It seemed fitting to meet Floricel on International Women’s Day. She is a mother, community organizer, and beloved community member. Floricel Liborio is an indigenous woman from Guerrero, Mexico. At the age of 18, she arrived in San Jose, California and has since built a family and life that includes compassionately supporting her community. Unfortunately, due to more ICE check ins resulting in disappearances of our immigrant community members and sometimes even citizens, Floricel has decided to prepare for the worst and vows to never go silently or alone.
Including Lutheran Pastor Nelson, who accompanied her to her most recent meeting that she had at the Ice Office with her lawyer, who feared the worst. However, Florical said that even some of the ICE agents were moved by her supporters and the LOVE that was experienced. That is the only thing that is stronger than the current fear being spread and multiplied, is to Love you neighbor, your friend, your community member and don’t let them be disappeared by ICE, don’t let them go hungry, through one another and Christ we may have life and have it abundantly.
At church on International Women’s Day, Floricel addressed the congregation, Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina, letting us know how she was moved by the hungry families with children from her quadrillo who were asking for more bread but there was nothing left. So moved she called Pastor Nelson to see if there was anything they could do to help. Thanks to an ELCA World Hunger Grant to Santa Maria, Pr. Nelson was able to step up to distribute grocery store gift cards to households working directly in the fields, growing and harvesting. Thanks to his 8 year long relationship building trust with Floricel, she was able to coordinate along with the foreman of the quadrillo distribution of the grocery cards. The congregation she recounted this story to were mostly women, and in the reading that day highlighting an unnamed Samaritan woman, who Pastor Nelson shared a history lesson about. Instead of solely viewing the unnamed woman as a result of the historic and even present patriarchy and the sexism that come with that, Pastor Nelson encouraged every woman to see themselves in this Samaritan woman who engaged directly with Jesus. This reclamation was powerful for the woman and girls of every age in attendance. This Women’s Month, we celebrate all the women from the Samaritan woman at the well with Jesus to Floricel ensuring her cuadrillo and others are fed, thank you for all that you do to ensure a just world for all!
By: Roselle Tenorio, Program Manager ELCA World Hunger – Domestic
