Loretto members share reflections from the desert Southwest

The Sisters of Loretto came to the desert areas of the West to offer education and faith development in Loretto schools for children from diverse backgrounds, cultures and economic levels. Loretto Academy continues to serve children in El Paso, instilling the values of faith, community, justice, and respect. As needs of families changed over the years, Sisters and Co-members of the Loretto Community addressed social justice needs, providing adult education, working in homeless women’s shelters, with the homeless and migrants. Their work continues today throughout the border desert communities.

For people who have not spent time in the Southwest, the desert may symbolize loneliness, isolation, dusty barren lands, blowing winds and a landscape lacking lush green scenery and beautiful abundant flowers. For migrants fleeing north, the desert symbolizes dangers, lack of water and food, and loss of life but also a path to freedom.

For any of us who have lived in desert areas, we treasure wide-open spaces, brilliant blue skies, bright sunlight and enjoy nature’s unique desert beauty. The barren lands lay dormant and come alive instantly after gentle nurturing rains or in spring after winter snows. The desert blossoms with poppies, Indian paintbrush, sage, thistles and flowering cactus. The desert becomes a place of mystery, silent contemplation and transformation.

For those traveling to El Paso, Texas, especially migrants crossing the border from Juarez, Mexico, the lighted star on the Franklin mountains, Estrella del El Paso, beckons. Members of Sacred Heart Parish, Annunciation House, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, Estrella del Paso (formerly the Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services), Loretto Community and other organizations offer hospitality, shelter, food and help.

Some of the spiritual gifts given to Loretto Community members living in the Southwest desert areas include special Spanish hymns and prayers, religious feast day celebrations, music, dancing, Native American spirituality, drum beating, Matachines dancing, a special reverence for Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations and a faith strengthened by extended family feasts following First Communion, Confirmation, marriages and funerals.