Essay: Clara’s Goodbye

Jan 23, 2025

A happy chapter in our lives began when Clara, the third mom we accompanied in the Migrant Accompaniment Program, welcomed us into her life.

The first day Anne Melanson and I met Clara, she was excited to be in NY and wanted to see the 9/11 museum. We were delighted with her enthusiasm and took her to the museum a week later. She navigated the subway system by herself and showed her love of country when she wrote “God Bless Venezuela” on an app in the museum. Here was a woman with curiosity, patriotism, and a sense of adventure!

The second day we were with Clara, we met her at the Little Shop of Kindness where we would find clothing for her family. She brought along Rey and his family, wanting to share the bounty with others in need. When we were ready to leave, Clara visited Maria, a woman she crossed the border with who was then in a NY shelter and part of our Accompaniment group. Maria was in isolation due to illness. They waved to each other from the window. Clara nourishes her friendships and visits the sick.

Many, many Sundays Clara and her family came to Mass at St. Ignatius. Clara became a beloved member of the parish, making friends at the Family Mass. She came to all our picnics and parties, ran the LGBT Scavenger Hunt, and danced at the Snow Ball. Her kids were in the Christmas Pageant and Care of Creation. They practiced English during our Sunday English Conversation Sessions. Clara, Antonella, and Dylan celebrated Easter and Christmas at my home. My grandson spoke Spanish when he played with the kids.

Once the kids started school, Clara cleaned houses during school hours. She earned her home health aide certification from a NYC agency and got a job caring for an elderly woman. Her client praised her to the agency. Her third job was food delivery. The hours fit well with the children’s school schedule.

At the end of January, after 18 months with us, Clara, Jose, Antonella, and Dylan are moving to Illinois to join Karina, another of our families. On their way, they’ll stop in Tennessee and visit with two other of our families—the Maria that Clara visited when she first got to New York. The St. Ignatius migrant community is spreading out and tied together by love.

Sunday we gave them a goodbye party. At the Family Mass, Fr. Hilbert asked the parish to join him in blessing them. Part of the prayer was “that you will find, in your new home, the warmth of community, the joy of new opportunities, new discoveries and new friends. May all the people you meet treat you with kindness, love and compassion, and may your path be easy, one that brings you satisfaction and blessing.” After Mass, we shared pizza and chocolate cake. A young girl took her bracelet off her arm, put it on Antonella’s arm, and while hugging her said: “This is so you’ll remember me.” I gave her a wool scarf for the same reason. We will keep in touch.

Clara gave Anne, Jim Skarzynski, and me gifts that included this treasured, handwritten prayer. She means it for the whole St. Ignatius Parish. It always brings tears to our eyes. “May God return to you in the best possible way all the gestures of support and all the attention you gave me without expecting anything in return.

— Laura de Boisblanc