My father grew up in a house right next to one of the grandest churches in all of India. Growing up he went to mass every morning, and after school he’d go in to help the sacristan keep the place clean. He prayed every night with his family and it sure did help him. By twenty-three he had a highly coveted engineering degree and by twenty-five he was married. Yet he still didn’t have a job and his wife had gone to America. He knew then that he would be coming to the United States too, and he prayed that he would get a job there. After three long years of waiting he was finally given his visa. When it was time to go the sacristan’s son, one of his closest friends, gave him a rosary he had found at the church he grew up in to keep him safe on the journey, bless his future in the United States, and to remind him of where he came from. My father struggled initially to fit in in the United States because he spoke broken English. He started taking classes and eventually spoke well enough not only to get a job but to become an involved member at his new American church. His faith has remained with him after all these years and so has the rosary that was given to him. Now on all of his journeys he keeps the rosary with him.

– Alicia Manjila

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant