Several dozen members of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland St. John the Evangelist Leadership Guild met on July 9 at Sagrada Familia Parish in Cleveland?s Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood to enjoy fellowship and hear a moving talk by Sister Rita Mary Harwood, SND outlining the teaching of the Church regarding the theology of migration. Titled, ?The Joy of Accompaniment: Welcoming the Stranger,? Sister Rita Mary, secretary of parish life and development, offered detailed insight that included scriptural and ecclesial references upon which the Church?s teaching on migration and immigration is built. She also reminded those gathered that, ?the story of immigration is a human story of people just like you and me, of families like yours, of people struggling for life, hope and safety.?
As part of her talk, Sister Rita Mary shared with the group an account of Pope Francis? first trip outside the Vatican to the Island of Lampedusa where he saw first-hand the desperate flight of migrants from Africa and the Middle East who were fleeing to Italy to seek a better life, safety and religious freedom.
