Dear Cabrini community,
To say that these are difficult and challenging times is an understatement.
As you know, the hardships posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigation measures are not affecting everyone in the same way. This public health crisis has exacerbated and made apparent the inequalities and social injustices of today’s society.
But inequality and injustice go far beyond COVID-19, and reach further back into history. Recent events—the unjust deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and so many more—are bringing the systemic racism and subsequent discrimination that people of color have faced for centuries to the forefront of society.
I speak for the Cabrini community in joining the countless others in condemning these actions. While I cannot fully comprehend the full impact of these horrific and unjust events for people of color, I can share the despair and anger of the African-American community. I share in their heartbreak, and I am ready to support this community and our Cabrinian community however I can.
The issue is not one of political parties, red or blue, Republican or Democrat. Our society is fractured.
Our namesake, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, the Patron Saint of Immigrants, committed her life to the dignity, development, and empowerment of all people. Our institution was founded on upholding this legacy, on providing an Education of the Heart—an education that empowers people to change society for the better.
I want you to know that I am committed to doing better, to taking an honest, in-depth look at our community, our actions, our relationships and interactions, including acknowledging where we have fallen short and where we can improve.
We find it more important than ever to bolster our efforts to support and engage our diverse Cabrini community, and we continue to work to energize each other, to educate ourselves, and to find ways to work together to support each other and to act, to move forward from these tragic events by taking positive steps to better ourselves and society.
The conversations will be difficult, and this initiative of bettering ourselves and our Cabrini community will take work. It will not happen overnight. Change never does. But I believe this reflection of self and commitment to doing better is necessary.
I’ve included a resource provided by our Office of Diversity Initiatives and created by Southern Poverty Law Center that provides a framework for taking action to fight hate. Additional information on future programming and events will be forthcoming early next week.
Additionally, Father Carl F. Janicki, Director of Campus Ministry and Chaplain, is hosting a Virtual Peace Pole event at noon on Tuesday, June 2. If you would like to join in this moment of reflection and prayer for guidance, please reach out to editor@cabrini.edu for information.
I look forward to working with you all on further building on Mother Cabrini’s legacy and our mission. Let’s work together to support each other, to make space for the tough conversations, and to empower each other to improve ourselves and society.
It starts with us. We need to do better. And we will, for that is the Cabrinian way.
In the Cabrinian spirit,
Donald B. Taylor, PhD
President