They have no need of our help
So do not tell me
These haggard faces could belong to you or me
Should life have dealt a different hand
We need to see them for who they really are
Chancers and scroungers
Layabouts and loungers
With bombs up their sleeves
Cut-throats and thieves
They are not
Welcome here
We should make them
Go back to where they came from
They cannot
Share our food
Share our homes
Share our countries
Instead let us
Build a wall to keep them out
It is not okay to say
These are people just like us
A place should only belong to those who are born there
Do not be so stupid to think that
The world can be looked at another way

(now read from bottom to top)

Poem by ‎@brian_bilston

Sister Janet Peterworth states that, “The Ursuline Sisters of Louisville are called by their Charism to ministry that supports efforts to further social justice, to alleviate suffering, to promote peace and to preserve the environment. These calls come to us directly out of the teachings and actions of Jesus. The first Ursulines who came to Louisville were not welcomed because they were immigrants…and Catholic immigrants at that. Our ancestors knew the hardships of adapting to a new culture. We have supported immigrants by sponsoring families, assisting with their settlement, offering them employment and housing and helping them adapt to a new culture. Today we see immigration as one of the biggest social justice issues of the day. We stand with immigrants and refugees and want to see just and fair laws that impact their lives.”

Standing with refugees is often controversial for religious sisters. A recent article* by Dan Stockman published in the Global Sisters Report states, “Women religious — who are usually outside of political debates — have not been immune to Americans’ rancor. Stances congregations have held for decades or even centuries have become controversial in some circles.”  Sisters often find themselves as the prophetic voices in the wilderness, crying out for justice in this age of self-interest and polarization. For those without a voice, our sisters continue to speak, just as Jesus spoke for the poor and marginalized.