Our nation’s founding ideals promise freedom, equality and justice, yet the lived reality for many has been, and continues to be, far more complicated. Liberty is not a static gift; it is a work in progress.
For the Felician Sisters, the pursuit of freedom is inseparable from our commitment to human dignity, peace and justice. Human dignity reminds us that every person—without exception—is created with inherent worth and deserves to live in freedom, safety and opportunity.
Freedom Through the Lens of Faith
Catholic Social Teaching reminds us that every person is made in God’s image, deserving of respect, opportunity and protection. Laudato Si’ calls us to reverence all creation, to resist “othering” and to build a culture of encounter. Blessed Mary Angela guides us: “Give aid to all without exception; your vocation obliges you not to exclude anyone, for everybody is our neighbor.” (I, 112)
Freedom is inseparable from love—love of God and love of neighbor. As Blessed Mary Angela wrote, “I need not encourage you to love your neighbor, because where love of God dwells, there love of neighbor will be found, since one flows from the other. Both are inseparable; both are embraced in one commandment.” (I, 76-77)
Stories of Arrival and Courage
Many of us know the stories of our families’ journeys to this country—of courage, sacrifice and hope. Why did they come? What did they leave behind? What was life like for them when they first arrived?
These stories often echo the experience of the Holy Family. In Matthew 2, Joseph rises by night to flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt, seeking to save the life of the child. Today, countless children, women and men must leave their homes for safety—fleeing violence, persecution or poverty. Could we endure such a journey, walking miles through unknown and dangerous terrain, carrying only hope and love?
St. Paul reminds us: “You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people.” (Eph 2:19) And Jesus, in Matthew 25, tells us that every act of care toward the most vulnerable is an act of love toward Him.
Freedom at Home and Abroad
Liberty also connects us to those who serve to protect our democracy. Perhaps you, someone in your family or someone you know has served in the military—ensuring that we live in freedom today. Their sacrifice calls us to consider: liberty is not only inherited but also defended and nurtured through civic responsibility and moral courage.
A Reflection for Today
This year, as we honor the anniversary of the death of St. Francis, we hear his call: “I have done what was mine to do; may you do what is yours.” In this Year of St. Francis, may we allow his spirit to guide us in our endeavors: to protect creation, to lift up the marginalized, and to work tirelessly toward a more just society. Blessed Mary Angela echoes this sentiment: “May the blessing of St. Francis accompany you everywhere and at every moment, may it sanctify all your endeavors, may it fill you with His spirit, that as His child you should perform His works.” (III, 135)
Questions to Reflect On
- How did your family come to this country, and why?
- What challenges did they face when they arrived?
- Who in your family has served to preserve freedom and democracy?
- In your own life, how do you respond to the call to recognize the dignity of every person, in your community and across the world?
- How can we live out freedom in ways that include everyone—especially those who are “othered”?
Liberty is still a work in progress. Created equal? Freedom for whom? These are not just questions for our nation—they are challenges for our hearts, our communities and our ministries. In answering them, we follow the vision of our founders, the teachings of our faith and the example of those who walked before us, from the Holy Family to Blessed Mary Angela, to the sisters and all who carry forward the work of justice and peace today.
* References to Blessed Mary Angela’s writings are cited by volume and page number.
