This past week, Cabrini College celebrated Cabrini Spirt week beginning on Monday, Nov 11 and ending on Friday, Nov 16. Cabrini Week culminated on Tuesday, Nov 12 with Eboo Patel as the keynote speaker. Patel’s message of his personal journey of social faith through the practice of interfaith captured an infectious energy. Cabrini students and faculty alike listened to ideas of pluralism and overcoming fear of the unknown. He challenged listeners to make a change that lasts. His dynamic speech set the tone for the entire week’s events.
Along with Tuesday’s events, Lead for Change took over the gymnasium in Dixon, to unite students for social justice initiatives. Students used various ways to display specific examples of social injustices and why the issues were personally important to them. Guests, faculty and other students were encouraged to mingle among the displays and discover issues that were important to students. All of the participants were entered into a competition and asked guests to vote for their cause. At the keynote speakers event, the top three winners were announced. Each winner recieved a specific amount of money that they were able to donate to the charity of their choice. Cabrini was challenged to ask the difficult question “What can you do to break the cycle?” The energy of Lead for Change was positive and in turn, produced an amazing turn-out.
Later on Tuesday night, Patel held another speech and book signing for those who were interested in hearing more from the keynote speaker. Patel signed his book “Acts of Faith” and talked about the important aspects of his book. He stressed once again that people should be able to keep true to their own faith traditions while being open to other’s faith traditions. He also reminded attendees that story-telling is an important tool in encouraging interfaith conversation.
Also held on Tuesday, Speed Faithing, held in Cav’s Corner over dinner time, was an event that put the message of Patel’s speech into motion. Students and faculty alike were able to experience close interaction with people of different and similar faiths. Pre-selected faculty sat at five different table and participants rotated around each of the tables, listening to the various stories that were shared. Participants were then asked engaging questions and had time to converse and interact with each other.
On Wednesday, Nov. 13, the annual Cabrini Pageant was held in Grace Hall at eight that evening. The energy was contagious as students gathered to witness the crowning of this year’s Mr. and Miss. Cabrini. Jennarose DiGaicomo and Jon Miller were crowned Queen and King of Cabrini. Jennarose said that she was presented with the opportunity to run in Cabrini’s pageant, an opportunity that not many people are given, and she was blessed enough to be able to take it. “Bless your heart!” became a catch phrase for the rest of the evening, after DiGaicomo presented her talent, horseback riding. “I will never change who I am just because I am Miss. Cabrini. I will continue to be me!” DiGaicomo said.
