By Rebecca Russell

On March 24, 2006, Sister Josephe Marie Flynn was one of 23 women honored by the Lakeland District of the U. S. Postal Service as one of many "Women Putting Their Stamp on Metro Milwaukee." While it is an honor to be recognized as such, it almost seems that the scope might simply be too small. Sister Josephe has made a mark in this community. But, before she’s done, she will put her stamp on the world. 

It’s not hard to picture that happening after talking with her for just a few minutes. She was born in rural Wisconsin, and she’s five-eighths Irish. 

"My father was Irish to his shoelaces," Flynn recalled with a laugh. She joined the convent after 8th grade for one reason, "I wanted my life to make a difference. I very rarely thought of trying something else. I believed that if you really loved God, you’d do something really hard."

Little did she know how hard her current position would be. She’s become one of the lead characters in a story that involves prison breaks, rape, torture, heartbreak, love, hope and a whole lot of good, old-fashioned prayer. 

It began with a chance meeting in 2000 when Regina Bakala came to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hales Corners to register for the parish. Regina had been a teacher and principal in her native Congo, but she fled the country in 1995 after being raped, beaten, and imprisoned for her grassroots work promoting democracy. She came to the United States on a fraudulent visitor’s visa and applied for asylum.

Two years later, she was joined by her husband, David. His story is equally nightmarish. Also jailed for his political views, David was scheduled to be executed when a friend arranged to break him out of prison and smuggle him out of the country. He arrived here skin and bones, terrified to talk to any of his countrymen for fear that he would be deported and subsequently executed. 

A mutual friend of the Bakalas heard of his impending arrival, and somehow, without knowing even the name of the airline, Regina was able to find David at the airport, and the two were reunited.

It has all of the makings of a happy ending, but, even now, this story is far from over. Regina’s asylum application was denied two months before David’s arrival. She appealed the decision and was awaiting an answer. 

Years passed, and the Bakalas heard nothing. During that time, Regina’s friendship with Sister Josephe blossomed. She and David started a family and settled into life in the United States.

Finally, the answer came in a most unexpected way. She and David applied for a mortgage, only to learn that the appeal had been denied years earlier, a decision that even her lawyer was unaware of. It seemed the lawyer had moved and was unaware that she needed to file a change of address form with the immigration courts, so the news never reached the attorney. 

Shortly thereafter, Regina was arrested and jailed, deportation seemed imminent. Worried and scared, David called upon his wife’s dear friend, Sister Josephe. Without hesitation, she agreed to help with what seemed to be a hopeless cause. "I was told that she was in deportation and she’s as good as gone," Flynn said. "They said it would take an army of people to fix the mistakes made in her case."

So Flynn began to assemble an army. She created a flyer to tell Regina’s story to St. Mary’s congregation. "People came out of the woodwork," she recalled. She organized the biggest collection ever for a crisis fund at St. Mary’s. She spearheaded a letter writing campaign. She called attorney after attorney, trying to find someone to take the case. "I just went with the flow," she said. "The media told me that we received more attention than any other local story ever."

Through it all, she prayed. "I felt like God was directing this. I struggled at times, but, darn it, I just didn’t give up."

All of the work paid off, and Regina was released. But it isn’t over yet. Neither Regina nor David have been granted asylum yet. Flynn continues to help wherever she can.

And in her free time, she’s writing a book. "I want their story published, and I want a movie," she said with determination. Her goal isn’t to sell books, however, it’s to change minds and open hearts. 

"So much is shifting, so much is changing in the world," Flynn said. "People are getting scared because of it. It’s challenging our core beliefs. The way out of that is to shift our imaginations, to listen to a story." 

She believes that this is how people come to connect and understand one another. "You can reason with people until you’re purple and not change anything. Stories are about opening our hearts to the humanity of another person. And I want a heart change to happen." 

Few who know her would doubt her ability to achieve that. With the Bakalas’ hearing dates rapidly approaching, Flynn continues to work tirelessly to help her friends. She wanted her life to make a difference, and no doubt she has achieved that goal. "The whole thing is just so awesome to me," she said. "I can hardly believe I’m part of something this important."
 
 

Rebecca Russell can be reached at rebeccalrussell@hotmail.com.