Where is the Catholic Church when it comes to the "immigrant border crises" that has been in the news daily for quite awhile? I don't have any quotes from bishops on those areas along the border that are most affected by the numbers of people, men, women and children who are trying to come into our country after having left their "homes" because of poverty, violence, oppression looking for a reason to have hope for a much better future than they would have staying where they were.
In this pastor's column I am not going to get into the "politics" of immigration. Instead I want to focus on people like Sister Norma Pimentel who is the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley who runs a respite center in Brownsville, Texas that provides food, drink and other help for the people in need in that area. In an article in the Arkansas Catholic newspaper this week, it quotes a motto above Sister Norma's door that says: "Restoring human dignity." While solutions to this "crises" are being talked about and hopefully decided upon and put into action, there are disciples of Christ of the Catholic and other faiths that are coming to the aid of displaced people with basic necessities of life and a message that is unspoken that says "God loves you, and so do we."
We can read all we want about what's going on "down there" and have an opinion on what politicians and people down there need to do, but there is no question that this is a humanitarian crises that calls for Christ-like compassion and support for places like the respite center that is being run by Sister Norma and prayers for those who are volunteering to help these people in their time of need. Also, if you are inclined, join me and others in donating to support the "Humanitarian Respite Center," c/o Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, 700 N. Virgen de San Juan Blvd., San Juan, TX 78589. Any amount of money, I know, would be appreciated by Sister Norma, her volunteers and all who will benefit from our kindness!
In this pastor's column I am not going to get into the "politics" of immigration. Instead I want to focus on people like Sister Norma Pimentel who is the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley who runs a respite center in Brownsville, Texas that provides food, drink and other help for the people in need in that area. In an article in the Arkansas Catholic newspaper this week, it quotes a motto above Sister Norma's door that says: "Restoring human dignity." While solutions to this "crises" are being talked about and hopefully decided upon and put into action, there are disciples of Christ of the Catholic and other faiths that are coming to the aid of displaced people with basic necessities of life and a message that is unspoken that says "God loves you, and so do we."
We can read all we want about what's going on "down there" and have an opinion on what politicians and people down there need to do, but there is no question that this is a humanitarian crises that calls for Christ-like compassion and support for places like the respite center that is being run by Sister Norma and prayers for those who are volunteering to help these people in their time of need. Also, if you are inclined, join me and others in donating to support the "Humanitarian Respite Center," c/o Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, 700 N. Virgen de San Juan Blvd., San Juan, TX 78589. Any amount of money, I know, would be appreciated by Sister Norma, her volunteers and all who will benefit from our kindness!