By Claudia Mathis
Staff writer

Felipa Pablo becomes frightened every time her doorbell rings. Last September, immigration officials barged through her front door looking for her. She is in danger of being deported.

“These last three years have been the best of my life,” said Felipa. “They’ve been peaceful, except for the problems of deportation.”

Felipa escaped a miserable and precarious existence in Guatemala three years ago. She recalls tales of physical abuse, extreme poverty and when she left her house, the danger of being murdered for no reason or of being robbed.

Felipa said she relies on her faith in God to cope with the uncertainty and stress she feels about her upcoming deportation.

Felipa resides with Trinidad Ramos and their two young children Marilena and Sergio, on the northeast side of Syracuse.

Trinidad arrived in Syracuse in the late 1980s from war-torn Guatemala with the intention of supporting his extended family’s 18 children, helping them to avoid starvation. As a legal permanent resident, Trinidad will be able to apply for citizenship in four years. He is currently employed as a painter and landscaper.

Trinidad’s survival is largely due to the parishioners of St. Vincent de Paul in Syracuse, especially its Peace & Justice Committee. “He was taken in by our Catholic community,” explained Paul Welch, a member of the committee. “He’s lived in St. Vincent de Paul’s Rectory, Slocum House and at other venues. We arranged legal aid  for him so that he could get permanent residency.”

St. Vincent de Paul has joined many other religious organizations and individuals in taking a stand for immigrants’ rights, to protect immigrants against deportation and to advocate for changes in current immigration law through the New Sanctuary Movement.

By Cathy Cornue
Sun contributing writer

When we first discussed the idea of an award for certified catechists, we did some brainstorming about what to call it. When WE got out of the way and listened to the stirrings of the Holy Spirit, it became evident that it must be: Seeds of Faith. And the story of the mustard seed, which is on each honoree’s certificate, is a reminder of the great things that can happen when seeds of faith are planted.

In prayer and with discernment, the catechetical leaders in each region selected the recipients. We are delighted to honor Dorothy Monterose, Jean Derby, Kate Garger and Meg Krantz as the first recipients of the Seeds of Faith Award.

Bishop Robert J. Cunningham and Christopher Mominey, superintendent of Catholic Schools, are pleased to announce six new school administratrors in the Catholic School System.

Stephen R. Bradley has been appointed Principal of Holy Family School in Norwich.  Bradley is an excellent candidate for the position as he has had over 20 years of experience in both education, as well as administration. He has a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University in economics and a master’s degree in education from Tufts University. He also earned his Certificate of Advanced Study in counseling from Oneonta and a Certificate of Advanced Study in school administration from SUNY Cortland.