Catholic sisters who minister in California have united in support and advocacy for immigrant brothers and sisters. Using various networks of contacts, sisters from various religious institutes of Catholic women religious who live and serve in the state connected to let immigrants know they are not alone. Their statement, released on International Migrants’ Day, Wednesday, December 18, 2024, can be found below. A list of religious institutes contributing to and supporting the statement follows the message.
Catholic Sisters in California Stand with Migrants
Issued on International Migrants’ Day, Wednesday, December 18, 2024
As vowed Catholic women religious, we stand together as one in support of our immigrant brothers and sisters. Called to be responsive to the needs of our brothers and sisters, we are duty-bound to denounce the plans for the mass deportation of immigrants. Compelled by the Gospel message of Jesus (Mt.25) and the Social Teaching of the Church, we strive to be a compassionate presence for our immigrant communities as we advocate for their human rights.
On this day when International Migrants are celebrated and recognized, we call for an end to the vicious rhetoric that threatens the well-being of our immigrant neighbors. We demand protection from the practice of inhumane deportation of our immigrant brothers and sisters and their loved ones who make significant contributions to the economy and the social fabric of our nation.
We do this as Catholic sisters across California who have committed to work in solidarity with and for immigrants who continuously struggle to survive due to the lack of just immigration reform. We have witnessed and tended to their pain emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Immigrants should be treated with dignity and respect as they are children of God. We stand as one and call for protection from deportation by the incoming Administration.
As women religious, we support their hopes and dreams as we have witnessed their sufferings as they struggle to provide for their families. We call for their human dignity to be respected and their contributions to our nation’s economy and to the social fabric of our country to be recognized.
We stand in solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters and join other faith leaders across the nation in prayerful support and compassionate presence as we call upon our political leaders to protect the sanctity of life, to safeguard family unity, and end cruel and immoral deportation policies against our immigrant brothers and sisters.
Catholic Sisters in California
Community of the Holy Spirit
Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy
Daughters of Charity
Daughters of Mary and Joseph
Discalced Carmelites
Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose
Dominican Sisters of San Rafael
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Presentation Sisters Union – USA Province
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary – Western American Area
Religious Sisters of Charity
Sisters of Notre Dame
Sister Servants of the Blessed Sacrament
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Sisters of Social Service
Sisters of St Francis, Rochester, MN
Sisters of St. Francis, Redwood City
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange
Sisters of St. Louis
Sisters of the Holy Cross
Sisters of the Holy Faith
Sisters of the Holy Family
Sisters of the Holy Names – US Ontario Province
Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, San Francisco
Ursuline Sisters
Union of Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – USA Unit
Western Province of Roman Union Ursulines