My latest column on Global Sisters Report has been published, inspired by my Congregation’s statement: Welcome Immigrants and Refugees.

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace have long had a concern for immigrants and refugees. In 1881 our founder Margaret Anna Cusack (Mother Clare) wrote to the Irish bishops: “Whatever opinion many of us may have as to the cause of emigration, of the fact there is no question.” Seeing the massive waves of emigration from the starvation of Ireland to the promise of America, she expressed grave concern for the safety of the new immigrants, especially young women in a strange land. …

Every year our community celebrates Founder’s Day on June 5, the anniversary of Mother Clare’s death. This year we celebrated by issuing a congregational statement she would no doubt have supported: Welcome Immigrants and Refugees. We “express our grave concern for refugees, asylum seekers, and our migrant brothers and sisters.” Not only do we call on all governments to provide safe haven, we also urge them to address the root causes of forced migration, such as economic inequality, war, arm sales, and environmental degradation.

Click here to read the whole column.

And click here to read the full text of our Congregation Statement: Welcome Immigrants and Refugees