In an effort to promote compassion and justice for our immigrant neighbors, a group of IHM Sisters, thirteen from the Scranton IHM (Srs. Margaret Gannon, Ann Newell, Ann Walsh, Maureen Therese Harun, Amanda DelValle, Jean Louis Bachetti, Kathleen McNulty, Joan McCusker, Helene Cooke, Denise Montagne, Lisa Perkowski, Mary Kay Faliskie, Dorothy Haney and John Michel Southwick) and three sisters from Immaculata, gathered in Hazleton on September 2 to show their support for the Latino community and all immigrants in the United States.

Sr. Margaret Gannon addressed the following words to the Latino community in Hazleton at the rally, “We are here to show our support for all our brothers and sisters from the Latino community. We want you to know that we are with you and that we want justice to be done. You can read in our sign that we are sent to be prophetic witnesses of God in the world and the presence of God is a God of compassion, a God of love, a God of justice. So we are here in the hope of spreading that idea and making it clear that we stand with you in compassion, in justice and in love. One of the founders of our congregation was an immigrant, and the other was a daughter of an immigrant, so our roots are deep in the Latin community, and indeed we are all children of immigrants, and we want to show you how much we are supporting you, praying for you and speaking where we can for you. Thank you.”

Standing across the street from the William J. Nealon Federal Building, a diverse group spoke out against an ordinance they say destroys families and promotes anti-Latino sentiment. Opening arguements for the federal lawsuit, Lozano v. City of Hazleton, began on Monday, March 12, 2007 in Scranton. The IHM Sisters gathered outside the courthouse along with others supporters.