OBLATE IMMIGRATION NETWORK

WALKING TOGETHER IN FAITH

In his first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love); Pope Benedict XVI reminds Catholics of the unbreakable connection between love of God and love of neighbor. Because God has first loved us unconditionally, we are compelled to love one another. And in loving our neighbor, we meet the person of Christ. But who is my neighbor?

Advent is a wonderful opportunity to create an atmosphere of welcoming neighbors into faith communities. In Advent, Christians await the Incarnation; God becoming human; God crossing all borders to make a home with humanity. Christians believe the birth of every child marks the entry of God into the world.  Each and every person is created in the image and likeness of God. This image of God is not limited by national borders or walls. 

Today there are those who arrive in the U.S. to make a new beginning and who receive the same welcome as the Holy Family received; rejection and suspicion. In Advent, Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of a Jesus, whose family became migrants soon after his birth, traveling to Egypt to escape Herod's persecution.

In addition to the good ministry and advocacy for immigrants that YOU already do; here is another chance in advent to Walk Together in Faith with Immigrants; to reflect and pray for those who have died at the U.S./Mexico border.

The Human Face on the Immigration Debate

Millions of immigrants in the United States continue live in fear of raids, discrimination and deportation. More undocumented immigrants are routinely denied worker protections or social services even though they pay taxes. Anti-immigrant vigilante groups are growing in membership and constantly advocating discriminatory immigration policy.

The status quo immigration policy has led to the proliferation of deaths of immigrants by drowning, heat stroke, accidents from train hopping, and dehydration. This failed policy has increased in establishing radical border vigilante groups, increased human smuggling, and gross violations of human rights at the U.S/Mexico border.

The other human face of immigration is already in the U.S.  The parents may not be undocumented, but the children are United States citizens.  If the parents are deported, who will take care of the children? The immigrant is mistreated by an employer or neighbor, but is afraid to report it out of fear he or she will be deported or left without a job. They may need medical care and have no resources to get the needed care.  What are we called to do as communities of faith?

During this season of Advent; walking together in solidarity with immigrants is a responsive way of preparing for the birth of Jesus.

The U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference resource on immigrants http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/parishes.html or www.justiciaparalosinmigrantes.org

Reflection and Prayer for those who died in the desert while crossing into the United States;   Liturgical sample at:

http://www.cpt.org/arizona/NoMoreDeathsLiturgy.htm

Advent Journey to Justice/Adviento Caminar con Justicia

http://www.usccbpublishing.org

Resources on IMMIGRATION with group discussion guides. (DVD)

Light in the Sand

Stories from the USA and Mexico borders use the power of theater to tell the personal stories of people affected by U.S./Mexico border migration. Through an hour-long collection of monologues and photos, audiences are exposed to a variety of points of view on this complex and critical issue. For further information, please visit:

http://education.crs.org/migration.cfm

Stranger No Longer – 25 minutes

This DVD portrays the immigrants’ struggles in this country and shows why the church needs to respond to this issue. For further information, visit:

www.usccb.org/mrs/stranger.shtml

Dying to Live – 30 minutes 

It is an outstanding educational tool that responds to the question, "Why illegal immigrants come to this country".  Many schools, universities (not only Catholics) around the country are using this DVD to educate audiences on immigration. For further information, please visit the website of the Institute for Latino Studies: Center for Latino Spirituality and Culture, University of Notre Dame - http://dyingtolive.nd.edu/

CALL TO ACTION FOR A COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM.

Write, Fax, Email your senators and representatives; tell them that Comprehensive Immigration Reform is important you as a person of faith, and is also a national security issue.

Go with other immigrant advocates to visit your legislator in his or her home office over Thanksgiving break.

Suggested Talking Points.              

a)     Truly comprehensive immigration reform will reunite separated families, demilitarize the U.S./Mexico border, allow workers to come and go safely across the border and create a path to citizenship for those undocumented immigrants who wish to stay. 

b)     Increased border security without comprehensive immigration reform will not work. Until we reform our immigration laws to allow workers to enter the country legally - and most importantly, until we address the economic policies that impoverish migrants' home countries - people will continue to cross our borders. The U.S. economy depends on foreign workers; pretending otherwise is dishonest. 

c)     Increased border security without comprehensive immigration reform will increase migrant deaths in the desert. In the past ten years we have seen that tightening security only pushes migrants further into the desert. 

d)     Reinforcing our current border security strategy is throwing money at a failed plan. Despite billions of dollars being spent over the past ten years to secure our borders, the Border Patrol itself acknowledges that more undocumented migrants are entering the country today than they were ten years ago. 

For more information, please contact the Oblate JPIC office at gngolwe@omiusa.org