Human Rights Awareness Week at Clarke to Focus on Immigration

The Clarke College Campus Ministry Office will host two Human Rights Awareness Week events next week with a focus on immigration issues.

On Sunday, Jan. 21, the office will host a showing of the movie “Dying to Live, A Migrant’s Journey.” The showing will be held in Clarke’s Atrium Conference Room immediately following the 5:30 p.m. liturgy. A light meal will be provided. The film, produced by Fr. William Groody of Notre Dame College, examines the human dimension of Mexican immigrants, including the journey migrants undertake to cross the U.S. border, and a discussion of the social, economic, political and religious issues involved.

Following the movie, Marcia Sola, an international student services office staff member at the College of Wisconsin – Platteville and longtime advocate for Iowa immigrants, will respond to the film with both legislative information and stories of local immigrants.  She will also be available to answer any questions.

A panel presentation on immigration will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. in the Atrium Conference Room.  Panel presenters will be Terri and Bob Buss; Eileen McGovern, BVM; and Amy Golm, BVM.

Terri and Bob Buss have traveled to Haiti several times on service trips with members of St. Anthony’s Parish in Dubuque through the Haiti Parish Twinning Program. The program aims to create lasting partnerships between parishes in the United States and Haiti. Eileen McGovern, BVM, was one of the first Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) assigned to teach and minister in South America. She currently ministers as a Spanish therapist with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

Amy Golm, a liturgist at Clarke College, will present on the history and current context of United States immigration policy, particularly on the US/Mexico border. She will then contrast that policy with the response of the churches to immigrant people.