MADISON — Sr. Josephe Marie Flynn will lead a discussion of her book, Rescuing Regina: Saving a Friend from Deportation and Death, at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 23, at St. Bernard Church, 2450 Atwood Ave., Madison. She will sign copies of the book following her presentation.
Rescuing Regina tells the story of Regina Bakala, a refugee seeking asylum in the United States after being tortured and raped in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
After 10 years in this country, reuniting with her husband, who was also tortured in the Congo, and giving birth to two children, she was detained by U.S. immigration authorities. She faced deportation and almost certain execution back in her homeland.
The book also relates the successful efforts of her husband, David, also a torture victim in the Congo, Flynn, and parishioners at St. Mary Catholic Faith Community in Hales Corners, Wis., to win her release. Her book also exposes the injustice of the United States’ immigration system and its arbitrary asylum process.
Book clubs at St. Bernard, St. Dennis, and St. Thomas Aquinas Parishes in Madison have read the book and will participate in the discussion with the author.
Sister Josephe Marie is co-founder and chair of the Justice for Immigrants in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Following her appearance in Madison, she will give the opening talk at a refugee conference at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and she will speak to the Department of Migration and Refugee Services of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Go to www.rescuingregina.com for information on her book.