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About the Author
Sister Michel Keenan, IHM, was born in Payette, Idaho, and grew up in Spokane, Washington. She earned her B.A. and M.A. at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and her Ph.D. at the University of Notre Dame. As a sister of IHM, she served as secondary level teacher at schools from Pittston, Pennsylvania, to Portland, Oregon; she was the graduate dean and academic vice president at Marywood University until elected at IHM Congregation superior general. Later she served as assistant vice president at Heritage College, Toppenish, Washington. She continues to research and write history of the Scranton IHMs.
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The
Story of the Native Irish Sisters
Who Entered the Congregation of the Sisters,
Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Scranton, Pennsylvania
by Sister Michel Keenan, IHM
It seems appropriate that on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 12, 2006 this little book on the history of the Native Irish Sisters who entered the Scranton IHM Congregation would be going to the printer.
I make this reference since some of the most oppressed peoples, suffering from cruel and unreasonable immigration laws are today the Mexican people, whose patroness is Our Lady of Guadalupe. We see in the poverty, hunger, and terror inflicted on the people of Ireland in past centuries an historic forerunner of the suffering of today’s “undocumented” peoples.
This little book is meant to help us understand the inspiring role of faith in overcoming obstacles, even legal barriers, and to give us all a greater respect for the courage which characterized those whose legacy we have received.
It is my deep hope that we may respond to the immigration crisis of our times in the spirit of the Christian ideal presented by St.Paul in his letter to the Ephesians: 2:13-22 which states in part:
“... now in Christ Jesus, you who used to be foreigners have been brought very close, by the blood of Christ. For He is the peace between us, and has broken down the barrier which used to keep peoples apart, actually destroying the hostility caused by the rules and decrees of the Law.
“Later he came to bring the good news of peace, peace to you who were aliens and peace to those who were near at hand... So you are no longer aliens or foreign visitors; you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. You form a building which rises on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the capstone. Through Him the whole structure is fitted together and takes shape as a holy temple in the Lord.”
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