Amid the natural beauty of the Moshannon Valley stands the Moshannon Processing Center, a former federal prison now operating as a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. It is one of the largest ICE detention facilities in the country.
Committed to serving God and neighbor without distinction, our Sisters felt an urgency and longing to offer care and companionship to women facing the fear, loneliness, and uncertainty of detention. Sister Janice Vanderneck, Director of Civic Engagement at Casa San José, is part of a group of volunteers who visit and pray with the women at Moshannon. Many more Sisters have joined this ministry through prayer and, most recently, by sending handwritten notes.
This summer, as part of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) 100 Days of Prayer, Fasting, and Advocacy, the Sisters’ began writing letters to the women at Moshannon. What was planned as morning and afternoon sessions of writing, coloring, stuffing, and addressing envelopes became an all-day effort, with about 20 Sisters participating and 40 personally addressed notes completed.
Why write?
“It’s the only thing we can do,” Sister Betty Hart said. “Other than unlocking the door and letting them out, which we can’t, we can pray and let them know we care.”
Several Sisters wrote their notes in Spanish and Portuguese, using a Portuguese dictionary to ensure the accuracy of their sentiments. A handwritten note may seem like a small act, but these simple gestures have led to unexpected, ongoing pen-pal relationships between Sisters and the women, who make up roughly 3% of the detainees at the facility. The letters have become a way for Sisters to offer ongoing connection and companionship to women separated from their families and communities.
Why now?
Responding to the needs of immigrants and others experiencing injustice has been part of our service to God and neighbor for more than 150 years. We have served and supported immigrant families for decades in parishes, classrooms, hospitals, and social service programs. In 2013, we founded Casa San José as one way to continue this legacy of love.
More recently, we stood in solidarity with Ambridge neighbors in July 2025 to speak out against the unjust treatment of immigrants. Today, we continue to partner with Casa San Jose and Pax Christi to host weekly interfaith prayer services outside of the ICE office on Pittsburgh’s South Side.
Though meaningful, the letter-writing experience was a difficult one for Sister Mary Lou Shimshock, who wrote, “We’re so free. What has happened to you is unfair.”
For those moved to respond through letter writing, send us a note, and we’ll pass it along to Sister Janice.
