The Lord watches over the strangers; the Lord upholds the orphans and the widow…
~ Psalm 146.9.
The Lord watches over strangers and other vulnerable folk, but do we? When asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus recounts the Good Samaritan parable asking, among the many neighbors and strangers who come upon this wounded man, “who is the neighbor?”
The “neighbor” ends up being ‘the stranger’, the alienated, unwelcome man, the man from Samaria, “The one showing kindness and mercy”. The one who “love’s his neighbor as himself.”
It’s not our geography that defines us as neighbors or strangers, but our hearts.
Join the Immigrant Rights and Protections gathering on 28 April at 6:30 in Spirit Hall and meet Sr Tracey Horan, SP, the education and advocacy director of the Kino Border Initiative in Arizona.
Sr Tracey works everyday to expand our hearts and circle of compassion to include neighbors whom we’ve never met, whose languages and customs we might not know, but who are Children of God with inherent worth and dignity, deserving of a safe place to live, grow, contribute and thrive.
Who are our neighbors? “The one showing kindness and mercy.”
Come, join us to learn of Sr Tracey and her neighbors’ experiences.
First, Sr Tracey will give us an update from the US-Mexico border in Arizona.
Second, she’ll explore with us ways to focus on narratives and lives such that immigration, migration, refugee conversations connect and neighbors are see, appreciated, honored and protected. These aren’t political or ideological conversations, but human ones anchored in faith, hope and love.
Third, Sr Tracey will introduce us to some of our neighbors via video testimony.
Fourth, we’ll review some immigration, migration and refugee policy changes and explore viable responses.
Fifth, You’ll have occasion to ask Sr Tracey questions and discuss things further.
Come, come widen your circle of compassion and belonging—come, open your heart to learn and love your neighbor! Monday 28 April 2025, 6:30 Spirit Hall.