Sister Gail Cabral, IHM

Gentle Listener & Authentic Person

Sister Gail Cabral is currently residing at OLP recovering from spinal surgery. She’s teaching for ASEC (African Sisters Education Collaborative), as she continues her recovery and resolves future residence questions.

Born in Fall River, MA, to Anthony and Aurore Cabral, she has a younger brother, Al. Gail’s mother was a seamstress in a factory and her husband worked with the factory’s machinist. Thus was born a partnership that would bring both families to Mahanoy City.

Frequently, Gail’s teachers would ask the girls to raise hands if they wanted to be a nun and all hands went up. But, in 6th grade, Gail knew the question was important and serious. She did not raise her hand that year. A few years later, another Sister told the class they were now old enough to pray to God to know what their vocation should be. Gail remembers clearly telling herself “I won’t pray!” Finally, she realized that, even in 6th grade, this INFP (Myers & Briggs Personality Indicator) had quickly processed with herself (I) that agreeing to pray to God for her future direction was a serious matter and that (P) she just couldn’t spontaneously agree or raise her hand to commit – no matter the cost of being the only one who didn’t.

As a sophomore, she studied WWI and reviewed a series of alliances among European nations which were based on fear, envy and competition. That the role emotions played during war was so important really made an impression on Gail. At that point, Gail’s NF (big picture/feelings) kicked in and she realized that her future would involve studying emotions. One could easily argue that Gail became a Scranton IHM primarily because
Marywood College offered a psychology degree.

While Gail didn’t enter until she’d finished her first degree, as a resident, she spent four years immersed in an IHM environment. As the years went on, Gail turned her focus to developmental psychology. At the same time, her friends on campus were entering and she had the time to visit them at the novitiate building. Senior year included senior retreat; a request to say the “Come Holy Spirit” prayer daily and a desire to get more information by meeting with the college chaplain, Father Pakutka. His approach was tailormade for a “P.” He gave Gail a question. She went away to think about it and, when she was ready, she came back to discuss it and get the next question.

So, after graduating, Gail entered. She spent her school hours pursuing her master’s degree.

After a year teaching high school, from 1968 through her retirement in 2022 – with the exception of 1973 – 77 (when she pursued her PhD in Psychology and Human Development at Catholic University) Gail was a member of the Marywood College/University faculty. Her favorite course – Developmental Psych – with a special interest in the first five years – was not only required for psych majors but for many other majors as well.

Sisters often form friendships based on where they reside. A dormitory assignment gave birth to one of the deepest friendships of Gail’s life – with Sister Patricia Ann Matthews. Their sense of curiosity and humor initiated their friendship but, over time and with their university responsibilities – they became confidants. I wouldn’t be surprised if Gail still speaks to her today though Patricia tragically died of cancer in 2008.

The title of this profile is Gail’s response to how she hopes to be remembered. I was struck by how deliberate she was in selecting her adjectives and how accurate, in my experience, they are.