The Legacy of West Park
In 1933, eight year old Anna DeCuitiis arrived in West Park, NY. Her family had broken apart. Their father, unable to care for five children, placed Anna and her sister with the Missionary Sisters at the big orphanage Mother Cabrini founded overlooking the Hudson River in Ulster County. Sad, hurt, and confused, Anna slowly adapted to her new life. Eventually she came to treasure it.
Carol Collins, Anna’s daughter, recently flew to New York with her son and daughter-in-law to bring us an extraordinary treasure: the program from Anna’s 1941 graduation ceremony from the school at West Park.
Anna’s commencement was held at 3pm on Sunday, June 29th. Anna was 16, an age that allowed her to find work as an adult. She was one of 24 young women graduating that year. Anna was clearly proud of her accomplishment, since she kept the program her entire life.
Although Anna carried much personal pain with her, West Park became a place of comfort. The spirit of Mother Cabrini was very much alive in the care Anna received. Five years after Anna arrived, Mother Cabrini was beatified in 1938. The excitement was certainly memorable.
Anna’s devotion to Mother Cabrini remained with her throughout her life. Among the carefully-preserved memorabilia the Collins family found after Anna’s death was a pristine prayer card that was almost certainly printed the year Mother Cabrini was canonized in 1946.
Carol, Anna’s daughter, felt strongly that the mementos of West Park that her mother left behind should be given to the Shrine. We were thrilled to have the Collins family visit, and moved by their generosity. The treasures they brought us will soon be added to our permanent exhibit about the orphanage at West Park at the back of the chapel, where all pilgrims can see and enjoy them.