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Edition No. 103 — August 29, 2019 
Christ Our Light Parish
Free Our Children Rally
Cherry Hill, NJ
August 4, 2019
By Mary Elizabeth Farrell SSJ
On the evening of August 4 th Christ Our Light Parish in Cherry Hill, NJ, hosted a
multi-faith Action for Social Justice. About 10 Sisters of Saint Joseph and several Associates attended, voicing their concern about the inhuman conditions at our southern border, particularly its effect on the children.
 
I would like to share some highlights of the event:    

Immigration Attorney Luis Canales, once undocumented himself, presented the shoes he wore as he walked alone from Honduras at age16. He said, “Please let me know of events like this, where I might be able to attend and listen to the moving stories of others. I was pumped with energy last night and I look forward to doing a lot more work for my immigrant families.”

Social Worker and Therapist Mickey Steinitiz expressed concern about the labeling of immigrant children suffering psychic trauma from separation anxiety over parental immigration status, as ADHD. This mislabeling may lead to medication whose long term effects are unknown.

Catholic Priest Father Gerard Marable said, “What worries me personally is the rebirth of the white power movement. Don’t forget they see themselves as the ‘Christian Knights of the KU Klux Klan,’ good Christian people.' I’m afraid we’ve only seen the beginning of this. Will there be Catholics willing to die fighting them?”

Rabbi Jennifer began by saying, “Last year I said I was honored to be invited to speak at the Vigil held June 24 th , 2018 to rally against the separation of families at the border. Why am I here again?”

Let us continue to raise our voices to end detention of immigrant children and speak out against inhumane treatment of our immigrant brothers and sisters. 
Photos courtesy Sharon White SSJ
National Peach Day
Saint Joseph Villa
By Sharon White SSJ
One day Sister Grace Pino SSJ shared her roots of growing up in the farmlands of Bridgeton, NJ. Subsequently, rumors spread about the significance of National Peach Day. Sister Peg Boyle SSJ showed up at an evening meal to surprise Sister Grace and her friends with home grown Jersey peaches. 

Fun and laughter were had by all as they delighted in the delicious fresh peaches from a Jersey fruit stand.
Sister Grace Pino SSJ enjoying her delicious New Jersey peach
Photos courtesy Sharon White SSJ
St Mary by-the-Sea
Garden Award
August 10, 2019
St. Mary by-the-Sea Retreat House and The Sisters of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, received an award on August 10, 2019 during the Cape May Point Taxpayers Association’s Annual Garden Award ceremony. Among many beautiful photographs of local gardens, the retreat house was awarded 2nd place In the area of Garden Treasures. 

Sister Sharon McCarthy SSJ, Administrator, expressed her surprise and delight. “What an honor to have been invited to this event. Although shocked by such an honor, we couldn't agree more that St. Mary’s is truly a picturesque treasure! We care for our beautiful grounds with pride.”
Photos courtesy Sharon McCarthy SSJ
"With the help of God's grace and in fidelity to our founder's expressed wish, we live and work lovingly among all persons with a special preference for those who are poor, which calls us wherever we are to be in union with them."
                                        — SSJ Constitutions #21
Editor, Sister Carole Pollock SSJ | 215.248.7269 | cpollock@ssjphila.org | http://ssjphila.org/home/