On June 18th, more than 30 sisters from the Dominican Sisters of Hope and other religious communities (Carmelites, Ursuline, Divine Compassion) gathered at the Wartburg to advocate against mass deportation. Sisters signed postcards urging elected officials to “oppose mass detentions, deportations, and measures that fund them, and enact policies that prioritize family unity, due process, and safety.”
This is the third action that Sister Mary Headley has organized at the Wartburg in the past few months. Her hope is to host a quarterly event that features education on the issue and an action step. She has titled the events “Learn, Pray, Act.”
Sister Mary Headley also handed out postcards at the Dominican Sisters Association Assembly to the five congregations present there. Cumulatively, over 90 postcards have been signed and sent.
Associate Nancy Brennan spoke to the group about her personal experience spearheading a support group for migrants in Newburgh.
Associate Nancy Brennan addresses the group
“The leader of our country has vowed to deport 11 million people,” Brennan told the group. “ICE is taking an illegal and terrifying approach: they are executing orders not signed by judges. I understand there’s a legal process, but our own government is not following its own laws.”
“It’s so important to the community in Newburgh that they know there are people there for them. That we care,” she said.
Wilmer Jiménez of Rural & Migrant Ministry (RMM) in Cornwall also spoke at the event. (RMM is primarily supported by faith communities, including the Dominican Sisters of Hope through our Ministry Fund.) Jiménez shared his own immigration story from Guatemala and urged people to take action for “unity, empathy, and hope.”
“Within 100 miles of the border, ICE or border control can pull you over,” Jiménez said. “I have gotten pulled over. I comply. I respect law enforcement. But it’s my right to ask why you pulled me over. We are seeing a lot of injustices with ICE coming to people’s jobs and showing up at court cases.”
“No one wants a criminal in the United States,” he continued. “But what about those families who are working hard, paying taxes, leading peaceful lives?”
Leeanna Varga, Executive Director for Mission, collaborates with Sister Mary on these events. She said that she is impressed with Sister Mary’s drive to not only speak up on her own behalf, but to “mobilize” her neighbors in the education, prayer, and action.
“Over our three events over the last several months, we’ve not only signed postcards but we’ve also built a community of sisters across seven different congregations who are raising their powerful voices and prayers for justice,” Varga said.
For Sister Mary, that community is just getting started. The next Learn, Pray, Act event will be held at The Wartburg on September 17th.
