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Sister Liane has been a volunteer at the Welcome Center in Phoenix for three years. She volunteers 4 times a week.

Photo: Nisha Datt, IRC

Its not every day you meet someone who has dedicated their life to serving and educating others all over the world. With an abundance of compassion and patience, Sister Liane has served 47 years as a teacher with her congregation, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

As part of this international community of over 1,000 religious women who serve in 15 different countries, she has had the opportunity to attend congregational meetings in a total seven countries. I have been, within our congregation, to Peru, Nicaragua, France, Belgium, Kenya, and England, she shared. That was such a gift, because I thought when I entered the convent, I was giving up traveling and that has not been the case, she added.

I seek to build bridges as our Earth was not created with borders and having the opportunity to sometimes hear stories of the clients we serve allows me to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform and provide facts about those seeking asylum for those unaware of the reality.

Born and raised in the suburbs of San Francisco, California, Sister Liane attended Catholic school, where she contemplated what her future could look like. As a child, I would go between teaching, nursing, being a mother, being a Sister. So eventually, I had to make a decision, because all those things dont quite work together! she expressed.

Sister Liane received her bachelor's degree in Spanish, along with an Elementary Public School teaching credential. She taught bilingual, first grade students in an inner-city Los Angeles public school for three years. That was my first real experience in a multicultural setting an enriching and challenging time, she said. During that time, she enrolled in a master's program focused on Special Education and joined the sisters of Notre Dame de Namur at the age of 24. Originally, I wanted to join because I saw the sisters as very joyful and as prayerful in the sense of somehow, they knew something of this deeper life within and wanted to share that together, she recalled.

As a child, I would go between teaching, nursing, being a mother, being a Sister. So eventually, I had to make a decision, because all those things dont quite work together!

While working on her thesis for her master's degree, she was assigned her first mission, which involved working as a Resource Specialist at two different Catholic schools, in inner city Los Angeles, where she offered extra support to children with learning disabilities. Eventually, [I] founded a small learning center for inner city junior high students unable to be served by the schools they were attending, she said.

She was later invited by her sisters, who were serving in Peru, for the summer. What started out as a visit, turned into 16 years of service. Sister Liane shared, I was involved in pastoral work and in the development of the Fe y Alegria #34 school, a primary and secondary school serving children. She described the experience as, an incredible gift of sharing life with hospitable, welcoming people and learning about a social culture while eating delicious Peruvian food.

After 16 years in Peru, Sister Liane returned to her home in California to look after her parents. While on the central coast of California, she not only served with her sisters at a multicultural farming community but, she also worked on, creating a Resource Room program for struggling students, and led a Notre Dame Mission Volunteer-AmeriCorps Team for six years, she shared.

In the summer of 2019, Sister Liane transitioned out of her full-time teaching responsibilities, and was invited by her sisters to move to Arizona. She said, it was the right time for me, and I was ready to stop teaching full-time I love the southwest, the desert, and the weather!

You create spaces where people could become subjects of their own destiny, which is not possible for so many people. Here at the Welcome Center, we are doing it and that is important to me. We are providing simple services we are being human beings with other human beings.

In Phoenix, she taught ESL classes for adults, and served Asylum Seekers at City Square Church once a week. Later that year, she was introduced to the Welcome Center and the services they provide at their first open house. With complications from COVID-19, City Square Church was no longer able to serve Asylum Seekers, and Sister Liane joined the efforts of the Welcome Center.

As a volunteer, Sister Liane continues to serve asylum seekers, helps prepare the showers, and ensures our clients have everything they need to feel fresh and clean after their long and tiring journey. She comes in four times a week for three hours, at the very least. Her ability to communicate in Spanish has allowed her to connect with many individuals and families. You create spaces where people could become subjects of their own destiny, which is not possible for so many people. Here at the Welcome Center, we are doing it and that is important to me. We are providing simple services we are being human beings with other human beings, she reflected.

With each interaction, she is reminded of, the amazing resilience of the human spirit, often supported by a deep faith, something I recognize as we receive guests here at the Welcome Center. Having volunteered here for 3 years now, Sister Liane is constantly amazed by the incredible staff at the center who work, day and night, to support our clients. The ability of staff and volunteers to respond to needs as they appear, because they keep changing Anyone who comes here to serve has to know how to pivot, you cant be rigid staff does that so very well, she said.

One day, at the Welcome Center, Sister Liane was recognized by a former student of hers when she was in Peru.

While on her way to open the showers for the day, a young woman approached her and said, Hermana Liane, Ustede y yo en el Colegio de Fe y Alegria! (Sister Liane, you, and I in the school of Faith and Joy!)

Si, Si! (Yes, yes!) Sister Liane replied,

Me enseno en tercer grado en Peru! (You taught me in third grade in Peru!), the young woman then shared.

They were both overjoyed and hugged one another. The young woman introduced Sister Liane to her husband and child.

This was just one of the many meaningful interactions Sister Liane has experienced over her time with the Welcome Center! As a teacher, as a Sister and as a volunteer, her mission remains the same. I seek to build bridges as our Earth was not created with borders and having the opportunity to sometimes hear stories of the clients we serve allows me to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform and provide facts about those seeking asylum for those unaware of the reality, she shared.

The Welcome Center has received over 45,000 asylum seekers in the past year with the help of 100+ volunteers, like Sister Liane. Without the tireless efforts of our volunteers and community partners, we would not be able to assist all of them effectively.

This shared community space allows Phoenix residents to connect with and serve asylum seekers as they navigate their new environment, offering them the tools and motivation, and thoughtful interactions necessary to thrive as they set out build a new life in the U.S.

Photo: Andrew Oberstadt, IRC

Read more:
Discovering the goodness in those she serves - International Rescue Committee