Learn more about our “Heart of Cabrini” Honorees!
Rev. Donald C. Baker
Pastor, Church of St. Monica - St. Stephen of Hungary - St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Donald Carl Baker was born to Dallas and Marjorie Baker on May 1, 1960 and grew up in Nanuet, New York. He has one brother, Daniel, who is retired and lives with his wife Susan in Raleigh, NC. They have four grown children, all of whom live in North Carolina.
Father Baker graduated from Nanuet Senior High School in 1978, and attended Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, VA. Although he began as a fine arts major (he still paints and draws), he graduated with a double degree in German and Religious Studies in 1982.
That double major makes sense when one realizes that Father Baker was raised a Lutheran, and following college entered the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, PA. His intention was to become a Lutheran minister, though God evidently had other plans. After a year of graduate Studies in Munich, Germany, during which he contemplated an academic career, he returned and was received into the Roman Catholic Church on July 16, 1988.
He studied for the priesthood in the Archdiocese of New York at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, NY, and was ordained a priest in May of 1995. Father Baker’s first assignment was at St. Frances de Chantal in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx. After five years there, he moved to the Church of St. Gregory the Great on West 90th St. He spent three years there and then was named the pastor of the Church of St. Teresa on Henry St. in 2003.
Father Baker served the people of St. Teresa’s on the Lower East Side of Manhattan for 12 years, 7 of them also as pastor of Nativity Church in the East Village. While there he worked closely with and supported the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Cabrini Immigrant Services.
Timothy Cardinal Dolan appointed Father Baker pastor of St. Monica’s in August 2015. He was sent there to bring three parishes, St. Monica’s St. Stephen of Hungary and St. Elizabeth of Hungary, together and to support and build up St. Stephen of Hungary School. He has been their pastor now for 11 years.
Father Baker’s tireless advocacy and leadership reflect the faith, compassion, and courage that define Mother Cabrini's legacy and CIS-NYC is honored to present Father Baker with the Heart of Cabrini Award.
Brigid K. Sullivan
In loving memory of a Dedicated CIS-NYC Volunteer and Retired NYPD Detective
Brigid K. Sullivan, a valiant soul whose life was a testament to courage and adventure, departed this world on August 27, 2025, in the same city where her story began, New York City. She was born on January 18, 1968, and was the cherished daughter of Daniel and Margaret Maloney Sullivan and the beloved sister of Daniel, John, and Mary. She was an integral part of a large family whom she cherished, including many cousins who will continue to carry her spirit. Brigid's love for her family was the cornerstone of her existence. She cherished every moment spent with them.
Brigid's life was one of service and dedication. Brigid's educational journey led her to earn a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a field that served her well in her impressive 26-year tenure in the New York City Police Department, rising to the rank of Detective. Brigid found profound fulfillment in her volunteer work with Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC, where she played an integral role in our annual Christmas Celebration and other family activities. Her dedication to our organization was a testament to her compassionate spirit. She eagerly anticipated the annual celebration, an event that brought immense joy to both the children and Brigid herself. Many families at CIS-NYC saw Brigid as their angel. When Sr. Yolanda Flores (Family Program Coordinator at CIS-NYC) shared this with her, Brigid responded with characteristic humility, laughing it off and saying, “No, no I am an angel with dark wings.” But whether she accepted the title or not, to the families she served, that is exactly what she was and continues to be.
Brigid seemed to embody the words by Helen Keller: "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." That encapsulated her approach to life – living each day courageously and embracing the adventures that came her way. Brigid's legacy is not merely in the records of her professional accolades but echoes in the lives of those she touched with her infectious humor, unwavering bravery, and the boundless love she shared. CIS-NYC is deeply honored to recognize and celebrate Brigid with the Heart of Cabrini Award.