Guide: Sisters discover grace in ministry to migrants

People living in dangerous situations in Central America don't have good options. Gang violence, poverty and other conditions have, in many cases, made people's lives unlivable. And choosing to leave their homelands behind doesn't mean instant or easy security. Not only do they face hostility and substantial hurdles in the U.S., but they also encounter major obstacles at Mexico's southern border. Shelters and advocates there, including sisters, empathize with the tough choices that migrants make and feel that it's part of their calling to support them.

This lesson has a clear connection to the "migration" segment of the Global Sisters Report in the Classroom project. It is included in the "vocations" segment because the story illustrates that sisters, who themselves have made bold choices to follow their call, grow in their vocation through their ministry to migrants. It is relevant to use with your students to focus on vocations awareness or at any time.

Ask students as many of these 10 "would you rather" questions as you have time for, but be sure to ask the final question. Consider taking just a few responses on each question in order to keep things interesting, but also try to involve each student in responding to at least one question. Since this activity is mostly discussion, the "discussion" section that follows it is kept brief on purpose.

• Would you rather find five dollars on the ground or find all your missing socks?
• Would you rather be covered in fur or covered in scales?
• Would you rather always be 10 minutes late or always be 20 minutes early?
• Would you rather live without the internet or live without AC and heating?
• Would you rather find your true love or a suitcase with five million dollars inside?
• Would you rather know the history of every object you touched or be able to talk to animals?
• Would you rather move to a new city or town every week or never be able to leave the city or town you were born in?
• Would you rather travel the world for a year on a shoestring budget or stay in only one country for a year but live in luxury?
• Would you rather wake up in the middle of an unknown desert or wake up in a rowboat on an unknown body of water?
• Would you rather live in your home country under constant threat of gang violence and human trafficking or move to another country where people are hostile toward you and want to send you home?

Begin by saying: "Would you rather" is a fun game to play at parties or on long car trips. It's fun because it's unlikely we'll ever have to choose between the options with which we're presented. We can learn a lot about people by the choices they make, or even when they struggle to choose. All of the questions in this game were found on a popular website, except for one. Can anyone guess which one?"

(take responses, then continue)

"The final question reflects real life, as we'll read in the lesson you'll explore today. Migrant people from Central America face awful options, whether they stay in their dangerous homelands or if they flee. They'll encounter resistance, hostility and even danger at the Mexican border and, if they make it that far, at the U.S. border. The good news is that there are advocates, including many Catholic sisters, to accompany and help them along the way."

Lord, be with us in our decisions, especially when it seems that no option is a good option.

Help us to trust in your guidance, that you’ll provide the wisdom to choose well and the support for us to follow through.

And give us strength, Lord, to walk with others and help bear their burdens.

So that they find peace and know your love through our presence.

Amen.