OSP-IHM Border community update

The Monroe IHM community shares a common origin with three other religious communities: the Pennsylvania-based Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Scranton; Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Immaculata; and the Oblate Sisters of Providence in Baltimore. Sisters from our shared communities have established a community in McAllen, Texas. Sisters Mary Elaine Anderson (Scranton), Elvia Mata Ortega (Scranton), Carmen Armenta Lara (Monroe) and Rose Patrice Kuhn (Immaculata) are the core group of sisters who live and minister in McAllen. With this creation of an inter-congregational community, our sisters can directly serve asylum seekers who need temporary respite and help to contact their sponsors in the U.S. Below are monthly updates.

March 2026

Unaccompanied minors

by Sister Rose Patrice Kuhn, IHM

An estimated 2,400 children are in detention centers in the U.S. because they crossed the Rio Grande into the U.S. unaccompanied by an adult. Across the country, these children are brought from their detention centers to immigration courthouses to determine if they will be deported or granted asylum.

As part of our border ministry, I am blessed to meet about 25 children each week at the Immigration Courthouse in Harlingen, Texas. I introduce myself to groups of 3 or 4 waiting for their hearings and ask to join them. After chatting with them, we pray, and I assure them of my presence during their hearings, supporting them spiritually.

The valiant, respectful and nervous children I have met range in age from 4 to 17; they are from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico. All I have met have family in the U.S., but since their parents are neither citizens nor permanent residents, the adults cannot claim their children. Very few children have a lawyer or an advocate; the court seems to encourage voluntary departure.

I have so many questions for each child that they can’t be discussed in the waiting room: 

• Why did you leave your country?  (Violence?  Gangs?  Poverty?  Reunify with your family?  Desire for a better life?)
• What dreams do you have?
• What will happen to you if you are deported?   Will you be in danger?

As OSP-IHM Sisters, we believe: “Where one of us is, all of us are.” Thank you, Sisters, for accompanying these vulnerable children with your supportive prayers.

February 2026

Making meaningful connections among migrant women and our sisters

by Sister Mary Elaine Anderson, IHM

Thanks to the Sisters of IHM Ministry Grant Fund (Monroe, MI), the OSP-IHM Collaborative Border Community initiated a project that engaged migrant women in making environmentally friendly bags with the OSP-IHM Border Ministry logo.

The funds from the grant supplied the materials needed to make the bags and to pay the women for their work. The bags were completed in November and sent to the retirement communities of the three IHM congregations and the Oblate Sisters of Providence.

Rose, Carmen, and I asked each migrant woman to pray for the sister who would receive the bag that she made. We also assured them that our sisters will continue to pray for them as they struggle to make a better life for their children and their families.

We have heard from some of the sisters who, after receiving their bags, expressed appreciation, love and concern for the migrant women and their families.

The totes are beautifully made and will be very useful in many ways. The Latino-Hispanic women have a nice touch and are very creative. Please tell them all that we love them and wish them health and happiness.

Martha Gardiner (Scranton IHM)

In the name of all the sisters here in Camilla, we thank you for these beautiful bags made with your loving hands!

We are grateful to all our sisters who not only support our OSP-IHM Community and Ministry at the US-Mexico border but also advocate and pray for our migrant brothers and sisters throughout the US and Mexico.

January 2026

Posada … A Daily experience for migrants and IHM Sisters at the border

The tradition of “posada” is a ritual enactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging during the nine days leading up to Christmas. At the border, “posada” takes on new meaning and is a lived experience throughout the year. Our ministry with migrants is one of welcome, encounter, and accompaniment. While we have many opportunities to share who we are and what we have, we also receive warmth, joy and spiritual strength from those we serve.

*2021 border updates
* 2022 border updates
*2023 border updates
*2024 border updates
*2025 border updates

For the past several years, these four communities have made a commitment to reconnect
and envision a common future. Read more about their shared ministries.