Border Neighbors

Gerard Mullaney – Northeast Ohio Chapter

On March 12th, the Northeast Ohio Affiliate Chapter hosted Affiliates from several states for a Zoom meeting with School Sister of Notre Dame Judy Bourg, who ministers to migrants on the US-Mexico border. Three Northeast Ohio Affiliates—Pam Cibik, Gerry Mullaney, and Kathy Ress—had visited Sister Judy and her team five years ago at the Sisters’ residence on the border in Douglas, Arizona.

Sister Judy’s photo is of the “Our Lady of Guadalupe” mural on the outside wall of the Ajo, AZ, Humanitarian Aid Center. Near the Sonoran Desert, the area of most desert-traveler deaths, the center was started by the Ajo Samaritans, local folks, who wanted to end death in their "backyard."

By way of photos, maps, and slides, participants became acquainted with the beauty of the borderland country and the sister cities of Douglas and Agua Prieta, Mexico. Sadly, Sister Judy’s photos also showed the border wall in all its physical and moral ugliness. In contrast, we were given the opportunity to learn of the beauty, the humanity, the compassion of Sister Judy and her interfaith partners—especially her local Presbyterian community.

The ministry of the School Sisters of Notre Dame at the border has many dimensions. They meet basic needs for food, water, clothing, respite, and temporary shelter for migrants who approach the Migrant Center on the Mexico side of the border after a grueling journey across the Mexican desert. The Migrant Center supports individuals upon who have been deported as they ponder their fate and future. Sister Judy and partners also go out into the desert to leave water for thirsty, weary migrants.

The sisters’ presence and counsel affirm migrants’ dignity and give added support to their empowerment. They provide opportunities for life sustaining activities and skill building—carpentry and woodworking, sewing, gardening.

The ministry of the School Sisters, along with the Presbyterian ministerial team, honors the deceased as well. For years they have conducted a weekly Tuesday vigil procession of white crosses—each with the name of a migrant whose remains were found in the desert, having perished on their journey to the border. This procession passes along the road to Mexico from Arizona. Sister Judy comments about the positive connections made as motorists pay tribute to the procession and to the deceased.

In current national news reports about migrants coming to the border in great numbers, we are hearing criticism and blame, policy arguments, politicization of the situation. Sister Judy and her faith-based partners stand in contrast. They see the divine in these human beings—indeed our sisters and brothers—and their immense suffering. This suffering stems from the migrants’ journey, which followed suffering in their homelands—the violence, the “violence of poverty” in Judy’s words—that drove them to their journeys. And Judy’s response, shared with us in this presentation, is simply a “yes” to the Gospel call to love one’s neighbor.

Sister Judy needs our help and donations. Email her at  jbssnd@yahoo.com.

This article first appeared in the May/June issue of Not So Far Afield.