Fall 2006, Volume 49, Number 3

Building Bridges for Better Neighbors

The United States has been called a nation of immigrants. Risk-takers crossed oceans and/or borders for many different reasons including the search for gold, religious freedom, economic opportunities and a better life for themselves and their families. Many of these newcomers were not welcomed, at least not at first. Signs that declared, “No Irish Need Apply” were common in the 1850’s. In an earlier time, 1790, Benjamin Franklin declared that Germans would “never assimilate, learn English or understand freedom.” Sister Corine Murray, who works with persons of diverse cultures, observes, “Many nationalities were not welcomed when they arrived in the U.S. Later when their gifts and talents were better appreciated, the prejudice disappeared.”

Hospitality to the stranger is deeply rooted in both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures.“The strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as the natives among you, and you shall love them as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Leviticus 19: 33-34) Jesus implores us to “welcome the stranger…for what you do to the least of my sisters and brothers, you do unto me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Ours is a God that calls us to live out our faith in word and deed. The North American Presentation Sisters have chosen to raise their voice of compassion and hospitality above the storm of anti-immigrant sentiments that have fueled much of the national debate. During their annual meeting in August, the Conference of Presentation Sisters issued the following statement to unify the Presentation voice on migration issues. Presentation sisters and associates of North America stand in support of immigrants, migrants and refugees in a spirit of hospitality and compassion. In solidarity with women religious and Catholic Bishops through North America, we “promote legislation that includes family reunification; a path to earned legalization; worker protections and an effective border policy that is humane rather than punitive.”
(LCWR, USCCB)

Dubuque Presentations put action behind these words as they participated in a rally for comprehensive immigration reform held in Dubuque on August 31, 2006. The rally was organized in response to a U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee Field Hearing. This hearing, hosted by House Republicans, provided opponents of the McCain-Kennedy Senate Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill, with an opportunity to speak against it. The McCain-Kennedy Bill includes many of the provisions addressed in the Presentation Immigration Statement: a new guest worker program with the possibility of permanent residency and a path to citizenship for those currently residing in the country.

Because the organizers of the Judiciary field hearing would not allow anyone to speak in support of comprehensive immigration reform, hundreds of supporters rallied under the theme “Building Bridges for Better Neighbors” to make their voices heard. Area religious leaders gave speeches calling for legislators to produce reform that is comprehensive and in line with the shared values of people of faith. Two immigrant women told their struggle-filled stories to keep their families together and make a better life for themselves. Education and employment opportunities were not available to them in their home country.

As a symbol of the need to bridge our differences, rally participants formed a human chain across the Julien Dubuque ridge. An American flag was passed hand to hand from one end of the bridge to the other. The flag ended in the proud hands of one of America’s newest naturalized citizens, José Guadalupe, who studied with Sister Corine every Sunday for two months in order to pass his citizenship test. As a U.S. citizen he can now vote, travel with a U.S. passport and sponsor family members who wish to come to this country.

Many messages in our culture tell us to fear the stranger. Our God tells us to welcome and to love those who are different from ourselves. May we act on God’s Word and be bridge builders uniting all of God’s people so that the Kingdom of God may flourish among us.

All photos were taken during immigration rally and field hearing. Left to Right: Sister Janet Stelken; Bishop Gregory Palmer; Joe Featherston, Sister Kathleen Grace, OSF, and Sister Jeanette McCarthy, PBVM; and Sister Joy Peterson