Relationships: We build bridges of relationships that stretch us to be people of encounter who stand with all suffering in our Earth Community
The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA), Prairiewoods’ founding organization, has committed to a Revolution through Encuentro, or deep encounters with others. As part of this, the FSPA Anti-Racism Team commissioned an FSPA group to a Kino Border Initiative (KBI) immersion from Oct. 31 to Nov. 8. The FSPA group includes Andi Lewis, partner in mission (staff) at Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center; Julie Connelly, partner in mission at the Franciscan Spirituality Center; Jane Comeau and Kennedy Cortes, partners in mission in FSPA communications; Carol Knox, prayer partner; and Diane Withers, affiliate. Assisting this group in preparation are Rochelle Nicks, partner in mission advancement, and Sister Eileen McKenzie, mobilization specialist for KBI.
KBI is a binational organization located in Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, inspired by the spirituality of the Missionaries of the Eucharist and the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).
What is this immersion about?
The focus of the program is not to participate in a service week, but rather presence and encounter. The goals of this immersion are to humanize, accompany and complicate. We often talk in the abstract about migration and the border, but the word humanize means to listen to first-hand stories and experiences and recognize the dignity of each individual, whether they be migrants or border residents. Accompany means being present. The group will have the opportunity to converse with families that have been forced to leave their homes, play with kids from the KBI shelter and help to serve meals. Complicate is about exploring questions and nuance and the different puzzle pieces of migration and the border from different perspectives. Openness to diverse views and to having one’s own assumptions or understandings about migration challenged is essential to this experience.
How is the group preparing?
The group is being called to be flexible, open, courageous and attentive. They will step into environments and conversations that will be uncomfortable. They are learning to listen well and be courageous in engaging in conversation and both asking questions of the people they’ll meet and sharing with them.
What are post-experience expectations?
It is both a privilege and a responsibility to visit the comedor, to hear the stories of people and to witness life in the borderlands. Because of this, as well as the inherent power differentials present between most of the groups who visit and most of the people present, KBI expects that this experience is just the beginning of the journey for immersion participants. The group will work with KBI during the immersion to dream post-experience sharing. FSPA’s partner, NETWORK, has also offered to help shape this sharing.
How can you support this group?
Kino Border Initiative Drive: Through Oct. 21, Prairiewoods and the Franciscan Spirituality Center are collecting NEW games, puzzles, coloring books, crayons and bilingual books that we’ll use to engage with the families we’ll encounter. If you’re not near one of our drop-off sites, consider kinoborderinitiative.org/give-goods to donate directly.- Blessing and Lunch: A special blessing will be offered Wednesday, Oct. 23, during the 11 a.m. Mass in Mary of the Angels Chapel at St. Rose Convent in La Crosse, Wisconsin (and livestreaming via Zoom here). Several of the group members will then enjoy a private lunch with sisters, affiliates and partners in mission at St. Rose Convent.
- Vote So Everyone Thrives: Our partners at NETWORK offer an Equally Sacred Checklist that offers a section valuing dignity and human rights. During FSPA’s October check in with NETWORK, it was clear that we need to raise our voices in support of people on the move. Asylum rulings, Humanitarian Parole rulings and DACA rulings are calling us to build bridges of relationships that stretch us to be people of encounter who stand with all suffering in our Earth Community.
- Learn along with the Group: Watch the video Kino Border Initiative—A Community of Encounter.
- Pray: Hold the immersion group and all people on the move in prayer.
top image courtesy of KBI’s Facebook page