Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS, a Camden-based, award-winning artist and author, will share the stories of migrants, and the hope they can inspire, in an upcoming presentation in Cherry Hill.
“Migrants as Missionaries of Hope: Arts and Stories with Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS” will take place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 1 at Saint Thomas More Parish, 1439 Springdale Road. Brother Mickey will look at the colorful and inspiring lives of saints including Saint Joseph and Saint Frances Cabrini who model principles taught in the Gospel, Catholic social teaching and by the U.S. bishops.
The event comes on the heels of National Migration Week, Sept. 22-28, and right before the Jubilee of Migrants in Rome that is taking place Oct. 4-5.
In reflecting upon the event, Brother Mickey recalled two moments of encounter with migrants that occurred while on sketching trips with Catholic Relief Services, the overseas charitable arm of the Catholic Church in the United States.
“Some of my interest in immigration issues, besides the ones related to Catholic social teaching, are personal and are inspired by my travels,” said Brother Mickey, who has a history collaborating with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on projects promoting human dignity.
The first moment of encounter was on a trip to Guatemala, and the mountain city of Quiche. There, he met youth participating in CRS-sponsored programs as well as lessons on cooking and restaurant/hotel management. He interacted with the children of coffee farmers, learning the family trade.
“Since coffee is the main export of Guatemala, and this was a time of severe blight for the crops, it was particularly moving to meet these young people struggling to make a living,” he recalled.
On a sketching trip in Kenya, he encountered a young man making a living as a hairdresser and barber – skills he learned through CRS programs – and a young lady who was the first woman auto mechanic in the county.
“I think of them all so often because they were gentle, loving, and anxious to create a better life for themselves in terribly difficult circumstances,” he said.
“My memories of both places and the people I was blessed to meet and sketch have remained with me and have grown even more relevant in these current times of turmoil related to immigration,” Brother Mickey continued. “Most of the immigrants who come to the U.S. today are people like them, without criminal motivation or evil intent, and it breaks my heart to see the cruelty they are enduring. It is not what Jesus would do.”
An Oblate of Saint Francis de Sales for the past 48 years, Brother Mickey has painted, written, and told stories throughout his career to those of all ages in schools, parishes, art communities, and on retreats. In 2009, he moved to Camden, where he has furthered his art education in the context of social justice and finding beauty in the margins.
For more information on “Migrants as Missionaries of Hope” or to register, call the parish at 856-424-3212, or email stmfaithandjustice@gmail.com.
More Online
We all know the feeling of being the stranger – starting a new job, moving to a new neighborhood, or walking into a classroom where no one knows your name. That sense of being alone in an unfamiliar place connects us to the journeys of countless migrants and refugees.
Over the coming months, clergy and laity from the Diocese of Camden will share stories of welcoming, and being, the stranger through a series of videos posted on all diocesan social media platforms. This month, Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS, invites us to reflect: “What if the walls we build around faith, culture and identity blind us to the humanity of our neighbors – and even Christ Himself?”
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