Bishop visits St. Mary Parish in Milan

I was moved by the witness of our brothers and sisters here. Hearing directly from those who have been affected reminded me of what we are called to as a Church — to see the face of Christ in every person we encounter.”

Bishop Ralph B. O’Donnell

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Bishop Ralph B. O’Donnell recently traveled to St. Mary Parish in Milan to pray with a group of immigrant parishioners and parish leaders amid the fear and uncertainty many families are facing due to the recent presence and activity of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the area.

He came to be present to them and listen — and in doing so, he was deeply edified by the faith and resilience of those who shared their experiences and concerns.

“I was moved by the witness of our brothers and sisters here,” Bishop O’Donnell reflected. “Hearing directly from those who have been affected reminded me of what we are called to as a Church — to see the face of Christ in every person we encounter.”

As Catholics, we are instructed by the Catechism of the Catholic Church that human dignity is “an inalienable, God given value rooted in being created in the image and likeness of God, and fulfilled in the vocation of divine beatitude,” (#1700).

We hold firm then to the conviction that human dignity is not contingent on one’s citizenship or immigration status.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in their Special Pastoral Message issued last November, reminded us that “Catholic teaching exhorts nations to recognize the fundamental dignity of all persons, including immigrants.”

It is in this spirit that Bishop O’Donnell calls upon all the faithful of this diocese to respond with prayer, compassion and accompaniment.

We recognize that these are complex and often painful conversations. The bishops have been clear that human dignity and national security are not in conflict — both are possible when people of goodwill work together.

As a Church, we are called to hold that tension with charity, trusting that mercy and justice can and must coexist.

Bishop O’Donnell asks all parishioners to continue praying for those who are hurting, for our civic leaders, and for our communities — that together, we may bear faithful witness to the Gospel in these challenging times.