Nancy Costello is a name that many students have seen before whether its at the bottom of a campus email or a letter going home to parents. What many people do not know is that she has a vast knowledge of the legacy of the Cabrinian spirit and Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini herself. Costello is the director of communication for the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus as well as a Cabrini College alumna. Therefore, she feels personal ties to the Cabrini Honor room, otherwise known as the Cabrinian room.
Located on the second floor of the Holy Spirit Library, the room is tucked behind the shelves of books that fill almost all of the space. If one looks closely, they can spot the hidden door on the left side of the room.
“This room is the best kept secret on campus”, Costello said.
The room is not highly visible and Costello feels that the room should be moved to a more accessible part of campus, such as a welcome center.
“There has been talk of creating a larger welcome center on campus sometime in the near future and these items could be brought out into a more central location that visitors and perspective students could see, which would enhance the whole history and tradition of the college”, Costello said.
The Cabriniana room is where artifacts of Frances Cabrini reside, along with many of her writings that have been translated into English and items of clothing that she owned. These artifacts have been put on display for special events before but Costello says that they have not been displayed in a while.
“The sisters where always very mindful of the precious aspect of Frances Cabrini’s things…they are very mindful and careful of passing on things from one sister to another.”
Many of the artifacts that are kept in the Cabrinian room were brought to the college by Sister Ursula Infante and Sister Sullivan, both presidents of Cabrini, because they felt that they would be treasured here.
Specific artifacts that can be found in the Cabrinian room are Mother Cabrini’s dining utensils, which she used to make life easier, especially while traveling shipboard, along with a check that she would have used, showing that she was a business women ahead of her time. The room also contains several of her garments, her teaching certificate and some information about the many trips that she took. Mother Cabrini was an eloquent writer and wrote many of her documents in Italian that where later translated into English and stored here. Many of the artifacts within the Cabrinian room are dated at around 125 years old, especially the clothing that she would have worn.
“I think, as a community, we don’t do enough of a job of telling our students about this [the Cabriniana room],” Costello said. “We could incorporate this into our orientation.” She feels that it is important for students to learn about the legacy of the college and understand that this is such “a wonderful story to tell.” “Their education, a Cabrini education, is like none other in the world, because the missionary sisters sponsoronly one college worldwide,” Costello said. Costello believes that to know and appreciate the legacy of Cabrini College would be very beneficial to all.
