Bending the Arc

Helena Maleno Garzón is a researcher, investigator, journalist, and activist who stands up for the rights of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and victims of human trafficking who attempt to reach Europe by sea and land. In her reporting she has denounced human rights violations on the Spanish Southern Border and works with migrant communities in defense of their rights. In 2002, Helena founded Caminando Fronteras (Walking Borders), an organization that rescues sea vessels carrying migrants that are in danger of sinking and provides support for them once they arrive in Europe. It is estimated that she has saved at least ten thousand lives through her work relaying the locations of sinking sea vessels to Spanish naval authorities. Helena continues to do this work despite ongoing judicial harassment and threats from the governments of Morocco and Spain, who have criminalized her efforts.

In 2022, UNANIMA International (UI) selected Helena as their annual Women of Courage Award recipient. Since 2008, UI has been selecting women who demonstrate courage in the face of adversity and whose actions reflect and support the values and principles promoted by the UN. Helena was finally presented her award last month when UI Executive Director, Jean Quinn, DW traveled to Madrid. It was a great celebration that included some unexpected dancing, but Jean was a tremendous sport about it!

Just weeks after Jean’s visit, Helena found herself seated in Pope Francis’ home in Santa Marta where she was invited to come talk about border victims and their families. Helena said, “He is genuinely concerned about their situations and encourages us to keep fighting despite the difficulties and persecutions. I am grateful to him for following closely my case concerning the criminalization of the rights of immigrants by the Spanish and Moroccan states. We will not stop demanding justice and fairness.”

This isn’t the first time a UI Woman of Courage awardee has gone on to have greater recognition. Last year, 2018 Woman of Courage recipient, Maria Herrera Magdaleno, was selected as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2023.

Nominations for UI’s 2025 Woman of Courage Award are now being accepted. Please read the nomination criteria, see past recipients, and consider nominating the next courageous, well-deserving woman. Contact tabler@csasisters.org with any questions.

In their May 2024 newsletter, UNANIMA International shares news from the United Nations and around the world and invites all to consider nominating a woman of courage.

Once again, you will be amazed at all the work the small staff of UNANIMA International (UI) has done this quarter. In fact, as I write this, Executive Director, Jean Quinn, DW, and her Executive Assistant Liana Almony have recently returned from Nairobi, Kenya after attending a successful U.N. Civil Society Conference, on to Paris, and a final stop in Madrid to present UI’s 2022 Woman of Courage Award to Helena Maleno Garzón, founder of Caminando Fronteras (Walking Borders).

Each year, UI presents the “Woman of Courage Award,” which honors women from around the world who have exhibited exceptional courage and leadership to make a difference in their communities, especially for the betterment of the lives of women and children. Nominations are submitted by member congregations, such as CSA, and a vote is held by the UI Board of Directors. Nominations are now open for 2025 Women of Courage Award!

Criteria for the award:

• A woman who is not a member of the nominating congregation
• A courageous actor in the face of adversity by the government, popular opinion, or leaders
• Her actions reflect and support the values and principles promoted by the UN
• Her actions related to one of the major areas of concern for UI: women/children; human trafficking; poverty; immigrants/refugees; environment/water
• She is nominated by one or more member congregations of UI
• Her country of origin lends geographic diversity to the list of past participants (find list here).

Please consider nominating a deserving woman today! For further details and to receive a nomination form, please contact tabler@csasisters.org. Tracy represents CSA on the UI Board of Directors. Nominations are due July 1, 2024.

In addition to the MANY speaking engagements, committee work, and collaborations you will read about in their May 2023 newsletter, UI staff have been busy preparing a re-release of their publications, Hidden Faces of Homelessness. Women, children and girls are at the center of UI’s work and these updated publications, which mark the 30th anniversary of the International Year of the Family, can help policymakers and other stakeholders understand the current realities of homeless families around the world in order to develop best practices and set better standards. These re-publications will include updated statistics, expert and lived-experience testimonies, and provide meaning for  how different countries define homelessness.

Among the many incredible updates, each newsletter issue features grassroots stories from member congregations. These stories are key to research and advocating at the U.N. Members are ALWAYS encouraged to submit similar stories. Please contact Tracy if you have a story to share.

For those on social media, please follow UNANIMA International on Facebook and Instagram.
 

CSA Sisters and Associates celebrated Catholic Sisters Week and Women’s History Month all at once by seeing “Cabrini.”

The movie “Cabrini” chronicles the life and work of Francesca Cabrini, an Italian immigrant nun, who founded one of the largest charitable organizations in the world, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She was also the first U.S. citizen to be canonized by the Catholic Church on July 7, 1946.

Cabrini opened in 2,600 theaters nationwide on Friday, March 8, which was also International Women’s Day. Several CSA Sisters and Associates enjoyed dinner and a movie outing to watch the film together. Sister Diane Bauknecht shares her thoughts on the movie:

“The Cabrini movie is a powerful testimony to the life of a sickly woman who heard and followed a call to serve those in need. The film portrays the inner strength of St. Frances Cabrini who was dauntless in her commitment to improve the lives of children, many of whom were orphaned. Her inner strength superseded the frailty of her body when she persisted against both church and civil authorities who reluctantly/grudgingly gave their approval to her enormous projects.

The only weakness I perceived in the film is that it did not seem to show what sustained Mother Cabrini’s tenacious durability. Only once, at the end, did it show Mother Cabrini in prayer. I suspect that was an oversight because she surely must have found her strength in a Power beyond herself.”  

In a March 11 article by Samantha Smith in Black Catholic Messenger, she shares two themes that stood out most in the film. “The first is how Cabrini’s story feels as true to today’s world as it did in her time. While the cultures of today’s immigrants are different, there are continued efforts from American citizens and government leadership to cast them out of the country and ignore their human dignity. However, America was founded on the idea of immigration—that no matter where you come from, you can come here and live a happy and prosperous life.

"The second is how Church leadership has not always been on the right side of progress or the needs of its community. The archbishop in the film plays the 'safe' route—determined not to stir the pot or anger the mayor. And while Pope Leo XIII eventually supports Cabrini and her mission, he didn’t start out that way in the film. As lay Catholics, we can empathize with Cabrini’s challenges to the Church, to push it closer to its mission of helping those in need. Her story serves as motivation to continue that work now.”

You can read the full article here.

If you’ve seen the movie and would like to share your experience, please add a comment to this post!

In her introduction to UNANIMA International (UI)'s quarterly newsletter, Executive Director, Jean Quinn, DW shares this reflection: 

“March brings us a tapestry of cultural celebrations worldwide, from the colorful Holi in India and Nepal, to the green festivities of St. Patrick’s Day, and the empowering Women's Day. These celebrations help our global community to embrace unity, diversity, and renewal through these joyful events. International Women’s Day, which serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for women’s rights and achievements. Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias and discrimination.

UNANIMA International, with NGOs, Civil Society, the UN, and Member States can and must work together in the following key areas that need action:

Investing in women, a human rights issue

Ending Poverty and Homelessness for women and girls

Implementing gender-responsive financing

Shifting to a green economy and care society

As an organization, UNANIMA International-with 25 communities of women in over 100 countries working at the grassroots-are committed to making sure women and girls everywhere are not left behind. Throughout 2024, UI will continue to celebrate women of courage locally and internationally, who have taken the lead to sho9w the importance of the need to change and good practices.

We honor and celebrate all our UI Women at the grassroots, nationally, and internationally.

Sincerely,

Jean”

Read the newsletter online to learn the many ways UI is making a difference.

CSA is one of the 25 member congregations in UNANIMA International. Justice Coordinator, Tracy Abler, represents the congregation on the Board of Directors. The Board will be meeting in New York later this month and request your prayers for safe travels, guidance in planning, and health and energy to carry out the mission.

Do you know UNANIMA International (UI) has published several resources on Homelessness? Visit unanima-international.org to download any of the free publications and use as you see fit.

As a member congregation of UI, our grassroots stories support the research needed to bring these issues to the international level.

Have a story to share? Please send to Tracy at tabler@csasisters.org

CSA is a donation site for an annual hygiene drive (February 11-March 3) which helps to ease the financial strain on homeless and crisis programs across Wisconsin.

The Family’s annual ‘Help for the Homeless’ hygiene drive partners with the community to help stock the shelves of 100+ homeless and crisis programs in 19 Wisconsin communities, including Fond du Lac. The goal of the program is to supply a year’s worth of products to each agency. Donations remain in the community they come from. Donations made in the Fond du Lac community will support EIGHT local homeless shelters and crisis programs.

The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes (CSA) will host a donation box in the Motherhouse Lobby, 320 County Road K. Supply donations can also be accepted at Festival Foods and Walgreens stores. Financial donations can also be made securely online or make checks payable to: “The Family” with “Help for the Homeless” noted in the memo line. Mail to: The Family Radio Network, ATTN: Help for the Homeless, 1909 W. Second Street, Appleton, WI 54914.

Visit the website to see the list of most needed items.