Written by: Sister Sharon Altendorf, PBVM
June 9, 2013
What a warm San Antonio welcome – feeling like 105 said one
of our group! And yet Mariachis played, serenading amazingly diverse peoples
waiting OUTSIDE the church under tents – bringing us water and umbrellas to
protect us. The San Antonio community people included: Patricia Mejia and
Lorena Gonzalez, NETWORK board members; local union leaders; Latino families; new
City Council member Rebecca Viagran; and Congressmen Castro & Gallego. San
Antonio is a hub for women religious, which was obvious by their presence.
Many of us were brought to tears by the strong voice of a
young Latina child singing the Star Spangled Banner and Representative Gallego
with his son hanging on him as he changed his planned remarks to say that at
the birth of his son he understood that a father would do everything possible
to feed and care for that child. Congressman Castro called on Senators Cornyn
and Cruz to remember that they are representing the people of Texas. A
passionate DREAMer spoke of coming to the U.S. at the age of 6 and the lack of
respect for her father when he needed serious medical emergency attention. And yet,
she said “our country” when speaking of this country as the home she has known.
Sister Simone greeted everyone, speaking both in Spanish and
English as is customary here, alerting us to the most recent surprising
endorsements of comprehensive immigration reform. She encouraged everyone to do
“missionary work” in spreading the need for comprehensive immigration reform,
even explaining how to text 877 877 NUNS and telling our senators what we
expect of them.
Visiting with people is always a reality experience. Today,
a woman spoke of watching her son-in-law go through the immigration process. Long,
long lines of people wearing sneakers with backpacks in the hot sun for hours
on end were waiting patiently to be called forward with the results. Then she
noticed that as they felt closer to receiving approval, people started to open
their backpacks and pull out high heels and good shoes to walk forward for
those papers. – as she said, “Putting their best foot forward into a new
birth.”
The San Antonio Spurs
are playing in the NBA finals and so the crowd knew the rousing cry: “Go Spurs
Go.” Tom Cummins, the head of the local AFL-CIO introduced a new slogan - “Go
Nuns Go” - as they sent us on to Laredo and the border.
