June 19, 2018 Edition
Carissimi,

First, what Pope Francis has written about immigrants:

"We often hear it said that, with respect to relativism and the flaws of our present world, the situation of migrants, for example, is a lesser issue. Some Catholics consider it a secondary issue compared to the “grave” bioethical questions. That a politician looking for votes might say such a thing is understandable, but not a Christian, for whom the only proper attitude is to stand in the shoes of those brothers and sisters of ours who risk their lives to offer a future to their children. Can we not realize that this is exactly what Jesus demands of us, when he tells us that in welcoming the stranger we welcome him (cf.  Mt  25:35)? "

Second, excerpts from a statement by Cardinal O’Malley published recently in The Boston Globe :

"On too many occasions our government has taken a posture and established policy which is in principle and in practice hostile to children and families who are fleeing violence, gangs, and poverty…

"…by the order of the U.S. government, individuals with children and families with children who are seeking asylum at the southern border of the United States now have their children separated from their parents.

"The intent of this policy is clear: to discourage those seeking asylum by severing the most sacred human bond of parent and child. Children are now being used as a deterrent against immigrants who are appealing to us for asylum in order to protect themselves and their families.

"[We]…cannot be silent when our country’s immigration policy destroys families, traumatizes parents, and terrorizes children. The harmful and unjust policy of separating children from their parents must be ended."
Colbert - "The Story We Should Be Talking About"
-  click on video above  -
On Misappropriation of Scripture

Stephen Colbert came out swinging against Attorney General Jeff Sessions on his show Thursday night.

The "Late Show" host took issue with Sessions citing the Bible in support of separating migrant parents from their children at the border.

"Now usually for me to talk about a news story on this show, especially a tragic one, it has to be something that everybody's already talking about ... But this story is different, because this is the conversation everyone should be having," Colbert said. 

"I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13 to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained the government for his purposes," Sessions said at a press event Wednesday. "Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves. Consistent, fair application of law is in itself a good and moral thing and that protects the weak, it protects the lawful. Our policies that can result in short-term separation of families are not unusual or unjustified."

Colbert took severe issue with Sessions' remarks.

"Hey, don't bring God into this," Colbert said. "But if he just read a little bit further into Romans 13:10, 'Love thy neighbor as thyself. Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.'"
Question: "What can we do to help?"
What You Can Do Right Now to Help Immigrant Families Separated at the Border
Editors Note: We've been hit with this question from our parishioners - "What on earth can we do to try help the families that have been separated?...and what can we do to protest in order to stop this atrocity?"

We came across the following article in The Cut magazine this morning and it gives some direction on volunteering, donating, contacting representatives, and protesting. Perhaps you will find it helpful.
“The practice of separating families amounts to arbitrary and unlawful interference in family life, and is a serious violation of the rights of the child,” said a spokesperson for the U.N. human-rights office .

To find out how the general public can fight this horrific policy, the Cut reached out to various organizations that advocate for immigrants’ rights. Following are things you can do to help.
Volunteer at Organizations
Many organizations in border states are actively looking for volunteers who are willing to complete tasks like organizing legal intake and interviewing families, especially if those volunteers are Spanish-speaking and have legal experience.  The Texas Civil Rights Project , for example, is seeking “volunteers who speak Spanish, Mam, Q’eqchi’ or K’iche’ and have paralegal or legal assistant experience.”
If You Can’t Volunteer, Donate
For those who don’t live in southern states or meet the qualifications for volunteering, a simple way to help is by donating to organizations. In addition to the Texas Civil Rights Project ( donate here ), there’s the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services ( RAICES ) , the largest immigration nonprofit
in Texas that provides free and low-cost legal services to underserved immigrants; the  Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights , which advocates for many of the separated and unaccompanied children;  READ MORE
To continue on with suggestions on donating, contacting representatives, and protesting CLICK HERE
Sunday After Mass
On Sunday, June 24th, after the 9 AM and 10:30 AM Masses, the Immigration Subcommittee of the Justice and Peace Committee will be hosting Walk-A-Mile In My Shoes: A Refugee Camp Simulation . By assuming the role of a refugee and engaging in hands-on activities, participants will gain a glimpse into the reality of our refugee brothers and sisters. They will gain deeper understanding of the struggles and frustrations refugees face by exploring various stages of the refugee experience, including the confined spaces that refugee families are allocated, the lack of variety in their diet (sometimes leading to medical conditions) and the struggles they face to obtain water in order to complete daily tasks that many of us take for granted. Participants will also have a chance to learn how to better support and advocate for the many refugees in need globally and to join a ‘Family-mentoring group’. We look forward to seeing you! And now let's go on to read stories of actual refugees.
Worship with Offerings, Liturgy and Prayers for Others
POOR BOX 
Each weekend St. Ignatius specifies a Poor Box collection for a needful cause. In correlation to this week's Refugee Camp Simulation, support goes
to Jesuit Refugee Services

MASS MUSIC   
Attached is the listing for the music selections at next Sunday's 10:30 Mass. 
 
PERSECUTED CHRISTIAN REPORT
Weekly updates on Christian persecution around the globe. Keep a prayerful watch on what is
happening with your
brothers and sisters! 


Upcoming Events and Meetings

Women of the New Testament
Tuesday, June 19 - 6:45 PM
Click here for complete information
Young Adults: Local Beer Tasting
Thursday, June 21 - 7 PM
Click here for complete information

Interfaith Prayer Service for Peace in the Middle East
Friday, June 22 - 7:30 PM
See box below for complete information
Walk-A-Mile In My Shoes: A Refugee Camp Simulation
Sunday, June 24 - 9:45 AM
See box above for complete information
Respect for Life
Sunday, June 24 - 9:45 AM
Click here for complete information

Embracing God's Gifts
Tuesday, June 26 - 7 PM
Click here for complete information


Bishop Madden's Prayer Walk for Peace in the City
Wednesday, June 27 - 5:30 PM
Click here for complete information
Interfaith Prayer Service for Peace in the Middle East to be Held on June 22

An Interfaith Prayer Service for Peace in the Middle East will be held in the Chapel of Grace on Friday, June 22, at 7:30 PM. The Rev. Joseph L. Muth, Jr., will offer some reflections on his most recent trip to Israel, from which he returned June 5. Fr. Muth is pastor of St. Matthew Church, a faith community made up of people from over 40 different countries. Under his leadership, St. Matthew’s parishioners envisioned and founded the  Immigration Outreach Service Center  to serve immigrants regardless of immigration status, ethnicity or religious affiliation. He has traveled to Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Rwanda as well as Israel.
Take this opportunity to set aside one hour to pray with others for peace, justice and reconciliation everywhere, especially in the Holy Land and the Holy City of Jerusalem, sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims alike.

Participants will have the opportunity to join Fr. Muth for conversation and light refreshments following the service.
The Trip of A Lifetime
Autumn Pilgrimage to France
September 23 - October 4, 2018
Would you like to join Father Bill Watters and a group of our parishioners on a 12-day pilgrimage to France in late September and early October? We will travel to the Loire Valley, Avignon Provence, Taize’, Lyon, Paris and places in between. On our tour we will learn about French history, art, culture and spirituality and visit Jesuit sites. Our experiences will include from ancient Roman ruins to important artistic and historical places as well as time for spiritual refreshment and daily Mass. Comfortable walking shoes will be needed. 17 people have already signed up for 30 spaces. 13 more persons will be welcome. Deposit of 330€, refundable till August 15 th , is due by June 30 th . The remaining 1400€ ( approximately $2042. per person based on double occupancy) is due by August 15 th . Airfare is not included. However, a separate group airfare rate may be available by June 30 th . The cost includes each night’s four-star hotel, six dinners, tour travel in France and most entry fees for scheduled galleries and museums. For full itinerary and related information, please contact Michelevelazquez3@gmail.com

In the Media
Keeping 'Em Honest

Cooper: The Trump Camp Calls This Compassion

CNN's  Anderson Cooper  poses the question: how can the Trump administration say the US is about compassion when it promotes the practice of taking undocumented immigrant children from their families and putting them in government facilities on US borders?
Bishops Across U.S. Condemn Separation, Detention of Migrant Children

WASHINGTON — From Denver to New York City, the country's Catholic bishops have joined a chorus of organizations, institutions and high-profile individuals urging the Trump administration to stop separating children from their parents as they seek respite in the U.S. from dire conditions in their home countries, largely in Central America.

None have been more outspoken, however, than the bishops with dioceses on or near the border between the U.S. and Mexico, where many migrants, adults as well as children, are being held in detention centers in geographic areas where many of the prelates come into contact with families affected. READ MORE
Sessions cites Bible passage used to defend slavery in defense of separating immigrant families.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Thursday used a Bible verse to defend his department’s policy of prosecuting everyone who crosses the border from Mexico, suggesting that God supports the government in separating immigrant parents from their children.

“I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained the government for his purposes,” Sessions said during a speech to law enforcement officers in Fort Wayne, Ind. “Orderly and lawful processes are good in themselves. Consistent and fair application of the law is in itself a good and moral thing, and that protects the weak and protects the lawful.” READ MORE
How Trump Came to Enforce a Practice of Separating Migrant Families


WASHINGTON — Almost immediately after President Trump took office, his administration began weighing what for years had been regarded as the nuclear option in the effort to discourage immigrants from unlawfully entering the United States.

Children would be separated from their parents if the families had been apprehended entering the country illegally, John F. Kelly, then the homeland security secretary, said in March 2017, “in order to deter more movement along this terribly dangerous network.” READ MORE

'Bringing Jesus' Compassion to an Evil Situation'



Rev. Randy Mayer made the familiar trip to the Comedor near the Mexico/U.S. border last week. The Comedor is a small hillside compound where Jesuits, Sisters of the Holy Eucharist, Samaritans from Green Valley, Sahuarita, and Tucson, No More Deaths members, and church volunteers from both sides of the border including Mayer and his congregants, provide migrants morning and evening meals, clothing, medical care, phone calls, legal advice, and psychological services.

That morning Mayer was assigned to do intake interviews.

Here is what he wrote to me: