‘A profound experience’
Border Witness delegates from the Sisters of Mercy-South Central Community at the border wall in Hidalgo, Texas: (from left) Buff Easterly, who teaches theology at Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock, Ark.; Ty Barnes, director of association for the community; Beth Thompson, writer/editor in the community’s Communications Department; Jack Bartley, COO/CFO for the community; Sister Phuong Dong, who ministers at Holy Angels in Belmont; and Tanya Pitts, a pre-associate and staff member in archives and association. (Photo provided by Beth Thompson)BELMONT — Local Sisters of Mercy leaders witnessed first-hand what those crossing the border from Mexico to the United States experience during a “Border Immersion” program in McAllen, Texas, earlier this month.
The goal of these intensive trips is to create “Border Witnesses” who can share first-hand knowledge on the plight of immigrants at the U.S.-Mexican border and expand on the immigration headlines, which don’t always tell the whole story, said Beth Thompson, writer/editor for the Sisters of Mercy’s communications department, who attended the March 31-April 4 trip.
“Our goal is to change the narrative from blaming the victim to addressing root causes of migration,” Thompson said.
Sister Phuong Dong, who ministers at Holy Angels in Belmont, said she was hesitant to travel to the border after hearing stories about criminals and criminal activity that occurs there.
“That’s a fear a lot of people have,” Sister Phuong said. “I felt the need to see it for myself. It was an emotional experience to be with the people and to see and hear what they have to go through. My heart’s been touched.”
Sister Phuong said Border Witnessing took her out of her comfort zone, but she felt safe among the people seeking a better life and she appreciated hearing their stories.
The delegation included five Charlotte-area residents: Sister Phuong, Thompson, Ty Barnes, director of association for the community; Jack Bartley, COO/CFO for the community; and Tanya Pitts, a pre-associate and staff member in archives and association.
They spent time at ARISE, a comprehensive ministry serving women and their families in four immigrant communities “colonias” in South Texas. ARISE is a ministry co-sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.
The delegation also met with border patrol agents and an attorney about civil rights, learned about a housing project with “sweat equity,” toured a facility for teens who have crossed the border without an adult guardian, visited the Respite Center, and crossed the border themselves.
That’s the part of the trip that made the biggest impact on Barnes, she said: visiting these “colonias” and hearing the stories of those hoping to receive asylum in the U.S.
“We heard about an 80-year-old man who has a work visa. He gets paid $3 per 100 bunches to pick cilantro,” Barnes said. “That was so shocking to me to learn we are still paying people so little money in this country for such labor-intensive work. He would work sun-up to sun-down and sometimes only make $40 that day.
“Coming home and seeing cilantro in the grocery store – it’s had an impact to understand what it took for that cilantro to make it our grocery store shelf.”
Barnes said she went on the trip in hopes of being a voice in sharing an authentic narrative about the migrants crossing into the United States.
“I think the media has done a good job of portraying people who are crossing the border as criminals,” Barnes said. “Most are just seeking a better way of life, and it is their legal right to do so. There are a lot of misconceptions about those seeking asylum in our country. As Americans, I think we need to honor what we agreed to instead of criminalizing what we agreed to.”
As a Christian, Barnes said she believes we have to see the human dignity in people first. “We have to be more understanding of the realities on the border. We have to be the voice for people who don’t have one.
The delegation met with the Rio Grande Border Patrol as well, and they saw the statistics.
“In those legally versus criminally crossing, there’s a huge disparity. But what’s being reported is the negative. When you meet and talk with these people, they’re good people. They don’t have criminal records. They’re trying to get here to have a better way of living,” Barnes explained.
Drug smuggling at the border is on the decline, Thompson said they learned, because illegal trafficking and sales of human organs have become more lucrative.
The group also visited the Catholic Charities-run Respite Center in McAllen, Texas, where asylum-seekers can shower and receive clean clothes, food and rest before traveling to their new homes.
For a facility that sees hundreds of people each day, Thompson said, the Respite Center was quiet and calm.
“It was all a profound experience,” Thompson said. “For me visiting the Respite Center up close had the biggest impact. Just to look into their faces – they’re the lucky ones. They’ve gotten that far and have somewhere to go in the U.S.
“It’s heartbreaking and frustrating how long and hard it can be for them to reach the point where they are here. And it’s clear our immigration system is broken and needs to be fixed. These people need our compassion and not our scorn. We need to instead address the root causes of the migration.”
The group from Charlotte was one of two delegations from the Sisters of Mercy to take part in the border experience this month. The Sisters of Mercy have sponsored a series of visits to the U.S.-Mexico border over the past several years to bring attention to the root causes driving migration from Central America, and the difficult conditions endured by migrants inside the U.S.
— Kimberly Bender, online reporter
Want to get involved?
At www.sistersofmercy.org: Contact the Sisters of Mercy to discover what the current needs are at the U.S.-Mexican border and how you can get involved
Judy Bednar, a 1st-year First Communion teacher, is honored by Deacon Dave Powers with a plaque of appreciation. (Photos provided by Our Lady of Lourdes Parish) MONROE — Teachers and assistants volunteering in the religious education program at Our Lady of Lourdes Church are feeling the love from their parish community this week.
Father Benjamin Roberts, pastor, working with parish director of religious education Deacon Dave Powers and staff, are showing their appreciation for the more than 50 catechists sharing their love of the faith with 700 students enrolled in faith formation at the parish this year.
“We felt it was important to honor the volunteers and all of those who assist us in the faith formation program,” Deacon Powers said.
During this first annual Faith Formation Week, April 29 - May 5, Father Roberts is sharing taped reflections to offer prayer, encouragement and thanksgiving for all of those serving in faith formation at the parish.
“You are servants of the Lord and you speak his Word,” Father Roberts said in the first day’s reflection. “The children and young people of our parish hear the Word of the Lord from your voice. As you teach them the doctrines and practices of our faith, you help them to recognize and to hear the voice of Jesus.”
Students are offering a Prayer for Catechists in each of their classes during Faith Formation Week to express their appreciation. Prayer cards featuring St. Charles Borromeo, patron of catechists and catechumens, are also being given out to teachers and students.
Catechists will also receive a plaque of appreciation.
Deacon Powers says that at the religious education Open House on April 29, 15 new families signed their children up for future religious education classes. Ten new families also registered with the parish.
Father Roberts plans to make this Faith Formation Week an annual event, held purposely during the week between Diving Mercy Sunday and the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
“We wanted something to recognize faith formation teachers because something like more than 90 percent of students in the Diocese of Charlotte are faith formation students,” Father Roberts said.
He believes it is a pastor’s responsibility to acknowledge faith formation teachers.
The 2nd-year First Communion students honor their teacher, Laura Flores, with a prayer for Catechists.He hopes more parishes will follow suit and is making the materials available to any parish who would like to use them.
Deacon Powers says that he has started getting feedback from their faith formation teachers. “They’re saying things like, ‘Thank you so much! Tell Father Thank you.’”
He reiterates that “the idea (of Faith Formation Week) is to honor the people who are bringing Jesus into the lives of our children and making Him come alive to them.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
For more information
If your parish would like to receive the materials associated with honoring faith formation volunteers, email Deacon Powers at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
To view Father Robert’s reflections for Faith Formation Week, visit the Our Lady of Lourdes Church Monroe Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OurLadyofLourdesMonroe.
Prayer for Catechists
Jesus, you told us that laborers for the vineyard would be few and that we should pray to the Lord of the Harvest in the hope that many might respond.
You have answered our prayers by sending us catechists for your vineyard.
Bless these men and women who have responded to your call to the ministry of catechesis.
May they be filled with zeal for your Church, with care for those they catechize, and with love for your Word of Life.
Let your Spirit come upon them so that your Word may echo through their teaching and through the witness of their lives.
Through our catechists, may the members of our parish whom they teach be transformed into witnesses to your Word.
And may these catechists receive the blessing your Son promised to all who labor in your vineyard.
We pray to you, gracious Father, in the name of your Son, Jesus, the Word of Life, and in the unity of the Holy Spirit who transforms us by that Word, one God, forever and ever.
Amen