• Home
  • About Anita
    • Early Years
    • A Woman of Courage and Commitment
    • Anita's Award Winning Book
  • Immaculate Heart College
  • Scholar, Teacher, Mentor
  • Anita Caspary and Corita Kent
  • Publications
    • François Mauriac and Anita Caspary
    • Witness to Integrity
    • From the Heart
    • Other Writings
  • Immaculate Heart Community
  • Visionary and Activist
    • Social Justice Work
    • Women's Wholistic Retreat
  • Legacy
    • Speaking from the Heart
  • Good Remembrance
  • Links
  • Credits
  • Contact Us
  Anita Caspary - Full Site

       Social Justice Work

 “I’m interested in changing the patterns and practices of society that keep [man] from living in dignity—poverty, discrimination, war, crime, corruption, ignorance and the like.  This kind of change can usually be made only by people working together in organizations, teams, movements.” ​​

(Speech to Immaculate Heart Community, Dec. 6, 1969.  See Witness to Integrity: The Crisis of the Immaculate Heart Community of California, 269-270)
Picture
Picture
Sister Patrice Underwood and friend sharing their experiences.
Picture
Sr. Patrice Underwood and fellow marcher at rest
In 1965 Sister Patrice Underwood, IHM ministered in a parish in San Francisco, California and was asked to join the March to Selma. As Mother General, Anita gave Sister Patrice permission to attend and kept in touch with her throughout the historic struggle. Below is an excerpt from a letter Patrice wrote to the IHM Sisters upon her return from Selma, Alabama.

"I would like to tell you first of all, how I actually was able to go to Selma.  A member of the Catholic Inter-Racial Council called me and asked if there was a possibility of a sister joining the group from San Francisco.  The plane fare and accommodations would be arranged. I called Reverend Mother [Sister Humiliata] to inform her of the request. I had no idea she would call back in a couple of days and ask if I would like to go to Selma.  I was shocked and delighted!  However, I certainly felt that there were many sisters who would love to go and who would be able to come back and convey their experiences in a far more reaching way than I ever could.  You can be sure that I felt it a great honor to be asked to represent all of you and other religious who would have loved to have been present. I need not tell you how unworthy I felt of this great privilege. 
​

The sisters, parishioners and friends were at the airport to see us off.  Before departure the first group who went to Selma returned.  They briefed us on conditions and on proper precautions to be taken when we arrive.  I was particularly happy to be able to talk with the two Maryknoll Sisters who gave me some idea of what to expect.  After receiving a blessing, all present offered prayers for our safety, and sang hymns and freedom songs (yes, right in the airport) and then we were off for Selma.  …how often I thought of all of you and wished so much that each of you could have been with me experiencing the great love of these people.  It was their love which was the great force we felt in the ghetto."  
Picture
Sr. Patrice Underwood Letter to IHM's page 2
Sr. Patrice Underwood Letter to IHM's page 3
Sr. Patrice Underwood Letter to IHM's page 4
Sr. Patrice Underwood Letter to IHM's page 5
Sr. Patrice Underwood Letter to IHM's page 6
Picture
Patrice Underwood at her home in Los Angeles in 2016. Photo Courtesy of The Tidings.
Picture
Patrice Underwood, IHM and her sister Genevieve Underwood, RSHM.
Home
About
Contact
Copyright © Anita M. Caspary Trust      2017 All Rights Reserved
Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
​
For permission requests, please contact us.
  • Home
  • About Anita
    • Early Years
    • A Woman of Courage and Commitment
    • Anita's Award Winning Book
  • Immaculate Heart College
  • Scholar, Teacher, Mentor
  • Anita Caspary and Corita Kent
  • Publications
    • François Mauriac and Anita Caspary
    • Witness to Integrity
    • From the Heart
    • Other Writings
  • Immaculate Heart Community
  • Visionary and Activist
    • Social Justice Work
    • Women's Wholistic Retreat
  • Legacy
    • Speaking from the Heart
  • Good Remembrance
  • Links
  • Credits
  • Contact Us