Welcome Immigrants and Refugees
CSJP Statement prepared by the Laudato Si’ Action Team for Hospitality and Immigration
In his message for the World Day for Migrants and Refugees, Sunday September 25th, Pope Francis invites us to see migrants and refugees as partners building the Kin-dom of God as envisioned in Isaiah Chapter 60.
“No one must be excluded. God’s plan is essentially inclusive and gives priority to those living on the existential peripheries. Among them are many migrants and refugees, displaced persons, and victims of trafficking. The Kingdom of God is to be built with them, for without them it would not be the Kingdom that God wants. The inclusion of those most vulnerable is the necessary condition for full citizenship in God’s Kingdom.”
Pope Francis continues: “Building the future with migrants and refugees also means recognizing and valuing how much each of them can contribute to the process of construction. I like to see this approach to migration reflected in a prophetic vision of Isaiah, which considers foreigners not invaders or destroyers, but willing labourers who rebuild the walls of the new Jerusalem, that Jerusalem whose gates are open to all peoples (cf. Is 60:10-11).”
This vision of God’s welcome to all was rejected by Israelites at the time and is obviously not being properly accepted today. The recent spate of expulsions of migrants and asylum seekers from Texas, Florida and Arizona, shows no regard for the humanity of those who seek shelter and protection in our country, according to international and U.S. law. As a Catholic Congregation of religious women and associates, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace deplore forced bussing and flights to places without notice that guests are arriving. We object to this behaviour, not because we want distance from immigrants, but because their treatment ignores the richness of the humanity they bring with them.
In the UK the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, shows every sign of hardening the government’s already harsh measures against asylum seekers. We know, and Pope Francis emphasizes, that are all enriched when we welcome immigrants as gifts to us from the God of all.
Our first sisters travelled to America as immigrants to serve the needs of immigrants. We speak from our experience when we affirm the Pope’s message that we are all enriched when we welcome all, especially youth. We are grateful for and welcome the opportunities with which we have been blessed to serve immigrants today in our houses of hospitality, and in housing we make available for our welcome guests from around the world, including Afghanistan, Haiti, Congo, Tibet, Eritrea Uganda, Cameroon and Venezuela among others. We are most grateful for our partners in this work, including Church World Service.
We call on all peoples to reject the unmerited fear instilled by isolationists and join us in reaching out a hand of welcome to those who seek safety and a better life.
“In our daily efforts to do the Lord’s will, justice needs to be built up with patience, sacrifice, and determination, so that all those who hunger and thirst for it may be satisfied (cf. Mt 5:6).”
Please join us in prayer,
Lord, make us bearers of hope,
so that where there is darkness,
your light may shine,
and where there is discouragement,
confidence in the future may be reborn.
Lord, make us instruments of your justice,
so that where there is exclusion, fraternity may flourish,
and where there is greed, a spirit of sharing may grow.
Lord, make us builders of your Kingdom,
together with migrants and refugees
and with all who dwell on the peripheries.
Lord, let us learn how beautiful it is
to live together as brothers and sisters. Amen.
Francis
The prayer and quotations are taken from the Message of Pope Francis for the 108th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, September 25, 2022
Press Release for the CSJP statement for the 2022 World Day of Migrants and Refugees
Related CSJP statements:
Radical Hospitality 2014 Chapter Call