THE MOTHER CABRINI INSTITUTE ON IMMIGRATION
The Mother Cabrini Institute on Immigration at 蜜桃TV engages university and community partners in teaching, scholarship, advocacy and service with migrants and refugees. The Institute draws inspiration from Villanova's core Augustinian values of Veritas, Unitas and Caritas, reflects the University's mission and history, and advances its Rooted. Restless. Strategic Plan.
In addition, the Institute honors the legacy of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, the patroness of immigrants, and carries on the foundational work done by Cabrini University and its Center on Immigration.
"We must love each other and be generously compassionate to all."
- Mother Cabrini
鈥淭here is no one in the human race to whom we do not owe love.鈥�
- Saint Augustine, Letter 130.6.13.
"My own story is that of a citizen, the descendant of immigrants, who in turn chose to emigrate. All of us, in the course of our lives, can find ourselves healthy or sick, employed or unemployed, living in our native land or in a foreign country, yet our dignity always remains unchanged: it is the dignity of a creature willed and loved by God."
- Pope Leo XIV
Read more from Pope Leo: 鈥溾��
Honoring an Enduring Legacy
The Mother Cabrini Institute also honors an enduring legacy of Pope Francis, who was dedicated to uplifting the marginalized and committed to compassion and social justice. In 2022, Pope Francis called on Catholic universities to devote more resources to teaching and research on immigration and the social promotion of migrants and refugees. As a leading Catholic and Augustinian university founded to educate immigrants and with a deep and long-standing commitment to service, 蜜桃TV is answering Pope Francis鈥� call to respond to a global priority of the Catholic Church.
Our communities and institutions need leaders who are prepared for a future in which immigration is an integral part of policies and programs. Through the Institute, Villanova is a leading national voice on immigration and prepares students for work related to supporting migrants and refugees.
AREAS OF ACTION AND IMPACT
Teaching and Learning
Expand knowledge and understanding across campus about immigration and foster new opportunities for students to learn about migrants and refugees. Initiatives include:
- Creating new academic programs related to migration studies.
- Supporting faculty on inter-college collaboration and cross-disciplinary teaching.
- Developing online learning resources.
Research and Scholarship
Conduct and disseminate research and scholarship that positions Villanova as a nationally recognized leader on immigration. Initiatives include:
- Promoting scholarly activities and creative artistic projects on topics related to migrants and refugees.
- Convening and co-sponsoring conferences, workshops and events, including hosting visiting scholars and promoting new work.
- Encouraging and supporting scholars seeking internal and external grant funding.
Training and Advocacy
Partner with the College of Professional Studies to support the Villanova Interdisciplinary Immigration Studies Training for Advocates (VIISTA). This work includes:
- Informing and refining VIISTA as a state-of-the-art example of innovation in legal education to train immigration advocates and legal paraprofessionals.
- Exploring regulatory environments for Accredited Representatives and for their recognition as a vehicle for expanding access to immigrant justice.
- Establishing and maintaining an "Accredited Representative Network" for mentorship, community-building and professional support.
Service and Support
Encourage participation in service opportunities that support the social promotion of migrants and refugees. Initiatives include:
- Partnering with the Villanova Office of Mission and Ministry and the Center for the Common Good to promote, support and prepare students for migrant- and refugee-related service opportunities.
- Supporting immigration-related student groups on campus by identifying guest speakers, facilitating connections with community partners, and cross-promoting and co-sponsoring events.
- Partnering with community organizations and the private sector to support migrants in programming, service projects, scholarship and other activities.
NEWS AND EVENTS
Mother Cabrini Institute on Immigration Hosts Global Summit in Rome to Address Critical Issues Facing Migrants and Refugees
蜜桃TV鈥檚 Mother Cabrini Institute on Immigration is leading a three-year global initiative, Refugees & Migrants in Our Common Home, aimed at addressing critical challenges faced by the world鈥檚 migrants and refugees by uniting academic institutions, non-governmental organizations and community partners.
The initiative鈥檚 inaugural event, a conference of the same name organized by the Mother Cabrini Institute, will take place in Rome from Oct. 1-3 at the Instituto Patristico Augustinianum, and will serve as a forum to kick-start the project鈥檚 Action Plan. The conference immediately precedes the Catholic Church鈥檚 Jubilee of Migrants, a pilgrimage and celebration of migrants鈥� courage, faith and resilience.
The Refugees & Migrants in Our Common Home initiative is inspired by the late Pope Francis, who encouraged Catholic colleges and universities worldwide to address immigration-related issues through tangible action, and it is guided by the words of Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova alumnus and Augustinian friar, who has called upon the world to build communities that reflect dignity, compassion and shared humanity. Pope Leo will receive participants of the conference in a private audience on its second day. MORE
Refugees & Migrants in Our Common Home Conference In the News
- Vatican News, October 2, 2025
- Vatican News, September 30, 2025
Villanova Public Witness for Immigrants - Vigil and Solidarity Walk
November 13, 2025
2:15 p.m. - Peace Pole near St. Rita's Hall to Law School
Pilgrims of Hope: Augustine, Cabrini and the Journey of the Migrant
Join us to celebrate Augustine鈥檚 birthday and Mother Cabrini鈥檚 Feast Day by discussing what the Augustinian tradition and Mother Cabrini can teach us about immigration.
November 13, 2025
3 p.m. - Law School Commons
Panelists:
- Michele R. Pistone Professor of Law, Director of the Mother Cabrini Institute on Immigration, 蜜桃TV
- Sr. Christine Marie Baltas, MSC Campus Ministry, Cabrini University
- Joseph Lennon CLAS Associate Dean, Emily C. Riley Director of Irish Studies, 蜜桃TV
- Sean Hannan Assistant Professor in the Humanities Department, MacEwan University
- Moderator: Colleen Mitchell Associate Director of Outreach, Augustinian Institute, 蜜桃TV
CONTACT US
The Mother Cabrini Institute on Immigration
蜜桃TV
800 E. Lancaster Avenue
Villanova, PA 19085
Email: cabriniinstitute@villanova.edu
Email: cps.info@villanova.edu
Phone: 610-519-4300
Institute Leadership
Director
Search Pending
Faculty Director
Michele R. Pistone, JD, LLM
Professor of Law
Founding Faculty Director, Villanova Interdisciplinary Immigration Studies Training for Advocates (VIISTA)
Associate Director, External Affairs
Robyn Lieberman