A Peace Pal Story of Hope and Connection 

By Sister Barbara‑Jean Kubik, SNDdeN 

Just recently, I realized how rich our history is and how the life of St. Julie still speaks today in a meaningful way to others.  

In the fall, I responded to We Choose Welcome’s webinar, inviting individuals to be Peace Pals by writing to individuals in detention as a way of offering them support and encouragement. I received the name of a French-speaking woman in a Louisiana correctional center. I ended my initial letter by saying that if it were OK with her, I would pray for her. She responded very quickly and was grateful for prayer.  She seemed to be a woman of strong faith.   

In my second letter, I told her briefly of the trials that St. Julie experienced, living in a time of being hunted down, not unlike today, and how she managed to escape and then about her cure as a result of prayer. It was my hope that Julie’s faith and courage would be a source of support and hope for her.   

In another letter, I sent a photo of an amaryllis starting to open and the statue of St. Julie. Again, my Peace Pal responded appreciatively, each time saying that she was praying for her release. The last letter that I received told me that her case would be heard on January 23, and she prayed that God would help her and those with her, like he helped that woman in the photo of the statue.  She remembered Julie and continued to be thankful for prayer. 

A few days ago, I heard from Cartas de Paz, that she was released. No details are provided. 

St. Julie told us we should have “hearts as wide as the world.” This small effort of mine in these trying days of deportation and detention is for me a way of widening my heart and extending welcome to the stranger.