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Welcoming the stranger is essential to our faith |
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By Archbishop John C. Nienstedt
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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 |
Throughout the world, we find areas where war, strife or persecution have forced families and individuals to leave their homes and emigrate elsewhere, becoming refugees.
 That They May All
Be One
Archbishop John C. Nienstedt
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Many of these refugees have come to the United States, seeking a better life for themselves and for their families. Theirs is generally a difficult transition and, if they are lucky, they overcome numerous hardships before they are able to carve out a place for themselves in our society.
Catholic assistance
For decades now, the Catholic Church here in the United States, through
the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has committed resources to
refugee assistance.
This past year, through agencies such as Catholic Charities and the
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, the USCCB has resettled 22,565
refugees, or approximately 30 percent of the annual total refugees
admitted into the United States.
In an effort to provide even more life-giving assistance, the USCCB has
developed a comprehensive plan to increase by 25 percent over the next
two years the capacity to welcome and serve refugees who come to our
land.
Within our local church, Catholic Charities assisted 662 immigrants,
and resettled another 159 refugees in 2009. This is in addition to the
1,165 Hispanic individuals who were helped to find housing, food,
health care and financial assistance by Catholic Charities.
What is more, our archdiocesan Hispanic ministry provides pastoral
assistance to our many Latino immigrants. I am grateful for all that is
being done in this important effort to meet the needs of these brothers
and sisters of ours.
Work of mercy
Welcoming the stranger is essential to our Catholic faith. This
corporal work of mercy builds up the body of Christ, for in reaching
out and welcoming the immigrant, we serve Christ himself: “I was a
stranger, and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35).
To be generous and hospitable to the penniless refugee is right and
just, moreover, because every person possesses a human dignity that
ought to be upheld and respected. We are, after all, part of one human
family; we are our brother’s and sister’s keeper.
Charity toward the refugee is just a part of the larger and complex
issue of immigration. It is estimated that more than 12 million
immigrants currently reside within our national borders. This creates
real controversy, to be sure, but instead of confronting the problem
with fear and suspicion, our faith directs us to embrace the situation
with love.
“Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for
the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7) The Gospels are replete with examples
of Jesus showing mercy and love to the outsider, as St. Paul is very
keen to remind us.
Gospel of solidarity
When we act in charity toward the refugee and immigrant, we are
evangelizing; we are spreading the Gospel message through our witness
of love.
Pope Benedict XVI calls such activity “a proclamation of the Gospel of
solidarity.” Elsewhere, the Holy Father states, “The Church proclaims
the Gospel when she opens her arms and strives to have the rights of
migrants and refugees respected.”
I encourage all the faithful of this archdiocese to become more
involved with efforts to assist immigrants. Whether it is on the parish
level or the national stage, our underprivileged brothers and sisters
need our help. A great place to start is by asking our Lord in prayer
how you can be more welcoming of the stranger.
For further resources, please visit www.usccb.org/jfi to learn all
about what your Catholic Church is doing to dispel fear and to
cultivate love.
God bless you!
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