Sister JoAnn Persch, longtime immigrant activist, dies at 91

Sister JoAnn Persch spent a lifetime advocating for immigrants and human dignity.

After decades of ministry, several years of them spent serving refugees from war and torture in Central America, she and the late Sister Pat Murphy in 2007 began organizing weekly prayer vigils outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in west suburban Broadview.

She was among the delegation of clergy, religious and lay people who were denied entry to the ICE facility Nov. 1 when they attempted to bring Communion to the people detained inside.

Sister JoAnn died Nov. 14 at age 91. She was a Sister of Mercy for 73 years.

“How will it be when we will miss JoAnn’s clear voice — quiet, insistent, regular, and respectful — about the new and daily injustices being perpetrated on already-suffe