- [Narrator] Three very
special sisters were presented
with the Lumen Christi Award in 2014
for their work in helping
poor families pull together
to build a community
center, a medical facility
and a parish in a colonia
near McAllen, Texas
at our border with Mexico.
- This may be, on the map, as America,
the United States, a first world country,
but the Rio Grande Valley
is definitely not that.
We have real mission territory here.
We have people living way
below the poverty line,
struggling in their everyday life.
And this is a place that
we belong as missionaries.
- There is an emphasis on
preferential love for the poor
and so there is a place
where there is a need
and nobody wants to go.
That's where you find ICM sister.
- Colonias in my eyes would be
families that are settling quickly
and building their own homes
and living in very poor conditions,
often times with incomplete roofs
and floors that are in
process of being put in.
For families that are just arriving
from all over Latin America,
many of them are undocumented,
and yet trying to find a
way to establish a life.
- [Rosie] You come into
the Proyecto building
and you see all these things happening.
I mean, there's an area where
the children are learning,
there's a headstart program,
there's a area for medical needs.
It's something that is so unique
but yet it is something
that I would never expect
anything else from
these beautiful sisters.
(latin music)
- The Catholic Church
presence makes them happy.
They go out, reach out
and they form communities.
- [Lupe] Now we have
people in the Proyecto
that are talking about having
their kids go to college
and having their kids
expand their horizons
and, you know, that there is hope.
- It's came to bond and bring
families closer to each other
and bring God closer to all of us.
I think it has made a difference.
- It was an obvious thing
to nominate the sisters
who really have been the glue that has
made that community possible.
- [Woman] I would pray for the
mission of Catholic Extension
that it continues to
help other organizations
like us to further God's kingdom
of love and peace and justice.
- All we can do is use the
words of our blessed mother.
The Lord has done great things in us.
Blessed be His name.
(rhythmic music)
