Sister Norma from Catholic Charities, assigned to U.S.-Mexico border, to speak soon at All Saints

“She still definitely wanted to be with us and wanted to reschedule so that she could share her story and her life with us,” Father Walt Jagela said.

After being encouraged by the late Father John Fitzpatrick, Sister Norma applied for and has worked with Catholic Charities since 2000. She oversees the unit within the four-county Diocese of Brownsville, which is about 150 miles wide alongside the United States’ border with Mexico.

“For me, it’s truly a privilege to be present among the many people who are struggling and present here at our border on both sides. We are one of the poorest areas in the United States, and many families have immigrated and live here for years on a day-to-day basis trying to make ends meet. I identify myself very much with them and think the church is a vital part of their lives,” she said.

“This shows me how much the church cares about who they are, how they live their faith and how we can improve the quality of life in this area. Being able to assist the churches on the southern side and helping those families is of high importance. It’s critical to be present on both sides,” she said.

A Brownsville, Texas, native who speaks multiple languages, Sister Norma acknowledged the “great danger on the Mexican side ... with all the gangs and cartels,” but is joined by other natives and stays committed to her mission.

“My message and purpose is focused on a humanitarian response and doesn’t matter as to what the administration’s focus is. That is more important rather than if you are Republican or Democrat — protecting and offering care to the most vulnerable in our communities, like the immigrants.”

This will be Sister Norma’s first time speaking in West Virginia. She said she speaks to groups at least every few weeks.

“I like to give people a general idea about the reality of the border, a perspective of where I come from and what I do, and the responsibility that we have as Catholics to respond to those at the peripheries or at all stages or places,” she said. “Most audiences or groups of people from different communities welcome that understanding of how things are. It’s something that has been interesting to so many.”

Jagela met Sister Norma during a priest conference in Chicago two years ago and was inspired to eventually minister with her. He looked forward to her sharing her stories.

“I was at the border, not with her but with some other priests from around the country. As a priest, I preach welcoming all, and I truly believe that, try to live that each day to the best of my ability. I felt a call to really see what all that was like and I found that, whether it was on the U.S. side or the Mexico side of the border, the only difference was they were a little darker-skinned than me but have the same aspirations, hopes and dreams that each of us have for our life. It was very humbling, a blessing to be on that sacred ground even though sometimes we make it unholy by our actions,” Jagela said. “She does all that ministry for the migrants’ dignity and innate gifts given to them by God. She does a phenomenal ministry.

“Since immigration is a hot button topic politically as well as within the church, I think she gives a nice balance about what the Gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to do: To welcome the immigrant or the stranger to our door. We may not know them, but in faith, we believe that they are Christ.”

Rachel Yurkovich, the 75th anniversary committee chair, said Sister Norma was named one of Time Magazine‘s 100 most influential people of 2020.

“I really hope that she really encourages us to reach out a little further to those communities, to be a little bit more open and accepting through however we can even if it’s a little bit,” Yurkovich said.

“Here at All Saints, we are very social justice-oriented as the Gospel calls us to be,” Jagela said.

Yurkovich wants to eventually be part of a team that serves alongside Sister Norma at the border. As a government employee, Yurkovich has learned how other countries respond to immigration issues, frequently due to conflict or natural disasters.

“I think it’s an issue that developed countries are always going to have to face, but we have to think about how we’re going to integrate them into our society and welcome them just as they are,” Yurkovich said. “America is a big melting pot, and the more people you bring in and the more you learn about each other, I think that makes everything more beautiful. We all want to see our families safe and healthy and thriving.”

Yurkovich said she learned a lot during all of the 75th anniversary speakers and musical concerts, calling it “a great way to get people back into church and excited about doing things” following Mass changes due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sister Norma is scheduled to be present at both weekend Masse