On Mar 18, 2026, the King’s Honors Program invited Sister Norma to the annual Donald J. Grimes Lecture. The lecture was sponsored by King’s Honors Program, the D.E.I Committee, Shoval Center, and the Office of the President.
Dr. James Ambury, the director of the Honors Program, and student Allison Molone welcomed Sister Norma to the stage for the lecture. Molone is in the honors program and had an opportunity to bring dignity and hope to the people on the border in McAllen, Texas, under King’s SERVE program, where she got to work with Sister Norma.
Sister Norma is a recipient of the University of Notre Dame’s prestigious Laetare Medal is one of Time Magazine’s “100 most influential people” of the year. In 2014, during the influx of immigrants entering the United States through the Southern Border, Sister Norma established the Humanitarian Respite Center, providing a safe space for immigrants to rest before continuing their journey to other parts of the United States. Ten years later, the Humanitarian Respite Center has become the largest respite center in United States, welcoming over half a million immigrants over 10 years.
The journey to the Sister Norma’s Refugee center was not easy. During the lecture, she shared the stories of what she has encountered and how she stayed resilient and continued to be present for the refugee and immigrant that were in need of help She left King’s community with this advice: “Being present is important and it helps. Something magical happens, and when it does you will know what to say people.” For her, restoring human dignity requires people working together as one.
