A Century

Nestled on a bluff overlooking the Hudson River with a view of the New Jersey Palisades, Mother Cabrini High School in upper Manhattan is celebrating 100 years of educating young women--the mission of its founder, Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American citizen to become a saint.

Cabrini received the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Education this past November. Cabrini also received the award in 1987--one of only 33 of the nation's 50,000 secondary schools to receive the recognition twice, the principal, Brian F. Donahue, pointed out.

The Department of Education's report observed that "both the administration and the staff at Mother Cabrini believe strongly in their school as 'their mission,' and this sense of mission permeates all they do in the school."

Sister Sharon Casey, M.S.C., director of campus ministry, said the spirit of Mother Cabrini is strong at the school. She said a visiting accreditation team of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools "told us that, even in November, the freshmen already know who Mother Cabrini was and have a very clear understanding of her mission and her spirit."

When the team asked some of the students how they deal with conflict, Sister Sharon said, "One of the students responded by saying, 'We don't use violence at Cabrini. We find more peaceful ways to solve our problems.' "

Assistant principal Debbie Kabourias, Class of 1978, said, "We try to continue in Mother's footsteps." The staff of 45 includes four members of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the congregation she founded, and one Sister of Charity.

The school's motto is "Building a Young Woman's Mind, Heart, Character and Soul."

Frances Cabrini, who was born in the Lodi region of Italy, founded her religious community in 1880.

After she came to the U.S. in 1889, she ministered to immigrant families by establishing schools that were free. But she needed a solution to the heavy financial burden on her congregation.

She traveled over dirt roads in a horse-drawn wagon to the present site of Cabrini High School, a splendid property in a then-rural summer community of wealthy Italian families. In 1899, she purchased the property to establish Sacred Heart Villa, a boarding school with tuition, staffed by her sisters.

The old villa became Mother Cabrini High School in 1930, and three years later, the chapel became her burial site. Her beatification in 1938 and canonization in 1947 drew thousands to pray at the altar.

Because of the many pilgrimages and visitors from around the world, a separate chapel and national shrine were built on the property. The saint's remains, enclosed in a glass coffin and covered by her habit and a wax mask, were placed under the altar.

In the 1940s and 1950s, an elementary school also flourished. Around mid-century, the eight grades were replaced by a junior high school, which operated until 1995.

The high school has enjoyed a steadily increasing enrollment over the past several years. This year there are 423 students.

Named for the patron saint of immigrants, Cabrini has a student body composed almost entirely of the daughters of firstor second-generation immigrants, and several are immigrants themselves. Seventy-six percent are Hispanic, 19 percent African-American, 4 percent white and 1 percent Asian. Eighty percent are Catholic.

More than 65 percent are from families which fall below the national poverty level. The school's 1999-2000 tuition of $3,300 plus a $200 general fee is low by Catholic secondary school standards, and is subsidized by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Some 35 percent of the students receive financial aid through scholarships from the Inner-City Scholarship Fund and other sources; work-study grants and student employment.

The 87 students currently in the work-study program help in the cafeteria, science labs, library and offices.

The student employment began about five years ago, when Cabrini chose not to replace its groundskeeper and instead train two students in the beautification and maintenance of the grounds.

The two who are currently employed as groundskeepers are Antia Santiago, a sophomore, and Dulce Yepez, a senior. Ms. Yepez also participates in the work-study program, and said the combination of the two has made it possible for her to attend Cabrini.

More than 96 percent of Cabrini's graduates go on to college.

Carol Fu, 19, who came from China two years ago and resides with her older brother in the Washington Heights neighborhood, said the teachers and students at Cabrini "are my second family." She said when her parents visited from China, they were surprised at the friendliness between the teachers and the students.

Ms. Fu, a senior, is president of Cabrini's Math Club. She won first place in the competition sponsored by the Catholic High Schools Mathematics League of New York and New Jersey. In the fall, she will begin studying international business at the Stern School of Business at New York University.

Veronica Anderson, 14, a freshman, chose Cabrini because of its quiet neighborhood and its more than 40 co-curricular activities. She hopes to join the cheerleading squad, sports teams and the color guard of the Cabrini Drum Corps.

The drum corps, formed when the high school began, has won 22 first prizes as the top high school marching band in the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. The corps has more than 100 members and performs in some 50 parades and other events each year.

Another popular group is the 43-member Cabrini Singers. They performed during the past Christmas season on the "Today Show." Last spring, they recorded their first professionally produced compact disc, including 19 songs following the liturgical calendar.

Spiritual activities, a major component of the Cabrini education, include the Pro-Life Society, the First Friday Club, Morning Prayer Leaders and the Christian Leadership Program.

Outside the classroom, Cabrini students serve the community in many ways. Last fall, they were recognized for being the largest food contributors for the past several years to the Covenant House Thanksgiving food drive.

The anniversary celebrations, which began in November, will continue with a Centennial Gala at the New York Botanical Garden on May 13; a bus trip to Ellis Island and Little Italy on May 15; a trip to Italy June 29 to July 12, and a community open house in October.

Cardinal O'Connor will celebrate the closing Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Cabrini Shrine on Nov. 19.