SXU Welcomes Sister JoAnn Persch, RSM, to Transitions Class
Saint Xavier University (SXU) students in Jorge Arevalo's Transitions class recently welcomed Sister JoAnn Persch, RSM, to campus for a talk connecting mission to vocation.
The Transitions course, part of the first-year experience, provides support and knowledge to new students, who learn about SXU's Catholic and Mercy mission. Arevalo, SXU's Director of Institutional Effectiveness, asked Sister JoAnn to join the class to speak about her work and the connection between mission and vocation, which aligns with the course goals.
"Sister JoAnn, with her unwavering moral conviction and lifelong dedication, is a true changemaker -- a woman whose faith has become action and whose courage continues to shape our city and community," said Arevalo.
Sister JoAnn is founder of Catherine's Caring Cause, a ministry that provides housing, legal assistance, utilities, mentoring, and support to help immigrant families land on their feet and adjust to life in the U.S. In her talk, Sister JoAnn shared stories from her lifelong advocacy for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, showing how faith and education can unite to promote human dignity and the common good.
Sister JoAnn's tireless advocacy began in the 1980s and has never faded. At an age when most people are long into retirement, her work has only intensified, responding to each new crisis with renewed energy. Her work is a direct expression of her vows as a Sister of Mercy. Her belief of shared responsibility is the heart of her vocation and the challenges she extends to the students she visited and the entire SXU community.
Sister JoAnn spoke about challenging unjust systems not with anger but with love, explaining that even those who stand in the way of Mercy deserve to be treated with respect, sharing the guiding motto of her ministry: "To treat people with dignity and respect and do things peacefully and respectfully -- but we never take no for an answer, because violence just brings out more violence."
Reflecting on her visit, Sister JoAnn said that this new generation gave her hope for a new future, adding that she feels her life's work will continue in their hands. The session deepened students' understanding of the Mercy mission and the call to live it through their studies and future careers.