Host Brian Reardon and executive producer Josh Matejka welcome Sister Norma Pimentel, President and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, to discuss her work serving immigrant communities at the U.S.-Mexico border. Sister Norma shares moving stories of families fleeing violence and hardship, emphasizing the importance of restoring human dignity through compassion and encounter.
Host Brian Reardon and executive producer Josh Matejka welcome Sister Norma Pimentel, President and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, to discuss her work serving immigrant communities at the U.S.-Mexico border. Sister Norma shares moving stories of families fleeing violence and hardship, emphasizing the importance of restoring human dignity through compassion and encounter. The episode explores how Catholic health care and faith communities can collaborate to support vulnerable populations, regardless of legal status. Sister Norma encourages listeners to act with love, guided by faith, and to welcome immigrants into their communities. Her message is clear: healing begins with presence, understanding, and the courage to care.
Resources
Learn more about Sr. Norma's work at Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley
Access CHA's resources regarding immigration enforcement
Brian Reardon (00:04):
Greetings and welcome to Health Calls, the podcast of the Catholic Health Association of the United States. I'm your host, Brian Reardon, and welcome to season six of Health Calls. With me is our executive producer, Josh Matejka. Hey Josh.
Josh Matejka (00:17):
Hi Brian. Good to be back.
Brian Reardon (00:18):
Yeah, so this season we're talking about United for Change and what we're going to do throughout the episodes this season is really discuss collaborations with Catholic health care and with our partners in Catholic health care and how we're making a difference in the communities and patients we serve. We'll be talking about a wide range of topics, but really all of 'em come back to the notion of human flourishing care for the whole person, human dignity and the common good I think are some of the general themes behind that. We're really excited in this first episode, which is around sharing encounters and caring for immigrant communities to have somebody who's a true champion of immigrants across the United States. And that's Sister Norma Pimentel. We're going to bring her in a moment. She's President and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley. So we're excited to be talking to her in just a moment. But Josh, let's start with a little bit of context. How did we choose Sister Norma for this first episode?
Josh Matejka (01:13):
Yeah, I think this relationship started more than a year ago, back in 2024 when we were getting ready for Assembly 2024 in San Diego. Our colleague at CHA and I, Karla Keppel, we were designing the sacred space for assembly and we were really wanting to highlight the experiences of the immigrant community. And Carla was like, we should reach out to Sister Norma Pimentel because she has these beautiful artworks that we can show that highlight these moments and these figures. And I was like, that's a great idea. I mean, I'm a big art lover myself. So we talked with Sister Norma and her team. She very generously let us use her artwork in that space. And everybody who encountered it just talked about how moving of an experience it was to remember who it is that we are trying to serve when we talk about the whole person, when we talk about caring for the people in our communities. That was a wonderful, wonderful experience. And then earlier this year we had a board presentation that dealt with how do we care for immigrant communities? And we started to talk about what do partnerships look like that either both at the border and across the United States. And my mind was brought back to assembly in San Diego. It was like, I wonder if Sister Norma would be willing to come and be our first guest for the season. And lo and behold, here she is. So I'm very, very excited that she's with us today.
Brian Reardon (02:33):
We're talking with Sister Norma Pimentel, she's President and CEO of the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley. Welcome to Health Calls.
Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ (02:40):
Thank you. Thank you Brian and Josh. It's so good to be here with you both and everybody else is in this call.
Brian Reardon (02:46):
We actually talked to you going back before what Josh just mentioned. And again, the artwork was really moving and beautiful and really I think rounded out our sacred space for the gathering that we had in San Diego and really brought to the forefront the importance Catholic health care of caring for everyone regardless of their legal status, regardless of their socioeconomic background of where they come from. And so it was a really good way to reinforce that message. But I remember you talking to CHA staff years before right around the COVID era and talking about the work you do. And maybe that's a good place to start for our listeners. I think a lot of people probably know of you have heard of you, but can you start by just describing the work you do for Catholic Charities with your partners along the border in Texas?
Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ (03:30):
Being here at the border in south Texas of the Rio Grande Valley, which is the stretches land very close to right at the border next to Mexico, we have experienced a great number of people that have entered or come in search of finding a space here in the United States that's safe and where they can be protected. And so our experience have been witnessing and the many families that we have seen that are struggling, hurting, have been journeying for a while through so many countries and encountering many, many devastations as far as treatment by individuals who are merciless and have taken advantage of them. And they just go through difficult terrain. And when they find themselves here at the border, they find themselves truly in great need of caring and definitely compassion, an opportunity where their faith, their dignity is restored. And so my experience have been at the border with so many families, local families and people here in the community in the United States that have reached out to help these families and offer them a welcome just simply for the fact that they're people and that we want to show them that definitely they matter for us as a person.
(04:52):
And so we have been able to be present to them as we welcome them and offer them spaces where they feel the kindness and the compassion that our God invites us always to have for one another.
Brian Reardon (05:07):
Obviously immigration, huge political issue. It's really being talked about probably more than ever. I know immigration's always been an issue in the United States, but really go back to the founding of Catholic health care in the United States. And the sisters that came over specifically came over in many cases to care for immigrants, for Germans, for Italians, and they came from Germany, they came from different parts of Europe and that was really part of their calling and mission. And so I think what you're doing set aside all the politics, right? I mean we don't want to get into that because it's really, people have their opinions, but I think what our listeners for this podcast and particularly who work in Catholic health care can take I guess comfort in knowing that this is in our DNA of caring for all and particularly caring for those who are most vulnerable. So from your perspective, I think you work with different health care providers. How does this sort of come full circle for our mission in the work you're doing and the work that we've been called to do in Catholic health care?
Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ (06:05):
Sisters throughout history, initially in the United States were the pioneers who act, as you mentioned, actually broke ground in responding to the most immediate needs that we saw families, they needed health care, they needed schools, they needed education. And so what we see today in our borders at the border is people who are struggling, who simply need compassion and care attentiveness to the human person so that person, their dignity can be restored because they've been through so much. And so we see it in their faces, the great fear and what all of that they experience. So as people of God, people of faith, we're called to be present to them as Pope Francis would say, to encounter them and to see the face of sovereign Christ in their presence. And so we are able to bring that faith and make it come alive by showing that they matter, that they're a person just as beautiful as anyone else and they need the love of God. And so we have an opportunity to show that love to our actions.
Brian Reardon (07:22):
It's the culture of encounter. That was what Pope Francis spoke about frequently. And I think in the work you do, not only do you on sort of the ground at the border providing social services, working with others who provide health care respite services, but you're out there talking about it all over the country, maybe all over the world. And I think what you are always emphasizing it is that encounter, it's understanding and being present. Can you share a little bit with our listeners how important that is? The storytelling so that people, they're not seen as the other, they're not seen as something different that we all share that sort of human connection. We're all children of God. And so how does storytelling help, I guess, breakthrough maybe some of the misconceptions or biases people may have about the migrant community?
Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ (08:11):
As we think about what Pope Francis invited us to do is to come and encounter the other, encounter that person who find themselves in a situation that is very difficult and that it's hurting and for the most part very afraid. And so we have an opportunity to come close and see and really experience that presence of that person, that humanity. And I think what it does to us, it brings out our own humanity. I remember one time very clearly right in the beginning when we started to take response to be present and to become aware and see how we could help, I asked to go to a detention facility where their children were detained and they were in great numbers detained, and these kids were all crying and they were all in these cells very dirty and in very poor condition.
(09:07):
They were desperately needing somebody to help. And when I went there and they allowed me to go inside and I said, I want to pray with these children. And they did let me to go in and the children were pulling my dress and they were asking me, please get me out of here please. I want to go with my mother. And so I just started to cry with them and I asked, let's pray together. And so we did, and the children would respond back to me and says, God, please help us. And the officers that were there and they were observing us through this glass window and they too were crying. And so when I walked out of that cell after that opportunity to be with the kids, an officer told me, "Thank you, sister. You helped us realize they're human beings. Somehow sometimes in our effort to try to do our jobs, we forget our own humanity."
(10:05):
And I think that one of the important thing of encounter is to regain our sense of who we are as persons and not to ever forget that that's key to who we are as people of faith people, that God is with us and the God with us is asking us to make sure we show kindness and care for the other.
Brian Reardon (10:28):
If you could share other cases of maybe individuals that have come over, and I think you've probably, I'm guessing, encountered a lot of young mothers with children who've escaped violence, who've escaped just horrible conditions in central America and made a long trip. So can you share another just sort of the story of the journey that they go through? It has to be really pretty overwhelming.
Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ (10:50):
Every person, the moment they walk through our doors of our center, and the very first question I ask when I sit down with them initially when we started to welcome them and to provide them with spaces where they could take a shower, they get cleaned up with clean clothes and eat and see a doctor, the first questions I asked, how are you? And immediately they would start to cry as they reconnected with their own experience of how hard it was for them traveling through so many places and up what really you want initially. Remember one story of this mom, she was from Honduras. She was a very petite young mom. She had a little kid with about, I think the child must have been about three or four years old. And it was very late at night and I was really almost by myself with I think my counselor at the time.
(11:39):
And we were trying to respond to the families that were just arriving at that time. This mom was very pregnant, she was huge. And I said, when are you due? And she said, now, yeah, it's like now it's like, my God, so why would you do this to yourself and travel by yourself with your child, through all these countries and in those conditions? And she showed me her hand, and this hand was all this figure said, you see this? It was all this figured it was. She shared with me how some guy entered her house and actually struck to kill her little girl with a big knife and she put her hand to protect her child, to save her. And she said, my hand healed like this. I didn't have the means of how to go to any medical care and I care for it myself, and that's why my hand is like this.
(12:35):
But had I stayed home in my country, I know for a fact that my child and I would not be alive today. And so this story is similar to many stories of so many people that flee and leave their country because they're afraid for their lives, especially their lives of their children. And so these are the kind of stories I continuously hear of their fear for their child's life and how can they be in a space where they could be safe, where the child can be. Okay. And so these are the kind of stories that are constantly the reality of who the immigrant is that comes and is in search of protection.
Brian Reardon (13:17):
How do these stories affect you and those who care and provide services to migrants? How does that affect you?
Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ (13:24):
Well, for one, I see how myself, especially I first have to be very grounded in my own faith, spend time with God every day at the beginning of the day. That's how I start my day because I feel that if I don't do that, I feel that I will get lost with myself, with Norma instead of letting God really guide me how to be present, how to respond, how to love, how to be cared for the many things that will happen throughout the day. And so I think that I've seen how people who have come from different parts of the United States to come down to South Texas to be present, to help, they're transformed. I remember young man saying from New York, she said, sister, I had left the church and now I feel a need to go back when I go back home to really reconnect and leave out my faith and reconnect with my community, faith community over there. And so I see a transformation when we allow ourselves to get close enough and encounter the other, encounter, those people who are in our lives that are coming and that need our help, it changes us. It connects us with God in a very deep personal way. And it breaks out the best in us to be our very best to love and to care for others.
Brian Reardon (14:41):
And as we talk about, again, the theme this season of United for Change and the various collaborations that we seek in order to again, bring God's healing to the world, how do you see the collaborations in South Texas coming together? Do you find people are somewhat reluctant at first because of the sort of politicization? And again, you just kind of touched on this, that maybe you change hearts and minds by bringing people in and having them volunteer perhaps at a respite center. So could you share a little bit about how that collaboration and bringing people together may change individuals and change us collectively?
Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ (15:18):
One of the things that happened here in our own communities in South Texas was amazing, and our Bishop, Bishop Dan Flores, who has always been very good about really naming what exactly why it is that our community has come together, all of us, it didn't matter what faith denomination you belong to, what party who you were, whether you were a law enforcement officer or work for a city government or health clinic or university, or just a simple person in the community. We all came together as one community, as basically as one church. Even though they were evangelicals, they were Presbyterians, they were United Methodists, Catholics, everybody. We came to be as one. And what brought us together was what united us, the fact that we all believe in restoring human dignity. That was key into why we could be together and believed in helping the families.
(16:14):
We were seeing before us here in our community that were brought to us by the Border patrol, by immigration, they have already been processed. They were already here. They were given permission to proceed with their legal proceedings and to determine whether they had asylum or not. But they were lost. They needed help and we were there for them. And I think that when we put aside our differences and we looked at what brings us together and what we believe is important for us as people, we can work together, we can collaborate, we can be one community, one people that believe in restoring human dignity.
Brian Reardon (16:52):
And it's sort of a follow-up to that for those who work, not just in Catholic health care, but health care facilities across the country and maybe have a reluctance or a fear of, oh, if I take care of someone who's here undocumented, there could be repercussions. So there is that. I think especially in the last several months, unfortunately, there's been a lot of fear about the care for immigrants and what that might mean for caregivers. Do you have any advice to those folks who may be like, oh, I'm not sure I can do this, or am I allowed to do this?
Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ (17:24):
Well, I think that we should not allow ourselves to be guided by fear, but rather by God. God should be the force within us that pulls us forward, that allows us to be courageous, to live out our faith, to act with love. Because if we have anything, we don't have power to do many things, but we do have power to do one thing, and that is to love and that nobody can take that away from. We have to bring that out because it is always what God would want us to do with everybody. We shouldn't look at our differences or who that person is, whether they're legal or not. I think we're not breaking any laws when we love. And so we must focus on that and trust that we're doing the right thing. And so I think focus in God and let God be the force within you that helps you to love others and to care for those that really need you.
Brian Reardon (18:18):
And I know that's beautifully stated because that is at the heart of healing. Whether we're healing is professional caregivers or whether we're healing a loved one, it really is about that expression of love and bringing God's love to other people. So I think that's a really great advice. Let me bring Josh back into the conversation. Josh, you've been listening in and wanted to see if you've have any thoughts or questions for Sister Norma.
Josh Matejka (18:40):
Yeah, thanks Sister Norma stories are really powerful. Thank you so much for sharing them. One of the things that I think about when it comes to caring for immigrant families and communities, kind of like Brian mentioned earlier, when the first sisters came and established Catholic health care facilities, and you pointed this out too, they were just meeting the needs that they saw in front of them. It was treating the sick, caring for those who are unhoused, giving education to children who needed education, and adults who needed education. Caring for immigrant communities, especially those who are just coming from the border from other countries, is so multifaceted. There's so many needs right out of the, and you're on the front lines for lack of a better term, and you're accepting them and you're welcoming them. You're starting that process of reestablishing human dignity in places that they've lost it. For people outside of the border for the hospital in the Midwest or for the facility in the Northwest, what are some ways that they can care for immigrant populations in their community, people who are moving past the border and into the wider United States? What are those kind of longer term needs that maybe we don't see on the day-to-day basis that you can encourage people to say, hey, here are ways that you can practically care for those in your community?
Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ (19:58):
Well, thank you, Josh. One of the things that Paul Francis helped us to acknowledge as far as what our role should be, he said it was important to recognize and welcome the immigrants, integrate them into our community and promote them and care for them and making sure they're protected and cared for properly. So he actually asked us very specifically, how can we leave out our faith but allowing them to be part of our community? So I think that if you in your own communities can find those that can join together with you and start identifying what are the needs that immigrants have right now in your community? And one of them is to be part of a community, to be able to leave their faith together with you. And I think that's the one very important part that sometimes is missing. They're afraid. They're afraid to go out. They're afraid that something may happen to them. So inviting them to be part of who you are as a people of faith, I think is key and important. And then you will learn their needs. What is it that they need that we can possibly provide as a community for them? And you yourself will discover the different ways that you can be present to them.
Josh Matejka (21:11):
Yeah, you can't meet the needs until that integration and that welcoming happens. Thank you. That's a really important step that you can't miss. I appreciate you bringing that up.
Brian Reardon (21:19):
And I appreciate the emphasis on all faith communities, those people that again, believe in Jesus that are Christian. We have to remember that this is the heart of what it means to be as a Christian, is welcoming the stranger and following Christ's example of caring for others. And I think sometimes that unfortunately gets lost in a debate that's been very contentious. And so this has been a wonderful reminder about the power of those, of faith coming together and caring for our neighbors. Love thy neighbor, right? That's probably one of the simplest things we can do. So this has been a great reminder and really appreciate your perspectives on this. Well,
Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ (21:57):
Recently, our own bishop and one of his homilies actually addressed that. Who is my neighbor? And your neighbor is that person who is close to you, that needs your help that may be in distress, may be afraid. You go have to go find and offer them how you can help them. Maybe they need food, maybe they need something else. How can you be present to your neighbor? So a neighbor is somebody who God is calling you to respond in a loving way.
Brian Reardon (22:26):
Thank you for all the good work you're doing. Thank you for your leadership on this issue. I know you've taken a lot of heat personally, and I think we really admire all you've done. So again, really appreciate you taking time and all you do in your ministry. So again, God bless you and thank you.
Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ (22:43):
Thank you, Brian. Josh, thank you.
Brian Reardon (22:45):
Yeah, and that was again, Sister Norma Pimentel, she's President and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley. We again, appreciate her taking time on this inaugural episode of Health Calls, our sixth season now, and we talk about United for Change. And again, this has been another episode. I'm your host, Brian Reardon. As you know, Josh Matejka is our executive producer. We also want to thank Sarah Marchant. She's our scheduling producer, as well as the good folks here at Once Studios in St. Louis. You probably noticed we're now doing these podcasts in a video format too. And so we would encourage you as the season progresses to check out all of our episodes on your favorite podcast streaming apps, as well as on our website, chausa.org. And now of course, you can watch us on YouTube as well, so we appreciate that. And if you like what you hear and see, please don't hesitate to give us some comments or give us ratings. We'd love to hear back from you. Thanks for listening.