Among the congregations of Catholic sisters and brothers in Illinois whose members participate in Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants (SBI) is the Domincan Sisters of Springfield, who support this statement of solidarity with immigrants published by SBI on December 19, 2024.
STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY
In accord with Catholic Social Teaching, we believe that each person has an inherent dignity and is made in the image of God.
The present situation around the globe is such that people are forced to leave their homelands to escape violence, hunger, discrimination, and even death. The political unrest, uncertainty, physical and emotional suffering and fear, brought thousands through treacherous journeys to our shores where the promise of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” is the hope they were reaching for, and expecting to find.
The situation in our country demands our commitment to our threefold mission of Education, Advocacy and Public Witness. We continue our commitment to our immigrant sisters and brothers that we will stand with them and stand up for them:
to help preserve the human dignity that is their right;
to advocate for them with our government;
to collaborate with other groups of justice-seeking advocates for the reform of our country’s immigration policies and the opening of educational and employment opportunities;
to join with others in educating people regarding the reality of the mistreatment of immigrants; to encourage people to have open minds and compassionate hearts in welcoming, accepting and assisting immigrants.
We hold firm to our belief that welcoming migrants is a civic and faith responsibility. Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants, founded in Chicago in 2007, is comprised of vowed and associate/oblate members of women’s and men’s Catholic religious communities.
Also published on the SBI website is this statement, issued January 19, 2025, By the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Cardinal Blaise Cupich.
