Whatever opinion many of us may have as to the cause of emigration, of the fact there is no question.
Margaret Anna wrote this in 1881 in a letter to the Irish Bishops. She was looking at the massive waves of emigration from the starvation of Ireland to the promise of America, and was concerned for the safety of the new immigrants, especially women, in a strange land. Her letter asked the Bishops to form an "Emigrants Aid & Protection Society" in conjunction with the American Bishops. Sadly, it seems they didn't form such a society, but 3 years later Margaret Anna founded the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. One of our first ministries was providing safe housing and services for immigrant women in New Jersey.
(I bet she's happily surprised with the leadership of the Bishops in Immigration Reform today!)
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