Q&A with Sr. Martha de la Torre Juárez, Network Support for Immigrant Women Across Michigan

Sr. Martha de la Torre Juárez, Sister of Mary Reparatrix and Co-Director of Leadership Development for Strangers No Longer, is primarily involved in creating support circles, providing spiritual guidance, and healing the hearts of immigrant women in the state of Michigan.

“My mission is to accompany and empower immigrants who have come to this country to find a better life for their families,” De la Torre Juárez told Global Sisters Report. “In my ministry, I share who I am: a woman called and healed by God’s unconditional love.”

De la Torre Juárez is a Mexican-American member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary Reparatrix, whose charism is to show the tenderness with which God loves, reconciles and repairs the world. “We work to show the love that repairs, heals wounds and reconciles people with themselves and with God,” said De la Torre Juarez.

De la Torre Juárez came to the United States in 2010 with the intention of working in the mission of her community. Ten years later, she joined Strangers No Longer, an organization founded in 2017 dedicated to accompanying immigrants and advocating for their rights in Michigan.

“By directly supporting families in crisis situations during the pandemic, I gradually got to know the organization better and came into contact with the mothers of families and their situations,” said De la Torre Juárez.

The life stories of these immigrants encouraged De la Torre Juárez to found Strangers No Longer’s first women’s support circle in 2020.

“In these spaces we feel safe to talk about our experiences, pray together and look for ways to help each other improve difficult situations,” said De la Torre Juárez. “We talk about the challenges of life in this country and the hopes of our families.”

De la Torre Juárez currently coordinates nine self-help groups for women and one for men across the country.

“Sr. Martha has taught us about Jesus-like commitment to people and building the Kingdom with them,” said Bill O’Brien, founder and executive director of Strangers No Longer. “Her work has been critical in connecting immigrant leaders with non-immigrant leaders in many Michigan parishes. They are taking their place as co-workers in building the Kingdom of God in Michigan.”

Since 2021, De la Torre Juárez has served as co-director of the Foundation for Leadership Development, a position she shares with Amy Ketner, who coordinates support circles for high school youth.

“In addition to raising awareness about immigration issues and accompanying and directly supporting families in crisis situations, our work also involves advocating for a more humane immigration policy,” said De la Torre Juárez.

GSR: What is your main task in the support groups?

From the Juarez Tower: Motivate and encourage immigrant women and men to become leaders and agents of their own change. It is not easy, but little by little we are building a foundation of faith rooted in their reality.

I accompany them in their personal growth and leadership process so that they discover how God is present in their lives, helping and protecting them at all times. This experience of God’s mercy, tenderness and forgiveness helps them to realize the full potential that God has given them to master their daily lives.

The women and men in the circles know that they are loved and valued by God. This inspires them to do something to improve their lives. They are also motivated to help other immigrants.

Why are self-help groups important?

The situation facing hundreds of women and men here is far from easy. Many of them feel insecure in a culture that is completely different from their own and, in some cases, face a society that rejects and excludes them.

These brothers and sisters are gradually going through a process of adaptation. This involves many factors such as lack of income, extreme climate, distance from family and lack of access to basic services. This process is further complicated when people are alone and feel alone.

At Strangers No Longer, we seek to bring God’s presence to them through our supportive actions. We provide them with space for personal and spiritual growth so that they can discover their own leadership role.

What fruits has the work of Strangers No Longer brought for immigrants?

By listening directly to women, we were able to develop a platform that allows us to focus our advocacy efforts on immigrant issues.

In addition, we have promoted collaboration between immigrants and non-immigrants to make life more dignified for all people. For example, since 2022, we have been holding annual Human Dignity Gatherings to help us dialogue and develop strategies.

Another result was our advocacy day in Lansing, Michigan in February 2023. Immigrants and non-immigrants met with legislators to advocate for the Drive SAFE Act so that all immigrants can get a driver’s license. Strangers No Longer will continue to advocate for this cause.

Our efforts pay off when we see people taking their own leadership.

How do you find God in your work?

Ignatian spirituality helps me to “find God in all things”, and my accompaniment of sisters and brothers with a migrant background allows me to discover God in the simplicity of their faith and in their way of overcoming fears and difficulties to come out of the shadows.

This closeness to their lives makes me say like Jesus: “I praise you, Father, for you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, but you have revealed them to little children.”

Their lives and their struggles have taught me that God was, is and will always be there, protecting them from every danger. They are my teachers of trust in God!