Fr. Daniel Berrigan, S.J. died April 30th at 94 years of age. He was a peacemaker, a peace teacher, a peace activist and a prolific peace writer for the past 60 years. His death made the front page of the New York Times and will be in every Catholic paper around the world. The obituaries give many of the details of this faithful priest’s long and impressive life. I would like in this paper to write an open letter to a man whom I consider a mentor and a friend.
Appalled by the plight of refugees, hearing of their sufferings and being challenged by situations of injustice 20 Roman Catholic religious congregations established Becoming Neighbours. This is a programme that matches newcomers to Canada with established Torontonians who provide a presence and act as friends, guides and mentors during the newcomer’s initial adjustment to Canadian society. One of the founding congregations is the Congregation of Notre Dame whose sisters established Notre Dame Catholic High School in 1941.
