Promoting
Catholic Education
Our agreement with cabrini university
After more than six decades of providing education inspired by Mother Cabrini and the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Cabrini University, a fellow Catholic institution in the Greater Philadelphia area, will graduate its final class in May 2024.
While this is a profound loss to our local and religious communities, Villanova has been working with Cabrini leadership on a plan to transition Cabrini University’s operations to a close—one that would also preserve Cabrini’s legacy and mission, honoring our shared commitment to advancing Catholic higher education.
The Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart intended the land on which Cabrini was built to be used to advance Catholic education in the spirit of Mother Cabrini’s commitment to an “education of the heart.” Villanova was founded upon the ideals of truth, unity, and love. While unique in our identities and histories, Cabrini and Villanova share a common faith and mission to offer a whole person, Catholic education
We know this announcement raises many questions around what this might mean for Villanova. There will come a point when we can start to contemplate the potential opportunities this agreement, formed in mutual respect, creates but now is not that time. Rather, we are focused on fulfilling our commitment, as envisioned in the agreement, to honor and preserve the Cabrini legacy.
Through this website, we plan to provide information as it becomes available as well as context to our agreement with Cabrini which–while not finalized–has been approved in principle and unanimously by both Villanova and Cabrini University Boards and by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. We will continue to update this site regularly.