At the request of the standing committee, the subcommittee works collaboratively with the other subcommittees and with the committee on migration. Preaching and living the gospel remains at the heart of essential faith as understood by wesley, otterbein and albright and their followers. The sisters at caminando juntos all contributions are tax deductible when checks are made payable to the sisters of the presentation of the blessed virgin mary, who have full authority. The first part of the title is taken from welcoming the stranger among us. God in the stranger welcome one another just as christ. This event serves as the primary fundraiser to support the legal and pastoral services of catholic migration services. The lwf council, meeting in medan, indonesia 1217 june 2014, appreciates the affirmations thus far expressed by faith leaders in the welcoming the stranger statement, launched in june 20 and endorsed by the lwf council at that time. An angel of the lord appeared to joseph in a dream and. Immigrants refugees diocese of superior superior, wi. For all sorts of pragmatic reasons, political, social, economic, and security, we can perhaps justify not welcoming the stranger. In solidarity, we will continue to advocate on your.
Affirmations for faith leaders a core value of my faith is to welcome the stranger, the refugee, the internally displaced, the other. Gracious god, by your grace and mercy you welcome us into your family. Statement on welcoming the stranger on 17 june 2014 the lwf council adopted the following public statement. After the presidential campaign of 2016, in which immigration became a central issue, the debate over how to respond to immigrants in the country illegally seems more polarized than ever. Welcoming the stranger catholic health care and immigration quotations from the module colossians 3. The complete reflection can be found at the franciscans international website. Strangers among us is a lucid, informed, and clicheshattering examination of. Hospitable vulnerable redemptive the title of the book references public, and throughout author talks about hospitality. Welcoming the stranger october 17 proposed substitute. Unity in diversity, invite us to enter into the mystery of the mystical body of christ. During this critical and unsettling time for migrants and refugees, we must live boldly into our. In 2003, the bishops of both mexico and the united states issued a joint pastoral letter. For all those who have come fleeing oppression and persecution black, white, brown and yellow. Statement on welcoming the stranger the lutheran world.
Unity in diversity issue 5, part 375 of publication united states catholic conference. Get a group of friends or your church together and find a local printer a batch. Here are some ideas of what we as catholics can do, individually and collectively. Pdf on jan 14, 2014, julia khaw and others published strangers among us. Jenny and matthew set us on the course of a third way that embodies biblical justice, redemption, and compassion. For in welcoming and embracing those whom we consider the stranger and the least among us, we will be welcoming and embracing you. Unity in diversity is the vision that the bishops, as pastors of the church in the united states, offer to their people as they welcome the new immigrants and refugees who come to our shores. Jesus also taught us to welcome the stranger, what you do to the least of my. Catholic accompaniment and reflection experience care.
For full access to this pdf, sign in to an existing account, or purchase an annual subscription. Since the first edition of welcoming the stranger, another category. The lady next to me noticed my struggle and, with a very warm smile, pointed to the back of. Unity in diversity is the vision that we bishops, as pastors of the church in the united states. Not welcoming stranger is antithetical to the very heart of jesus message and makes us tooeasily forget that we too once were the outsider. Resolved that, as part of this training, the diocesan. In that renewal there is no longer greek or jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, scythian, slave or free.
The welcoming group, according to the head teacher, were to act as mentors to the. Catholic social teaching quotes migrationimmigration every. Welcoming the stranger is a nonprofit organization that offers free english, citizenship, and computer classes to immigrants in bucks county. F or most of us, a stranger is simply a person weve never met before. We pray for all who make our laws and administer justice. God, help us welcome those who have come to dwell among us. Make a statement in this time of division about our desire to be welcoming communities. I will challenge others, even leaders in my faith community, to do the same. I noticed people reading from the missal, which i started leafing through to find the proper page. When it comes to immigration, its easy to let differences separate us.
Whether you are an attendee or you purchase a journal advertisement, your generosity will help us continue our work with immigrants in brooklyn and queens. Welcoming the stranger gives the body of christ a clear, scriptural foundation of the christians heart posture in the discussion on immigration. We invite you to partner with us in welcoming the stranger among us. Sidebars interspersed throughout the text provide examples of successful programs throughout this.
Religious teachings on welcoming the stranger welcoming. Barbara whiterabbit 1 is the fictitious name given to a particular kind of stranger who asked to attend a. Help us to welcome the stranger among us so that all may experience the love extended to us through. You can turn this list of bible verses on welcoming the stranger into a simple email to your greeter volunteers as a reminder of how they are called to extend an awesome welcome to your visitors and regular attenders. I shall treat him or her as i would like to be treated.
Truly i tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me. Welcoming the stranger for the people and land from which refugees have fled, may there be peace and reconciliation between people and nations. The catholic bishops of the united states, in their pastoral letter welcoming the stranger among us. The pastoral statement welcoming the stranger among us. Examining autistic and psychotic traits in creativity find. Usccb 2000 document welcoming the stranger among us. We invite you to support our efforts and partner with us.
It can be challenging to figure out how one person might change a persistent, farreaching issue like immigration for the better. It stands at liberty island as a welcome to all visitors, immigrants, and returning americans. Welcome one another just as christ has welcomed you, for the glory of god. This learning group guide can be downloaded in pdf format, free of charge, at. Reminders of israels and the churchs essential call to welcome the stranger, to make a place for the sojourner at table and at worship weave throughout the books chapters. It does not matter if god finds the person at a mourners bench, church rail, evangelistic meeting or a place of solitude. Testimony on house bill 2985 an act relative to safe driving which removes the barrier for immigrants to apply for a drivers license march 2016 pdf. Designed for both ordained and lay ministers at the diocesan and parish levels, this document challenges us to prepare to receive newcomers with a genuine spirit of welcome that provides a bridge for them to cross from one culture into another.
With a welcome indifference to mexican or american political correctness, suro. Unity in diversity was developed by the national conference of catholic bishops committee on migration. That strangers, refugees, and those who seek asylum may find a welcome among us. And in each of them we are reminded of our calling to be bearers of welcome and hope as we receive the stranger among us. In what ways can we show hospitality to someone who is new to our church.
Unity in diversity is the vision that we bishops, as pastors of the church in the united states, offer to our people as they welcome the new immigrants and refugees who come to our shores. For those who have come fleeing hardship and hunger. Daniel seatvet, christianity in culture examiner, march 20, 2009. The above reflection is an excerpt of a reflection of the last words of jesus on the cross. Unity in diversity, national conference of catholic bishops, 2001. Unity in diversity it message for world migration day 2000, no.
Our desire is to offer each one acceptance, love and hope for their journey. Welcoming the stranger among us catholic social teaching on immigration tuesday, november 14, 2017 at 7. Difficult and necessary the arrival in europe of massive numbers of middle eastern refugees is causing crises for humanitarian organizations and churches as well as for governments. Michigan thrives when we bring the best of what has been and the best of what can be together to create a stronger, more vibrant michigan for all. Welcoming the stranger is a timely and important book at a point in americas history where the immigrant population is considerably growing and many americans seek to do something about it. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you. Teach us to love and care for the stranger the way you do.
In the past thirtyfive years the number and variety of immigrants coming to the united states have provided a great challenge for us. Pastors and parish staff, accordingly, must be filled with a spirit of welcome, responding to a new and perhaps littleunderstood culture. Resolved that the 1 st convention of the episcopal diocese of oregon urge all congregations and their members to support and participate in training and educational opportunities to offer sacred welcome to immigrants and refugees. The subcommittee, based on available resources, is responsible to assist and support dioceses, national organizations, and movements in the pastoral care of migrants, refugees, and travelers. Read the 20 comprehensive immigration reform statement here. You might even consider separating them out one at a time for your reminder emails. This morning at mass, the prayer was the following. He held a press conference to explain it to the public on nov. We call upon all people of good will, but catholics especially, to welcome the newcomers in their neighborhoods and schools, in their places of work. Office of publishing services issue 5, part 375 of publication united states conference of catholic bishops authors. Bishops statement in immigration and cultural diversity november 2000. What fears in our society make us leery of greeting unexpected strangers.
You might even consider separating them out one at a. Welcoming the stranger catholic health association of. Unity in diversity, is designed to address that question and to help pastors and parish leaders find ways to welcome and include newly arrived and culturally diverse persons in the life of the church. Jesus takes the hospitality of abraham and sarah and adds another twist. Parishes organized to welcome refugees powr catholic. A bible study begin by reading the following passages. It was approved by the full body of bishops at their november 2000 general meeting as a statement of the national conference of catholic bishops and is authorized for publication by the. Unity how do we welcome the diversity in stranger in our. Welcoming the stranger how should the church respond to the outsiders and strangers in our communities. At welcoming michigan, we seek to build mutual respect among foreignborn and u. I put an end to this sharing today, september 19, in the afternoon. As awkward as it can be to start a friendship with a newcomer, once we do, the term stranger no longer applies. Keifert of luther northwestern theological seminary is a study in the application of christian hospitality.
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