Sister Rita Mary Harwood, SND, retired in August 2021 after more than 25 years as head of the Parish Life and Development Secretariat (now Parish Life and Special Ministries) for the Diocese of Cleveland.
Although she no longer directs that very busy ministry for the diocese, she remains very involved with many of the same groups on a volunteer basis. She had a long career in education as a teacher, principal and supervisor of elementary schools staffed by her congregation – the Sisters of Notre Dame – before serving nine years as provincial of her religious order. After that, she accepted a request from the late Bishop Anthony Pilla to lead the parish life secretariat.
An important part of her job was dealing with migrants, immigrants and refugees. She shared her knowledge and experience in that area at a recent Theology on the Rocks program. According to event organizers, it was the best-attended program so far, with every seat in the meeting room at LaCentre in Westlake filled. Staff had to bring in additional chairs to accommodate the overflow. Many attendees said they were at TOTR for the first time, attracted by the topic and the speaker.
“I think I met three-fourths of my life tonight,” Sister Rita Mary quipped, as she scanned the room, spotting faces of former and current co-workers, family members, friends and people she helped over her many years of ministry. One family in particular drew her attention. They were one of the first immigrant families she helped. The parents and two young children arrived in Cleveland 25 years ago from Albania after winning a visa lottery and they remained in touch over the years. The parents are retired; their son is a financial planner and their daughter is a college math professor. They are one of many success stories, she noted, and they – like many others – came to the United States seeking a home and safety.
“You’re here because I know you care,” Sister Rita Mary said to the audience. She acknowledged that immigration is a complicated topic with many viewpoints. “Tonight, I will look at it from the human point of view. Behind every story there is a person, a human being,” she said. When she began her work, there were 62 million people forced from their homes and countries. That number has grown to 83 million and continues to rise, thanks to war and other forms of persecution.
Last summer in Kabul, Afghanistan, she said people desperately were trying to escape as the Taliban surged into power when the Americans withdrew. People were trying to hang onto planes as they left the airport. More than 100,000 managed to escape, but many more were left behind. Sister Rita Mary shared the story of a man who was separated from his wife and three children. He escaped, but they could not – he had their papers. “Three days later, the Taliban came looking for him. He can’t get the papers to them and they can’t go anywhere without them,” she said.
More recently, since the February invasion of Ukraine by Russia, nearly 7 million people have been displaced, with many fleeing into adjacent countries.
“There are no borders in the Church,” Sister Rita Mary said. “We must focus our attention on the person and our faith. Migration is at the heart of the Scriptures,” she said, adding, “The Hebrew Scriptures should be a book of migration.” The Old Testament is filled with stories of migration, she said. God (Jesus) took on human form to be with his people, to share their experiences, lives and joys for 33 years. Even the Holy Family had to flee to Egypt for the safety of the infant Jesus. “It continues today, with the story of migration going on throughout the Church. The apostles went out to spread the Gospel, priests went with explorers,” she said, noting there was movement, risk and hospitality. She asked the audience to think about where their people came from, who made the decision to leave and how they got here. Once they arrived, what did they do to build up a community?
Pope Francis visited the Italian island of Lampedusa, which has been an entry point for many migrants, especially from Libya, for about two decades. She said the pope was very moved by what he saw and he believes that God will ask us where we were when this (refugee/migration/immigration) was happening. “These are your brothers and sisters,” she said. “Have we lost the ability to cry? Have our hearts become so closed?”
Sister Rita Mary said we are a beautiful Church. She explained that the diocese established an office for resettlement after World War II when historic – at that time – numbers of people were displaced by the war. Migration and Refugee Services, a ministry of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland, helps these displaced people.
She said refugees cannot return to their homes because of war or circumstances like persecution. There is a lengthy process to be identified as a refugee and it can take many years to land in a permanent location. There are three possibilities for displaced people: reintegration/returning home; local reintegration perhaps in a nearby, similar country; or resettlement, being taken to a new country. There are 27 countries currently accepting refugees, including the United States.
An international human rights agency decides where people will go. In concert with the various countries, they determine how many refugees each can accommodate and work with refugee agencies to help move them and ensure their immediate needs are met. Catholic Charities is among the largest resettlement agencies. With support from the government, refugees get housing, medical care, food, etc. to help them settle into their new home.
Sister Rita Mary said there were many Afghan refugees arriving in a short time because of the situation there. About 600 families were moved to Cleveland with Catholic Charities helping about a third of them.
“We used to get three days’ notice that they were coming, but sometimes it was only a day,” she said, noting they had to scramble to find housing and other necessities for some large families with 10-12 members. One family consisted of a father, a 2-year-old, a 4-year-old and a mother who was nine months pregnant. They arrived at 12:30 a.m. on a Saturday night. After taking them to their temporary home, Sister Rita Mary said the mother “Threw her arms around me and cried, ‘We’re safe.’ Two days later, she had her third baby.”
She said it was fun buying items for the new baby. They also visited Joseph’s House where the other family members selected clothing. Then they went to Walmart for some personal items and groceries.
“It was overwhelming,” Sister Rita Mary said of the shopping trip. She was touched by the reaction of one shopper who asked if the family was from Afghanistan. Sister admitted she was a bit nervous, but said the woman was very warm and welcoming. “She thanked them for their courage and for coming to our country. And she said to thank our Church for its help.”
Catholic Charities and other agencies prepared to welcome Ukrainian refugees after war broke out there, but Sister Rita Mary said the numbers are not as large. Many Ukrainians want to return home as soon as possible and some already have returned. “Their courage and perseverance is amazing,” she said.
Sister Rita Mary thanked the countless individuals, organizations, parishes and schools that have helped migrants, refugees and immigrants in so many ways including donating clothing, furniture, household items, raising money, setting up apartments and helping to find employment.
“The need remains,” she said.
How to help or get more information:
- An Immigrant Assistance Fund was established under the Catholic Community Foundation to help with emergency expenses, including filing fees. Donations are needed to receive a $50,000 matching grant. For more information, call 216-696-6525, Ext. 3670, or click here.
- For more information on how to get involved, call 216-696-6525, Ext. 4530 or Catholic Charities MRS, 216-939-3769.