Sister Colleen Waterman’s goodbye

Editor:

I am retiring from ministry after 42 years of service in the Charleston diocese. As the last member of my order still active here, I want to document our time in the hope that our story will encourage others to continue the church’s ministry.

The Rochester Franciscans came to Charleston in the summer of 1966 at Bishop Ernest L. Unterkoefler’s request, sponsored by Catholic Charities. He had read of their successful 1965 summer program in the Cabrini Green public housing project in Chicago.

In response, Sister Maigread Conway directed SAIL, Summer Achievement in Learning, a creative educational program for 26 summers. In the fall of 1967, Bishop Unterkoefler asked her to establish an outreach center in Union Heights; and an available house on Echo Avenue, soon dubbed Echo House, was selected for the program.

The Navy base, the Air Force Base, and the Weapons Station chapel contributed volunteers and resources, as did Catholic churches.

Over the years, Protestant churches and local social groups in the area also assisted in many, many ways.

In 1968 the bishop asked us to coordinate Neighborhood House with Echo House. The same year, Msgr. Thomas Duffy, the director of Catholic Charities, became the administrator of Our Lady of Mercy Church located above Neighborhood House.

From that moment, all aspects of church ministry became part of our labor of love.

Until Sister Maigread’s death, we had directed Neighborhood House for 32 years. I remained with Echo House until my retirement and may God continue to bless its ministry.

I am now returning to my motherhouse — a better, faith-filled Franciscan for the incredible, selfless people who have touched my daily life.

Thank you, Charleston, my people! You have been a gift in unfathomable ways in assisting us in the care of the needy in the greater Charleston area. My heart is bursting with memories sure to bloom as roses in December.

May God give you the joy in His work that he has given me.

Sister Colleen Waterman, OSF
Charleston

Immigration needs to be just

Editor:

Many thanks to The Miscellany for printing and Father LaBrecque for authoring the very sensible and mind-opening viewpoint on immigration. My forefathers were blessed with an opportunity to come to this country and I am so glad the barriers, physical and procedural, were a lot lower then than the many immigrants of today face.

As Catholics we must fight for a just and equitable system. Can you imagine what Jesus would think and do if he were walking among us today?

Dan Polito
Rock Hill, SC

‘Ellis Island was right for its time’

Editor:

With all due respect to Father ‘Rick LaBrecque (letters July 15) … check the facts about Ellis Island.

Between 1892 and 1954 approximately 12 million people passed through Ellis Island. There was no federal program prior to this period, and individual states controlled immigration. In 1921 stricter laws were enacted and in 1924 quotas were set by the federal government.

Screening people through Ellis Island was a Herculean task. It helped to weed out the sick and those carrying communicable diseases. The process caught thousands of criminals wanted in Europe. You also had to be “spoken for” by a sponsor, have shelter and a job waiting in most cases.

I agree that the process for legal immigration is far more difficult today. However, Ellis Island was right for its time and we would not have survived as a nation without such a large wave of western European immigrants.

What’s happening today is far different. I prefer not to call the current invasion of people “illegal immigrants.” They are not immigrants at all. They have, indeed, “sneaked into our country.”

In addition to being a source of cheap labor and undermining jobs of legitimate laborers, they have created an underground economy which favors themselves and not the states and federal government.

I feel that anyone has a right to seek out freedom and a good way of life. The United States does not throw roadblocks to prevent this from happening. We just want it done legally through a naturalization process.

R.W. Sheehan
Beaufort