JoAnn Persch, Pat Murphy Continue Fighting for Immigrant Rights

JoAnn Persch, Pat Murphy Show No Signs of Stopping Their Mission

Well, darlings, let’s talk about commitment. Sister JoAnn Persch is 90 years old. Sister Pat Murphy is 95 years old. Yet, these two are not slowing down. They spend their days fighting for immigrant rights in Chicago. While the rest of us enjoy brunch and shopping, these two take in asylum seekers and stand up to immigration officials. They do it with purpose, with style, and with an unwavering belief that every human deserves dignity.

JoAnn Persch, Pat Murphy Turn Retirement Plans into a Full Mission

These ladies had planned to retire. COVID-19 gave them a break, and they thought about stepping back. Then, in 2022, buses started dropping immigrants from the border into Chicago. They could not sit still. They opened their home to a mother and her children from Sierra Leone. That was just the beginning. More people needed help. Soon, they launched Catherine’s Caring Cause. Now, they support over 17 families. They provide housing, food, and legal aid. Their work is far from done.

JoAnn Persch, Pat Murphy Stand Up for Immigrant Families in Chicago

The families they help are real people. Zuleika and her husband, Oscar, had to flee Central America. Thanks to the sisters, they have an apartment and someone to help them navigate court. The sisters aren’t just activists. They are lifelines. Immigrants know they can count on them. They show up when others turn away.

JoAnn Persch, Pat Murphy Continue Their Protests and Activism

Every Friday morning, these two stand outside the ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois. They pray. They chant. Everybody holds signs in support of immigrant families. They do not stand alone. Lawyers, union activists, and Catholic leaders join them. They say this is not just a protest. It is a mission for justice.

JoAnn Persch, Pat Murphy Build a Lasting Legacy for Immigrant Rights

They began as Catholic school teachers. They never thought their journey would lead them here. But their work has changed laws. They fought for state policies that limit jails from working with immigration authorities. Their influence helped create projects like Viator House and Bethany House, which give immigrant youth a safe place to stay. Even though they don’t run these programs anymore, their impact is everywhere.