Our Stand on Migration
Sisters of the Holy Cross affirm a statement of support for migrants and refugees around the world. This declaration answers Christ’s call to welcome the stranger, impels all to action on behalf of the displaced among us.
Response to Executive Actions
The General Leadership Team of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross has issued the following statement in response to the actions of the presidential administration of the United States.
This statement expresses the values of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, rooted as they are in Gospel calls and the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
Our Statement of Support for Migrants and Refugees
Voicing their collective concern for the plight of migrants and refugees around the globe, the Sisters of the Holy Cross affirmed a Corporate Stand on Migration in October 2019. This stand publicly declares the sisters’ solidarity with all people who are forced to flee their homes and homelands for any reason.
Action in Ministry
War, violence, unemployment, environmental disasters, and cultural and religious persecution are just a few factors impacting today’s unprecedented mass movements of people.
Evolving from this reality, Christ’s call to welcome one another, and the sisters’ history of serving migrants and refugees, the Congregation’s stance undergirds the directive to take action in ministry and in the public forum.
How You Can Help
It is the hope of Sisters of the Holy Cross throughout the world that you will use the influence you have to speak out. Consider using your voice to tell others about the dire conditions and suffering endured by migrants and refugees, and take action.
Supporting policies, initiatives and programs that ease distress, meet basic human needs and help address the root causes of migration is also critical.
Learn about Holy Cross sisters’ ministries that are living examples of the statement in support of migrating peoples, and explore other resources to learn more about migration, its effects on individuals, communities and the world family, its root causes, and how to regard it from a faith perspective.
Take Action
Learn about the causes of migration.
Read the stories of migrants and refugees.
Discern a faithful response to support migrating peoples.
Pray for all who have fled or been displaced from their homes.
Donate to the Ministry With the Poor Fund.
“Compassion moves us to reflect on the signs of the times, discern needs, and respond.”
—Mission Statement
Sisters of the Holy Cross
Our Response
“We have reflected on the rich tradition of biblical resources and social teaching of our Church that impels us to act to protect the dignity and human rights of all people,” said Congregation President Sister M. Veronique (Wiedower), CSC.
In response, Sisters of the Holy Cross are implementing action plans to address the needs of migrants as well as the causes of migration in the countries where they live and serve, intentionally partnering with secular and religious leaders, groups and organizations.
RESOURCES
Corporate Stand on Migration: Read the stand affirmed by the Sisters of the Holy Cross.
Migration stories: Sisters’ accounts of ministering with migrants and refugees in countries where they live and serve.
“Social Analysis: The Integral Ecology of Migration”: A study inspecting and unpacking the broader causes of global migration.
“Theological Reflection on Migration”: A look at migration and refugees from a faith perspective, drawing on Scripture, Catholic social teaching, and values expressed in Sisters of the Holy Cross documents and initiatives.
Embracing the Sojourner: A Faithful Response to Migration: Booklet highlighting the realities of many migrating peoples, Pope Francis’ call to “welcome, protect, promote and integrate” them into lives and communities, and the Family of Holy Cross’ response.
Corporate Stands, Sisters of the Holy Cross: Read all the corporate stands that have been affirmed by the Sisters of the Holy Cross.
inSpirit, annual giving report 2019
Sisters minister with children housed at Mexico/U.S. border
Holy Cross Sisters Esther Adjoa Entsiwah, Mary Ann Pajakowski and Suzanne Brennan traveled to San Antonio, Texas, April 18–23 to minister with migrant children separated from their families and living in shelters at the Mexico/U.S. border. They joined Catholic Charities of San Antonio’s outreach efforts at the Freeman Coliseum shelter site. Below, Sister Mary Ann and Esther share what they encountered at the facility and some of their experiences with the teenagers they met.
Sister Esperanza Jacobo Acevedo, CSC, describes her pastoral ministry at Casanicolas at the U.S.-Mexico border. Casanicolas provides migrants with shelter in a secure place, promotes human rights and offers pastoral care. Approximately 20 percent of the current grants from the Congregation’s Ministry With the Poor Fund is directed to sisters whose work helps migrants and refugees. To learn how you can contribute to our efforts, visit Support Us or Donate Now.
SISTERS OF THE HOLY CROSS
Corporate Stand on Migration
We, the Sisters of the Holy Cross, affirm that:
- All persons have the right to find opportunities and safety within their homeland to ensure authentic human development.
- When opportunities for authentic development are not available at home, people have the right to migrate.
- While nations have a right to protect sovereign borders, policies must prioritize migrants’ right to life and safety over the interests of national security.
- Economic and social systems which create the pressure to migrate yet restrict free movement of peoples must be transformed.
We support actions and policies that:
- Welcome by providing legal options for entry, access to basic services and guarantee of safety, including temporary visas for those fleeing conflict and disasters.
- Protect rights and dignity through access to justice and suitable work.
- Promote social and professional integration, family unification and active citizenship.
- Integrate by promoting a culture of encounter, through programs and cultural exchange.
We oppose actions and policies that:
- Incentivize environmental destruction, destabilize economies and reduce resources for social services.
- Allow for incarceration of asylum seekers and detention of migrants.
- Endorse arbitrary and collective expulsions of migrants and refugees.
- Force the return of refugees or asylum seekers to countries deemed unsafe.
- Sustain unethical labor recruitment practices that exploit migrants and refugees.
- Promote negative narratives of migrants and refugees.
We acknowledge that to promote authentic human development for all, including the ability to migrate, governments, nongovernmental organizations, communities and individuals must work together to:
- Eliminate the root causes that force people to leave their homelands.
- Examine personal and cultural assumptions that influence our perceptions of migrants.
- Recognize and embrace the richness that cultural diversity brings to our communities.