Our church is a church of immigrants

Following is the homily Bishop Sullivan gave May 3 at the Mass for immigrant families at Divine Mercy Parish, Vineland.

Tonight we honor two Saints. Two Apostles of the Lord, Saints Philip and James. We pray to them in the communion of saints and by efforts, our charity, our lives, we continue their work. At Mass we offer prayers of thanksgiving and prayers of petition to God. At this Mass we thank God for the gift of our Christian faith passed down from the preaching of the Apostles of Jesus Christ, two of whom are honored today, May 3rd, the Apostles, Saints Philip and James. At this Mass our petition to the Lord — what we seek — is that our Congress pass the immigration legislation that is before them.

Sisters and brothers, let us thank God for the gift of faith and let us ask God’s intercession for this needed reform of our broken immigration system. Our God teaches us to welcome the stranger, to care for the least among us, to love one another, and that we are our brother’s and sister’s keeper. Those God-given teachings direct our petition on behalf of immigrants.

The Apostles Philip and James were among the original group whom Jesus invited to follow him. They were present when the Church was born at Pentecost. They were sent out to the world to proclaim Good News, to announce the arrival of God’s Kingdom in Jesus Christ.

Like the Apostles, we too are sent by Christ to preach the Good News. Like them we seek to make present God’s Rule in our world. Our Christ-given mission and our desire to make His Kingdom come impel us to seek needed changes in the present immigration system. We hear first-hand the distressing stories from our immigrant sisters and brothers who come to our parishes, social service institutions, Catholic schools and religious education programs. They tell us about their difficult experiences attempting to regularize their immigration status; they share with us their stories about their families torn apart when one of them is sent back to the country of origin because of not having proper papers; we hear about their difficulties to procure drivers licenses and young people who cannot continue their education; or the sadness of not being able to be with family in their native countries at times of death; we know their struggles with their employment arrangements. The system is broken, it is not working. Now there is an opportunity to fix it. By fixing it we assist the coming of God’s Kingdom among us and we continue the tradition of the Apostles.

The bishops of our Church in the United States encourage our efforts and our support for immigrants. Our Church is a Church of immigrants. Our Church received its mandate from Jesus Christ through His Apostles who were sent to preach “the way, the truth and the life” of Jesus Christ.

But, His way cannot be followed by those who fear presenting themselves in the public sector, who walk in the shadows. His truth cannot be spoken by those whose status forces them to lie. His life is threatened when human life cannot be lived with God-given dignity.

We believe that Christ the Lord died and rose for us, for our benefit. Our faith in Him urges us to give witness in this area of immigration reform. A reform to give us immigration laws that are enforceable. A reform to secure our borders. A clear path to citizenship for our immigrant brothers and sisters who want to obey our laws and who respect all this nation offers as the land of the free and the home of the brave; immigrants who want to build new lives for themselves and their children.

In addition to our Christian creed we have a national creed. “All men are created equal by God and endowed with God given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” God gives the rights, not government.

In our country those rights are not accessible for too many. Because of this we pray that God helps our Congressional representatives to move the legislation forward.

The Apostle James, as the first reading reports, was constituted a witness to the Risen Christ. Like him we give witness that Christ lives — that He is Risen.  He lives in us and He lives in our immigrants whose lives suffer on account of this broken system. We pray that this message of life goes out on behalf of them.

The Apostle Philip said to Jesus, “Show us the Father.” May our witness to Christ show the love and mercy of the Father to all who need His protection and care. As Saints Philip and James led others to Christ, may we lead others to Him.

We have always welcomed immigrants into our nation. We welcome and want those who obey our laws and respect our nation. Those who will contribute to the common good by hard work and paying taxes. Those who will participate in their communities; those who will raise their families to be participating members of our country. Those who come in pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. Those who will serve our nation in the Armed Forces. On their behalf we make this petition with a moral urgency that drives our prayer and our actions to seek a path to citizenship; that wants family unification and a program for unskilled workers, to mention some of the goals of a comprehensive immigration reform. Our richness as a Nation, as a Church, as the Diocese of Camden, is our immigrant heritage. We seek to preserve it and to build up.

We have gathered in thanksgiving for the gift of our faith that inspires our witness for this much need immigration reform and we ask our God that what is broken in the present immigration system be fixed so that a just system of immigration can result for the benefit of our country. With thanksgiving and petition we pray for this much needed reform of the immigration system. May Saints Philip and James pray for us.