc. (SOSCFI) high school students, together with some of our staff, Maam Vicky, Maam Fely, Ate Crystal and Sr. Bernadette, were all excited to visit the Sisters Servant of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration, also known as The Pink Sisters. We traveled to their convent on Brent Road in Baguio City on January 14th. When we arrived we were amazed at their place; we didnt expect it to be so beautiful. Before entering the chapel, Sr. Bernadette gave a brief explanation about this contemplative order of sisters. According to her, the Pink Sisters dont usually entertain people; they prefer not to be recognized for their donations. They see it as their responsibility to help those in need. (Every year these Sisters make a generous donation to our organization.) Upon entering the chapel, I looked around and observed how different it was from other chapels and churches I have seen; I realized what a sacred space this was. The silence is deafening, commented Verlyn, one of the students, as we came from the chapel.

From the chapel we went to meet the Pink Sisters. We entered their receiving area and while we waited for them, we prepared to sing the songs we had practiced. We heard these Sisters have angelic voices, so we wanted to do our best to entertain them. Three Sisters entered and after

Giving the gift of song to the Pink SistersSOSCFI students lift their voices.

~ photo by CMC Missioner Crystal Catalan

exchanging greetings, we sang our selections: Come, Live in the Light, One More Gift, Go Where I Send You, and lastly, Lord I Lift Your Name on High. While we were singing, I saw that most of us were smiling; I myself couldnt help but smile! We presented them with our gifts: a bouquet of flowers and a thank you card made by some of our SOS students. We were all happy to visit them and will remember this experience for a long time.
~submitted by Jasmin A. Galmote, 4th Year SOSCFI high school student

Today is World Day for Consecrated Life

The Catholic Church officially celebrates World Day for Consecrated Life on Thursday, February 2 and on the weekend of February 4-5, it is observed in the United States. Vow to live in service to others In announcing the first World Day of Consecrated Life in 1997, Pope John Paul II remarked that February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, was selected because it is an eloquent icon of the total offering of ones life for all those who are called to show forth in the church and in the world . . . the characteristic features of Jesusthe chaste, poor, and obedient one. Today we honor and cherish those who have taken vows to religious life, and we can also reflect on how all of us are called to consecrate our lives in service to God and humanity. How will you serve?

God Bless the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Cabrini Immigrant Services, Henry Street, New York

Congratulations are in order!
All of us at Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS) would like to congratulate our Family Programs Coordinator, Javier Ramirez Baron, on becoming a LMSW. Javier passed his social work licensing exam last week on the first try despite being kept too busy at CIS to find time to study. Belated congratulations to intern Audrey Bailey who completed her Paralegal Certificate Program at Brooklyn College in November 2011. Audreys background is in banking so she came to CIS in October to get some hands-on experience in immigration law and has become an invaluable part of our team. Finally, welcome and congratulations to new undergraduate intern Nataly Lopez, a sophomore at Baruch College. Nataly is a recipient of the New York Immigration Coalition DREAM Fellowship and will be working with the Justice for Immigrants campaign on voter registration and advocating for the New York State Dream Act. ~submitted by Sr. Kelly Carpenter, Esq.

Congratulations to Audrey Bailey and Javier Ramirez Baron!

Javier with intern Nataly Lopez, recipient of the New York DREAM Fellowship.

One Minute Meditation

Try Something New

Doyoufindthatyourprayerlifefeelsstaleordulloccasionally? Whynottryincorporatingsomenewprayersintoyourtimeofreflection? Or,whynottryanewformofprayingsuchasLectioDivina, centeringprayerorfocusingprayer? SometimestryingnewwaystospeakwithGodcanberefreshing.

From the Province Vocation Promotion Team

Vocation Promotion in Baguio City

The various congregations of Sisters in our area, as well as some seminarians and Franciscan Friars, held a Vocation Walk on Session Road in our city on Sunday, January 15th. Sponsored by the AWRBB (Association of Women Religious of BaguioBenguet), this is the second year to have such a vocation promotion effort.

Our Cabrinian community was represented by Jewel Rivera, CLM, Crystal Catalan, CMC missioner, Rachelle Manodom, SOS college nursing scholar, and myself. Accompanied by a marching band, we certainly attracted attention! The walk culminated at the Cathedral, where it began, and was followed by mass with an emphasis on prayer for vocations. Throughout the week, Sister representatives from our many communities traveled from one university to another and even visited one of the local high schools. As Gods Call Center Caravan we itinerant disciples did as Jesus didand brought the gospel message to students at St. Louis School Center, the University of Baguio, Philippine Womens University, and Benguet State University. Banners and displays of each community with brochures and prayer cards welcomed the participating students as they entered the forum. We first showed a Powerpoint presentation that included a brief description of each religious congregation, our foundress/founder, and a spotlight on ministries, community life and prayer. Using a panel format, Call and Response were highlighted as we responded to the many interesting and thought provoking
The Vocation Walk proceeds down Session Road. Cabrini Lay Missionary Jewel Rivera, wearing a Love shirt, proudly displays the Mother Cabrini banner. Rachel, an SOS student processes behind Jewel.

In a group photo taken near the Baguio Cathedral, CMC Missioner Crystal Catalan (far left in orange) and CLM Jewel Rivera, (2nd row, 2nd l. lavender shirt) proudly hold a Mother Cabrini banner at the vocation walk.

questions which the students raised such as: What sign did you have that this was the right call for you? Did you ever regret your decision? What has been most difficult in living this life of consecration to God? Taking our message on the road has been a collaborative experience that witnesses to the oneness we share as well as the uniqueness of our individual charisms. Who knows what seeds were planted? ~ submitted by Bernadette Anello, MSC

Cabrini Health, Australia

Accolades for Angela

Angela Doherty, Cabrini Health Customer Relations Manager, has been recognized for the fifth time by the Australian Government for her work with Interplast Australia. Interplast Australia and New Zealand provides surgical and allied health services in developing countries in the Asia Pacific region such as free medical treatment and training. Volunteers provide free treatment to people living with a disability such as cleft lip and palate or an acquired condition such as burn scar contractures. Treatment is targeted to the local population who may not otherwise have access to services due to the costs. In the Philippines, children who have a cleft lip and palate may be hidden away as [the condition] is considered to be blight on the family, said Angela. Providing the surgical expertise for an operation, which is common practice in the developed world, makes an enormous difference not only to the life and well-being of the child, but also to the family and the community. For several years, Angela has volunteered for Interplast and she is currently on its Surgical Committee. Angela says her experience with Interplast has been amazing. I have been to places I would never go normally such as Somalia, the Philippines and Fiji Earlier this year, Angela continues, I went to Laos as part of a burns team providing surgical support to burn victims I felt very privileged to be able to work alongside local nurses and doctors and provide care to patients who otherwise would have suffered deformities from their burn contractures. Angela was honored at a formal ceremony in late 2011.
~ submitted by Helen Taylor

Alison Arnold Ryan served as a Cabrini missioner with the Instituto Madre

Cabrini in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 1994-1996. In 1997, Alison took the reigns as Cabrini Mission Corps Director from founding CMC Director Sr. Lucille Souza, who was moving on to provincial leadership. Alison served as Director of CMC until 2000.

Although I am not really a "Facebooker", I decided to take a quick peek at CMC's Facebook page before writing a little update. And, I am so glad that I did! The years pass, but CMC and all the wonderful people whose lives have been touched and changed by CMC continue to be inspiring! How awesome to be FOREVER GRATEFUL for such an incredible history of people and experiences. Thank you CMC!
Alison Arnold Ryan is pictured here (front, left) with her fellow missioners.

The Ryan Family

Don and I continue to live in Minnesota with our two beautiful boys, Johnny (age 5) and Andrs (age 3). Our boys are, without a doubt, our greatest joy and biggest blessing! I am still teaching high school Spanish at a local Lasallian school and Don continues working for our largest county in Child Protection. Our days are full and they go by fast, but we try to maintain a sense of simplicity to the best of our ability -- a gift received from CMC, for sure!

While I am not the best at corresponding (even with Facebook), please know that I still carry CMC close to my heart! I passed the dates of the CMC reunion along to Don, and if we can make it happen, I look forward to seeing many of you this summer!

The Stella Maris Province of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus has two Corporate Stances
ToSTOPthetraffickingofwomenandchildren ToSUPPORTthehumanrightsanddignityofallimmigrants. TheMSCsstandinsolidaritywiththevictimsofhumantraffickingandtheplightofimmigrants aroundtheglobe.WerememberourownrootsasimmigrantsandarefollowersofaSavior whosefamilyfledintoexile.Ourruleoflife,setforthinourConstitutions,states,"as MissionarySistersoftheSacredHeartofJesus,wemustbeopentoallpeoplebecauseJesus welcomedallandgaveHimselfforall."AsMissionarySisters,wepledgetoeducateourselves andothersregardingtheprevalence,causes,andsolutionstobothoftheseissues. Withthisinmind,theMSCshavecreatedanewcommitteeCabriniActionandAdvocacy. AdvocacyistakingActiontohelppeoplesaywhattheywant,securetheirrights,represent theirinterestsandobtainservicestheyneed.Advocacypromotessocialinclusion,equalityand socialjusticeforall. Thecommitteemembersare:KarolBrewer,ProvinceFormationOffice;Sr.KellyCarpenter, CabriniImmigrantServices;CrystalCatalan,CabriniMissionCorps(Philippines);Damien Ciminera,MSC;DianneMcKenna,MSC;SandyOHara,ProvinceFormationOffice;Veronica Piccone,MSC;MikePimpinella,CabriniMissionFoundation;JavierRamirezBaron,Cabrini ImmigrantServices;RoselleSantivasi,MSC;BethStortroen,MotherCabriniShrine;Nick Vendikos,CabriniMissionFoundation. Thecommitteegatheredfortheir1stmeetingonJanuary31standplantomeetmonthly.The CabriniActionandAdvocacyCommittees(CAAC)goalistocontinuetooffereducationand factsonTraffickingandImmigrationissues.TheywillkeeptheProvinceapprisedofevents, websites,articles,etc.allowingALLtheopportunitytobeinvolved.~submittedbyKarolBrewer

TheMissionarySistersoftheStellaMarisProvincearealsomembersofUNANIMA International.ThisisaNonGovernmentalOrganization(NGO),acoalitionwithmembersonall continentscommittedtoworkattheUnitedNationsforpeaceandhumandignity,inresponse totheneedsofwomenandchildrenlivinginpoverty;immigrantsandrefugeesandthewelfare oftheplanet. Fromitsinception,UNANIMAInternationalidentifiedimmigrantsandrefugeesasoneofits areasoffocus.Duringthefirstseveralyears,thisfocuswascarriedoutprimarilythroughthe workagainsthumantraffickingandthedemandforhumantrafficking.Inthelastthreeyears, theirstaffandboardmembershavefocusedmoredirectlyonmigrants,refugees,internally displacedpersonsandthosewhoarestatelessbecauseoflackofdocumentation.

If you are in the Philadelphia - Main Line area on Saturday, why not plan to attend this film and panel discussion on Human Trafficking? RSVP to Sarah Charles: scharles@pasenate.com or call: 610-768-4200. Senator Daylin Leachs office asks that you plan to arrive at 10:45 a.m.

In our recent survey, when asked whether the Weekly Update is an effective communication vehicle for the Stella Maris Province 87.6% said, yes!
In next weeks edition we share our survey results.
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Margaret Hughes

Prayer Requests

Sr. Antonina Avitabile, MSC asks that we pray for Margaret Hughes who has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer that has already metastasized. She and her husband have a 10 year-old son whom they are trying to prepare for the inevitable. Margaret is a social worker and has worked as a volunteer and in many social service areas with the poor. Her family is friendly with Avitabile Family. Please remember Shirley Johnson, the older sister of Joan Neal, Vice-President of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness at Cabrini College. Shirley lives in Chicago and has been facing many health challenges in recent months. Please prayer for peace and guidance for Shirley and her family as they navigate choices for her future care You are asked to remember Bryce, the two year-old son of Brooke Long, a graduate assistant in the Holy Spirit Library at Cabrini College. Bryce has been hospitalized for two weeks in the Childrens Hospital of Pennsylvania (CHOP) with a hole in his kidney and an infection. Please pray that the infection can be treated successfully with antibiotics, so that doctors can address the hole in his kidney. Please pray for the strength and comfort of his family during this stressful time. Please pray for Michael Sala. He suffered a brain aneurism on Friday night and was operated on at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP). He is not responding and his prognosis is not very good. He has four daughters ages 7-19 and is his parents only child.

Shirley Johnson

Bryce Long

Michael Sala

In Thanksgiving
Amidst all the angst regarding school closings and mergers in Philadelphia, the Cabrini Community has cause to celebrate. St. Donato School will merge with Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. When mergers occur, the new school is given a new identity. After collaboration between the pastors and parish representatives, the new name chosen is Cabrini Catholic Regional School. This is great news and it presents opportunities for strengthening the bonds between the school and our Cabrini Family.

Some good news from Sr. Christine Marie Baltas, MSC

Maria Gonzales

In Memoriam

Sr. Joaquina Costa, MSC asks that we please pray for the repose of the soul of Maria Gonzales, the mother of Javier Gonzales. Javier maintains the building on 434 W. Deming Place in Chicago. Maria passed away on Sunday January 29, in Dallas TX.