I received this email from Sr. Ida this morning that I wanted to share with you. Patty
I don't know how interested you might be in the
"intertwineing" of our CSJ communities, but some facts might be
helpful. From July 7, to August 15, I
was "housemother" to the sisters who came to El Paso to help in the
refugee/immigrant shelters there and in Las Cruces, N.M. serving thousands of refugees sent to El Paso
by ICE (Immigrant Customs Enforcement of the Department of Homeland
Security). Many sisters living in El
Paso were already serving in the shelters since the national emergency began in
early June.
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, desiring to make a
contribution to assist in the emergency,
offered their house as a residence for any sisters who could come and
help for a period of time, long or short.
It is a ten bedroom house that the congregation was considering selling.
In July the last sister of the community had moved out; nevertheless, a number
of circumstances, including the need for the house in this national emergency
helped the Concordias decide to keep the house.
As there was no one of the Concordias able to be in the
house at this time, knowing that my familiarity with El Paso and the house, Sr. Marcia Allen, president of
the Concordias accepted my offer to care for the house and the hospitality
services needed until someone could be found from that community. Through the goodness of our province, I was able to go to El Paso on
July 7, rent a car (which was invaluable in many, many ways) and
"housemother" this beautiful, centrally located house which the
Concordias had so generously offered.
During my time at the
wonderful, well cared-for house of the Concordias, we were able to house IHMs
from Scranton, Pennsylvania; Sacred Hearts from Athens, Georgia; an Adrian
Dominican from Key West, Florida; Fred and Pat Malcolm from Albuquerque, New
Mexico; Sinsinawa Dominicans from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Minneapolis,
Minnesota, and CSJs from St. Louis.
While I was in El
Paso, phone calls were many and constant from those wanting to to know how they
could be of help. Yesterday I received a call from the Sisters of St. Joseph of
Boston, wondering how they could offer a donation to assist with some of the
expenses of caring for the refugees. It
was my joy to be able to direct their help to this effort which enables so many
families and sisters and communities to respond to Jesus' call to all of us to welcome the stranger.
If I can be of any help with further information, Patty, let
me know.
Paz,
Ida
P.S. Missy (Margaret Mary Ljungdahl) who was a long time
resident at the house and is now working at the Concordia's center for
long-term care, was able to be released for a bit of time. She doesn't know for
how long. She came last Monday night and
I left Friday. Marcia thinks they'll
have someone temporary until January and then a community will come down. I go back in a few weeks for an Annunciation
House board meeting and will stay in the house for a few days again.
