Ministries of Dignity & Justice: Immigration

Psalm 145:8-9 - The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love. The Lord is good to all, compassionate to every creature.

This passage from today's psalm got me thinking a lot about how we are made in the image of God. If we truly believe this, then we might re-work the words to read as follows: The Christian is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love. The Christian is good to all, compassionate to every creature.

The issue of immigration calls us to exercise these attributes of grace, mercy, consideration, compassionate love and goodness. Our broken immigration system has grown more stressed. As a response to a climate of fear, anxiety, and vilification surrounding immigrants in the United States, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a Special Pastoral Message on Immigration on November 12, 2025. This message represents a particularly urgent communication from the bishops and was approved by nearly 97% of the Fall Plenary Assembly.

The bishops emphasize that nations have a responsibility to regulate borders and maintain a just immigration system, but this must be balanced with the Church's foundational concern for the human person, created in the image of God. They highlight the priority of care for the most vulnerable, including widows, orphans, the poor, and strangers (Zechariah 7:10; Luke 10:30–25; 2 Corinthians 8:9). The key principles are solidarity with immigrants; opposition to mass deportations; protection of families and sensitive locations such as places of worship, schools, and healthcare facilities; promotion of safe and legal pathways; and advocacy for meaningful reform.

The USCCB launched the "You Are Not Alone" initiative, encouraging dioceses, parishes, schools, and Catholic organizations to provide accompaniment and support to immigrants & families affected by enforcement activities. This initiative focuses on solidarity through prayer, public witness, pastoral care, and community support programs by becoming "Keepers of Hope," promoting active engagement in immigrant support and advocacy. Here, at HNOJ Cathedral, parishioners can join Justice for Immigrants.

This crisis calls every Christian to respond with grace, mercy, consideration, compassionate love and goodness. This 4th of July weekend, as we celebrate the birth of our national family--a family of immigrants and Native Americans--let us be open to welcome the immigrant and refugee.

Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries