The New Republic of South Sudan

175 years ago the Sisters of St. Joseph migrated from France to North America and began their ministry on this contintent in Carondelet, Missouri. The celebration, in St. Louis, Missouri, included opportunities to look back seven generations and forward to the next seven. There is much to celebrate and much to inspire, dream and anticipate into life.

As we celebrated yesterday through our own stories of migration, our work for humane and just immigration reform, and closed with the inspiring sending forth to the seventh generation ritual and banquet, the people of the Republic of the South Sudan were living the first day of their independence.

The children pictured here stand quietly holding the flag of their new republic. They are yet too young to understand what is happening, how their future was made more hopeful yesterday.

As the Sudan and global community celebrate the independence of the Republic of South Soudan, the United Nations vows it's support in ongoing global quest for peace and prosperity.

We celebrate and pray for the people of the Sudan today and to the seventh generation!