Left to right: Carlotta Gilarde, CSJ, Joanne Gallagher, CSJ, Annette McDermott, SSJ, Mary Theresa O’Reilly, CSJ, & Nancy Braceland, CSJ

Seeing the Stranger as Sacred:

A Faith-Based Call to Welcome

Reflections from Witness to Hope: Responding to Mass Deportations 

“From the time that Adam and Eve left the Garden, migration has been part of our DNA. The Hebrew Scriptures are full of migration stories… This Old Testament foundation finds resonance in Jesus and his family who were refugees in Egypt, making migration a central theme from Genesis to the Gospels. A clear understanding of the many experiences of migration in sacred scripture is crucial today. It can ground themes of migration in the ‘divine command.’  That is, there is a ‘divine command’ to welcome. God’s people are perpetual sojourners, like Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.”

With these introductory reflections, Most Reverend Bruce Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., Bishop of Providence, RI set the tone for a gathering  of faith leaders, diocesan staff, migrant advocates and community leaders from across New England, New York, and New Jersey, for the first-ever Witness to Hope: Responding to Mass Deportations on December 11, 2025 at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul. The Providence diocese partnered with partnered with the Hope Border Institute (HOPE), based in El Paso, Texas and the Center for Migration Studies (CMS), based in New York City. Five Sisters of St. Joseph were able to participate and meet with other sisters from the region as well as Bishop Christiano Barbosa, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston and several Archdiocese of Boston staff.

Bishop Lewandowski emphasized that, “A faith-based movement, a broad and far-reaching coalition, the collective effort of all who understand the ‘divine command,’ is what is needed now.” 

Dr. Todd Scribner, assistant director of Education and Outreach at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Department of Migration and Refugee Services, explained how the “One Church, One Family” movement is one such way of doing that. Our readers will recall our participation in the One Church One Family vigils on October 22 and November 13.

Throughout the day, there were several other inspiring and informative presentations as well as time to meet others committed to the Church-based efforts in response to mass deportations. Click below to read the full report.

In the concluding words of Bishop Lewandowski, “God’s Word offers the alternative to enforcement, detention, and deportation. The divine command is to love. Treat others as you would have them treat you! This requires our concerted and collective efforts to continually reframe the conversation. Immigrants are not threats, but people God cares for.  We need to continually invite people to see the ‘stranger’ as a person with a story, just like Israel’s own ancestors, just like us, just like Jesus.”