Loretto Works With People of Diverse Faiths To Serve Others

We cannot live the Gospel without proximity to those who are vulnerable and marginalized. 

Pat Farrell OSF, LCWR past president

In the midst of all that divides the world, Loretto stands as a testament to the fact that we are all more alike than different. We share the same concerns, dreams and struggles as our neighbors near and far. For Loretto, solidarity with the poor is a long-term relationship.

Working to change systems of injustice requires determination and courage. Our mission challenges us to stand for peace and justice with other faith communities who are inspired by the call or invitation of God. Our shared goal is to be in solidarity with the people in their struggle for human rights.

The needs of immigrants and refugees are dire, especially in this political and social atmosphere, which also is poisoned because of the COVID-19 crisis. The Loretto Community generously has set aside a grant fund expressly for immigrant and refugee services. Most recently, Loretto gave $50,000 to organizations that help get immigrants out of prisons. The Loretto Finance and Executive committees sent donations to the following organizations that have good track records in getting immigrants released though payment of bonds:     

• The Immigrant Freedom Fund of Colorado — the money from Loretto was immediately used to pay bonds
• The Florence Project of Arizona — the Florence Project provides legal representation to immigrants detained in Arizona and uses bond money to get clients released from immigration prisons.
• RAICES of Texas — RAICES provides legal representation to immigrants detained in Texas and uses bond money to get clients released from immigration prisons.
• Bob Kee’s emergency fund for Southern Arizona — Bob Kee is a great and trusted Loretto friend and ally in Tucson. His ministry includes visiting immigrants at the Eloy and Las Palmas private immigration prisons. (Through Bob’s ministry, Loretto members and friends have and continue to donate books to immigrants detained in prison.) Once immigrants are bonded out, they often need modest financial help to purchase bus tickets to get to their families. Bob maintains an emergency fund to help in these ways, working closely with the Florence Project, Keep Tucson Together, and No More Deaths.

These are just a few examples of Loretto partnering with faith-based social justice groups to help serve our near and farther neighbors. 

In this post-Easter season, we celebrate new life for all, new hope for all.

“To Have Hope” (Prayer of a Migrant from Honduras)
To have hope is to believe that life wins over death
To have hope is to begin again as many times as is necessary
To have hope means tearing down walls and building bridges.
To have hope is to live.  
— Prayer from “Celebrating Global Wisdom,” a booklet of Catholic Relief Services