Jesus replied, "...you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these" (Mark 12:30-31) .

The United States Province of the Xaverian Missionaries adds its voice to the chorus of religious and secular organizations that object to the executive orders banning refugees and immigrants from Muslim countries to this country and condemns the Islamophobia gripping this nation.

 

By banning refugees and immigrants from predominantly Muslim countries and inciting Islamophobia, America has violated the Golden Rule itself. We should be caring for those who are fleeing from conflict and strife, not turning them away. We should be welcoming those who wish become part of the mosaic that is our country, not stigmatizing them. We should be contributing to a world of justice, peace and compassion, not to a climate of fear and hatred.

This country was founded on the principles of tolerance and acceptance. It grew and prospered due in no small part to the contributions of immigrants from around the world. Closing our doors and building walls will only result in diminishing not only our economic and commercial prosperity, but more importantly, our moral and ethical principles and aspirations. In short: America risks losing its own soul.

Xaverian Missionaries serve in twenty countries around the world. We have seen first-hand the hardship and devastation caused by sectarianism, economic deprivation, conflict and war. In the past America seemed to be a beacon of light to peoples struggling to achieve "liberty and justice for all." Now the light is dimmed and is in danger of being extinguished.

We strongly urge the new Administration to consider the consequences of its actions. We hope that all people will once again be welcomed into this country, especially those who are in most need. We hope that those who react out of fear will educate themselves on the true teachings of Islam, and not be influenced by lies and propaganda that turn people against each other for political gains. As a religious community we remember the words of Jesus: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me.... What you do for the least of these, you do for me" (Matthew 25:31-46).

Fr. Mark, SX & the Xaverian Missionaries

Click here for the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops Statement and here for the statement issued by Cardinal Tobin. 

Our Lady of Fatima Across Different Faiths 

This year we celebrate the centennial celebration of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima where the Blessed Mother is a Roman Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in 1917 to three shepherd children at the Cova da Iria, in Fátima, Portugal. The three little children were Lúcia Santos and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto.

On this 100th anniversary where devotion to Our Lady of Fatima has strengthened millions of believers worldwide, the Xaverian Missionaries is offering a special program throughout the centennial year. At Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Holliston, Massachusetts, we will be offering a monthly program that presents the love, devotion, and wisdom of the Blessed Mother as she has touched deeply those of other faiths, as well as our own.

* On Sunday, March 19, 3 pm - 6 pm, we will spend the afternoon on the Roman Catholic perspective our Mary and her relevance in our faith and the world today.

* On Sunday, April 30, 3 pm - 6 pm, our friends from the Islamic Center of Framingham, Massachusetts (Masjid-E-Basheer) will join us to share the Muslim devotion to Mary, whom they term, "the most righteous of all women."

* The Orthodox Church and other Protestant friends will be joining us in May through October.

COME AND JOIN US

Soup & Mission

March 11th at 6:00 p.m. we will have the our yearly SOUP & MISSION. The theme is Our Lady of Guadalupe - Mexico. Our Presenter will be Fr. Alex Rodriquez SX.