The Immigrants' Creed

(This creed professes the Christian faith through the experience of an immigrant.)

I believe in Almighty God,
who guided the people in exile and in exodus,
the God of Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon,
the God of foreigners and immigrants.

I believe in Jesus Christ,
a displaced Galilean, who was born away from his people and his home,
who fled his country with his parents when his life was in danger,
and returning to his own country suffered the oppression
of the tyrant Pontius Pilate, the servant of a foreign power,
who then was persecuted, beaten, and finally tortured,
accused and condemned to death unjustly.
But on the third day, this scorned Jesus rose from the dead,
not as a foreigner but to offer us citizenship in heaven.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the eternal immigrant from God’s kingdom among us,
who speaks all languages, lives in all countries,
and reunites all races.

I believe that the church is the secure home
for the foreigner and for all believers who constitute it,
who speak the same language and have the same purpose.

I believe that the communion of the saints begins
when we accept the diversity of the saints.

I believe in the forgiveness of sin, which makes us all equal,
and in reconciliation, which identifies us more
than does race, language, or nationality.

I believe that in the resurrection
God will unite us as one people
in which all are distinct
and all are alike at the same time.

Beyond this world, I believe in life eternal
in which no one will be an immigrant
and all will be citizens of God’s kingdom,
which will never end. Amen.

"The Immigrants’ Creed" is excerpted from The Book of Common Worship: 2018 Edition.
 

Now that I am home, the very word home seems almost strange to say and then to add the word "my" seems even stranger. My home, my community, my room, even my bed is so ordinary and yet such a gift. Then I must go on to ask… Why can I say “my” where millions around our globe can only dream of such things?

The refugees at our southern border in El Paso taught me over and over to say, “Gracias a Dios! Thanks be to God!” This is a phrase that was a part of every conversation, no matter how difficult their experience, Gracias a Dios!

As a first world U.S. citizen this is a phrase I generally would hear by those who live on the borders of our society, whether it be an inmate at Monroe County jail, or a homeless woman at Bethany House, “Thanks be to God!”

As a Catholic Sister I have much to learn from my sisters and brothers on the borders of life who place themselves in the very center of the heart of God, so freely, so naturally and so often. 

Gracias a Dios, for my congregation, the Sisters of St. Joseph, who sent me to El Paso with their love and support.

Gracias a Dios, for the community of Sisters of Charity who so warmly welcomed me into their home . 

Gracias a Dios, for Annunciation House and the countless folks who are so generously giving to our refugee sisters and brothers to offer them a warm welcome and support for the next step on their journey.

Gracias a Dios, for all the refugees who welcomed me into their lives.

Gracias a Dios, for Phyllis Tierney SSJ of Rochester, who left for El Paso today.

Gracias a Dios, for all the love and support God gives every moment of every day!