By Sister Kris Vorenkamp, SLW
September
25, 2014
What a profound and
exceptional experience for me and all of us, I imagined, to share lunch in the
break of our NUNS ON THE BUS day in Chicago this way: listening with Gov. Pat
Quinn of IL, Simone Campbell, Rev. CJ Hawking of ARISE Chicago, and my fellow
sisters to three stories of struggling employees.
We heard stories that
"break open your heart,” as Simone says so that we can be opened to
their pain and let the Holy Spirit lead our response:
- a Hispanic couple working for 13 years at a carwash unbelievably
only receiving tips—no daily wage—because the owner said they were immigrants
and didn't deserve it
- a brave striker from Golan' Company, which requires extra hours
but never pays the workers for those hours
- a McDonald's employee who is not bitter—just wants to help change
injustices. He is fighting for a minimum wage. Imagine, he told us, a
McDonald's employee who can't even afford to eat there.
The GOOD NEWS was all three
found hope in ARISE Chicago, which now has their back.
How inspiring to listen to
them, experience their perseverance and courage in the face of daily struggles
to survive. Equally hopeful to hear about the work of ARISE and Gov. Quinn's
response of a promise to look into what can be done to change these practices.
