El Paso
The high desert of the Southwest, El Paso, Texas, remains home to many Loretto members engaged in education, healthcare and service to those in need. In particular, we join with the local Church in responding to the growing needs of immigrant families.
Refugees arrive at one of 10 Annunciation House (AH) sites in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) buses from the El Paso detention center. Ours was the Soluna Hotel. AH would contact our coordinator, alerting him of the imminent arrival of a bus and how many persons were coming, the majority from Guatemala, El Salvador and…
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I spent a week in El Paso helping with the humanitarian crisis of Central American refugees being released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention. Living in Hawaii, I felt quite removed from the border crisis, and I wanted to know first-hand what was really happening and perhaps why so many people are risking everything…
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‘. . . one of the volunteers told me if I wanted to see the face of God and the suffering Jesus, this was the place to be.’ Claudia Calzetta SL Immigrants were assigned two families to a room at the La Quinta motel where Alicia Ramirez SL volunteered upon her arrival in El Paso…
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In early October 2018, the number of asylum seekers coming into El Paso began increasing dramatically. Annunciation House needed more volunteers to assist with serving these people. Sisters from many religious communities began coming and needed housing. After the convent closed and rooms were converted to offices, there were still 14 rooms that were saved…
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…my amazing journey I am strong enough I am smart enough Success after success: Loretto’s robotics team thrives By Pilar Gonzalez CoL, FIRST team coach Three years ago, we opened our brand new FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) team. The program has been very fulfilling for all the girls, coaches, mentors and sponsors. Since we started…
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By Christina Manweller We were met in El Paso by two sisters in a canvassed-top spring wagon. The driver looked like he had never known soap, water, or a comb. Finally we reached San Elizario after dark the same evening. When daylight dawned upon us, really my impressions were not very encouraging, as it seemed…
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“I’ve been given so much. Whatever I am able to return, I am grateful for the opportunity to do it.” Mary Margaret Murphy SL, Loretto’s new Vice President, laughs as she recalls some of her Machebeuf High School friends talking about entering religious life. Back then, her retort was “Thank you, God. That’s not for…
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Pancratia Hall on Loretto Heights College campus becomes apartment housing By Mary Nelle Gage SL Pancratia Hall, former dormitory and classroom building on the historic Loretto Heights College campus, built in 1929, will be transformed to create 65 affordable family apartments with adjacent courtyard. Some Loretto Heights alumnae, Sisters and Co-members toured Pan Hall in…
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Recently I returned from volunteer work helping immigrant families at the El Paso/Juarez border. I wish to share the remarkable story unfolding there. I had been reading accounts in Interchange of the dramatic needs at Annunciation House. These stories moved me to begin sending shipments of clothing and toiletries to assist immigrants arriving after arduous…
Read MoreNote from Alicia Ramirez: I attended the Washington County Democratic Women’s Club Jan. 19 and, as it was ending, the women asked if I could tell them about my upcoming trip to El Paso. After talking about the trip, I told them about our Sunday trips to the Louisville Greyhound Bus Station. One of the…
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The senior class at Loretto Academy in El Paso sponsored the Nun Run Feb. 2. The Nun Run has become an annual event to raise money for the Loretto Pakistan Mission. Each senior is asked to recruit 10 or more participants. Some seniors dress as nuns and welcome the competitive runners, non-competitive runners, walkers, family…
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By Isabel Forward On the ride home, as I smelled vaguely of vomit, I thought of the many ways these families had suffered during their time here – so much so, that even accepting relief from this suffering when it’s offered isn’t always possible. The most difficult part of my experience to process was not…
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