‘Labour with love: the power of your love will endow your actions with strength and courage’ Mother Cabrini
For the first time in four years, we gathered in Cabrini Malvern Chapel to celebrate the very special Mother Cabrini Awards for 2023. This year was made even more special with the presence of our visiting Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, our Cabrini Sisters. We welcomed Sr Antonina, Sr Maria Elena, and Sr Maureen, and our very own Sr Beatriz in a heartwarming ceremony. Along with the Sisters, Francesca Lee from the Cabrini Board joined Chief Executive Sue Williams in presenting the nominees with their certificates and the overall category recipients with their pins.
We recognised those who consistently walk in Mother Cabrini’s shoes and those who continually care about people and not just care for them. We celebrated our people who have been witnessed as living the legacy of Mother Cabrini, a woman who created so much, so determinedly and with such deep faith. The award criteria is linked to Mother Cabrini’s own virtues. In essence we asked – “What does love look like here?”. The attributes of Mother Cabrini we looked for included:
- Doing what is needed without being noticed. The Virtue of Humility
- Overcoming personal thresholds – moving outside the comfort zone for the benefit of others. The Virtue of Courage
- Reinforcing the importance of the spiritual dimension in colleagues and/or patients. Whole Person Care
- And demonstrating LOVE with generosity of heart, inclusiveness and hospitality – and all with a smile.
This year’s overall recipients were:
• Individual: Lisa Kerswell, Critical Care Registered Nurse, ICU
• Leader: Joanne Herbert, Senior Legal Counsel, Legal (pictured below with Sr Maria Elena Plata and CE Sue Williams)
• Team: Customer Service Team, Logistics Malvern (team photo with Sr Maureen Bennett & Sue Williams)
Cabrini Australia’s service to African Missions
The 2023 Mother Cabrini awards concluded with a presentation from visiting Sister Maureen Bennett MSC, who is based in Ethiopia. Sr Maureen presented Sue Williams (pictured below) with a plaque in recognition of the wonderful support that Cabrini Health, Australia has provided to the Holy Spirit Region over the last 50 plus years. Cabrini Australia has provided financial, material, and physical support to Cabrini Ministries in eSwatini over many years, and most recently to St. Mary’s Catholic Hospital in Dubbo, Ethiopia.
