Protest symbolism (top);
marching with Jan

With Berthe at Mount
St. Francis in Dubuque

Earlier this month I was thankful for the opportunity to participate in a march in support of the rights of immigrants, and due process for all (Iowa City Press-Citizen article). In his Letter of the Holy Father to the Bishops of the United States of America in February, Pope Francis wrote:

“I exhort all the faithful of the Catholic Church, and all men and women of good will, not to give in to narratives that discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering to our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters.”

After the march I headed to the Sisters of St. Francis in Dubuque for a weekend gathering with the Sisters and Associates, titled “We Remember, We Celebrate, We Dream.” I enjoyed lots of hugs and blessings for the new year ahead of us. The Associates were celebrating 40 years; I have been an Associate for 15 years and still learning to discern my path in my own life. Our job is to carry on the charisms of caring for the Earth, standing with the poor, and peace and justice. (You don’t have to be a Franciscan to do that!)