2009 Justice Co-Mission

Working together for justice is one of hundreds of ways in which Medical Mission Sisters around the world try to be a healing presence to others today.

On the weekend of October 17-18, 2009, 25 of our Sisters from North America and the Netherlands gathered in a “virtual” meeting, using flash technology to share their justice ministries and learn from each other. Our Justice Co-Mission group decided to continue their focus on “Migration in all its Ramifications” for the coming year.

Sister Janet Gottschalk, who coordinates our Alliance for Justice Office, shared, “The highlight of the meeting was Sister Mary Kirkhoff’s interview with Mark Adams, the Presbyterian pastor from Agua Prieta, Mexico, and Douglas, Arizona, about migration issues. Much of Mark’s talk was based on Scripture and filled with Biblical references.”

Three of our Sisters who work near the U.S.-Mexico border reported on their ministries. Sister Magda Pittaro serves at the Migrant Resource Center, an ecumenical project of several Christian churches from both sides of the border. Sisters Carol Huss and Mary Kirkhoff are involved with a small business micro loan project.

Sister Philo Morris spoke about her many justice activities at the United Nations in New York. Sister Janet Gottschalk and Mrs. Susan Thompson shared how in Washington, D.C., our Alliance for Justice Office networks with many organizations, including the Interfaith Working Group on Trade and Investment, the Border Working Group, and the Jubilee USA Network.

Many Sisters at our North American headquarters in Philadelphia write letters and make phone calls for justice. Four of our Philadelphia Sisters who speak Spanish—Sisters Patrice McSweeney, Juanita Ortega, Nina Fritsch, and Barbara Ann Brigham— recently moved to a Latino neighborhood and parish, where they have become involved in the New Sanctuary movement. Sister Margaret McKenna, who founded and directs the New Jerusalem recovery program in North Philadelphia, spoke of her many activities, including joining in a parish Catholic Peace Fellowship group.

The meeting also included many prayers for peace, the affirmation of a new steering committee for the group, and sharing of plans for the upcoming year.




December 1, 2009

 

 

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Sister Mary Kirkhoff visits a man in Aqua Prieta, Mexico, who started a small green business of raising and selling trees with a now fully-paid loan from a Small Business Revolving Fund initiated by our Sisters.