Each fall semester the University dedicates one day to celebrate the legacy and mission of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, the Patron Saint of Immigrants. Cabrini Day this year is Tuesday, November 13 and the theme is Positive Identity and Resilience. All classes before 4:30pm are canceled and students are encouraged to attend the day’s activities and events. But what exactly is Cabrini Day?
Well to start off, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini also known as Mother Cabrini, the namesake of our school had a lifelong call of action to help and educate immigrants. She was born in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano Italy on July 15th, 1850. In 1880 she founded her own order with seven other young women, the Institution of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Soon after, Pope Leo XIII told the sisters to head to New York to help thousands of newly migrated Italian immigrants. There she created catechism and education classes which then led to the establishment of many schools, hospitals, and orphanages. She opened 67 institutions in total worldwide. She died at the age of 67 in December of 1917 and became a canonized saint by PopePius XII in 1946. She is highly recognized for her holiness and service to mankind. Along with other schools and institutions, Cabrini University lets her legacy live on in our Education of the Heart mission through leadership development and a commitment to social justice.
Cabrini Day is dedicated to letting social justice take center stage through the selected theme. The two most highlighted events are the student presentation session and a keynote speaker address. Students present posters on a relevant topic of their choosing and a few winners are chosen from the poster session based on creativity. The winners then donate their monetary prize to a charity of their choice.
This year the keynote speaker is Dr. Bhavna Shymalan who is the Co-Founder and Vice President of M. Night Shyamalan Foundation. Her foundation is a nonprofit supporting grass root efforts of emerging leaders as they fight against the barriers created by poverty and social injustice in their communities. The title of her speech is “Becoming Me” and she will share her life story and how she has personally created her positive identity and fostered resilience regardless of opposition.
The exciting day kicks off with a mass ceremony and concludes with a workshop on building positive identity. There will also be a "March for Change" around the campus as we advocate for various causes that are important to the Cabrini community. The first 100 registrants of the march will receive a free t-shirt (register here). The full schedule of events goes as follows:
8 – 8:30 AM Mass (Bruckmann Memorial Chapel of Saint Joseph)
9 – 9:30 AM Open visit to the Cabriniana Room (Holy Spirit Library)
9:30 - 10 AM “A walk with Mother Cabrini” (meet at the Mother Cabrini statue, across from the Mansion and Chapel)
10 – 11:30 AM Student presentations “Celebrating Positive Identity and Resilience” (Nerney Field House, Dixon Center)
11:30 -12:30 PM Lunch (Cavs Corner)
2:00 – 3:30 PM Keynote Address by Dr. Bhavna Shyamalan, Co-Founder and Vice President of the M. Night Shyamalan Foundation, and Awards Presentation (Grace Hall Atrium)
3:45-4:30 PM Run with Purpose/March for Change (Grace Hall entrance – side facing the Mansion)
4:30-6:00 PM Sharing our Journeys: A Workshop on Building Positive Identity (Grace Hall Multipurpose Room) – pizza included
The day is going to be full of school pride as everyone is invited to wear Cabrini gear or the school colors to show off their spirit. Hope to see you all there!