Click here for the Diocese of Jackson’s Statement regarding Paul West and Don Lucas.

Call for Compassion, Understanding, and an End to Practices that Create Fear

Springfield, Ill.— “In recognition of the rights and dignity of children and families frightened and separated during the ICE raids on August 7, 2019” the leadership of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois, “cry out” in solidarity compassion, and support.

The sisters offer their solidarity to all those affected by the raids and “those who are living in fear,” the statement says. “We hope that you and your families can feel the support of our prayers.

Springfield Dominican Sisters have ministered in Mississippi for more than 70 years. Their ministry, St. Dominic Health Services, was recently transferred July 1, 2019, to the sponsorship of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, based in Baton Rouge, La. Eight Dominican sisters continue to live and serve in Jackson.

The statement, issued from the congregation’s Illinois-based leadership, asks that “all people of good will in Mississippi” acknowledge that the trauma created by a broken immigration system “Unravels the bond of our common humanity and weakens the foundation of trust” essential to every Mississippian’s well-being and safety.

“At the foundation of our desire for a more just immigration policy is gospel-based Catholic Social Teaching,” Said Sister Rebecca Ann Gemma, prioress general of the Springfield Dominican Sisters. “The United States Catholic Bishops have very clear guidelines on this.”

For access to resources from the bishops and other helpful materials for those accompanying immigrants anywhere in the U.S., visit springfieldop.org/immigration-resources.

The sisters encourage donations of time, expertise, and financial assistance to one of two Mississippi-based organizations. Donations may be made through Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Jackson or through a coalition of Mississippi organizations responding to the needs of immigrant families, which includes the Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance (MIRA), and the MacArthur Center for Justice at the University of Mississippi.

The coalition includes the Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance (MIRA), and the MacArthur Center for Justice at the University of Mississippi.

For more than 800 years, Dominicans have preached the Gospel in word and deed. The Dominican Sisters of Springfield, established in 1873, are part of a worldwide Dominican family, the Order of Preachers. Today, thousands of Dominican sisters, nuns, priests, brothers, associates, and laity minister in more than 100 countries around the world. To learn more about the Dominican Sisters of Springfield visit springfieldop.org.

Click Here to download pdf of statement.

August 9, 2019

Raids, such as those conducted on Wednesday in the central part of Mississippi, only serve to, as Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote last month in a letter to President Trump, “cause the unacceptable suffering of thousands of children and their parents, and create widespread panic in our communities.” We, the undersigned, condemn such an approach, which, as he rightly states, “has created a climate of fear in our parishes and communities across the United States.”

To say that immigration reform is a contentious and complex topic would be an understatement. As Christians, within any disagreement we should all be held together by our baptismal promises. Our baptism, regardless of denomination calls us to unity in Jesus Christ. We are his body and, therefore, called to act in love as a unified community for our churches and for the common good of our local communities and nation. We can stand in solidarity to provide solace, material assistance and strength for the separated and traumatized children, parents and families. Of course, we are committed to a just and compassionate reform to our nation’s immigration system, but there is an urgent and critical need at this time to avoid a worsening crisis.

We are grateful to all who are reaching out to help. Catholic Charities is organized to directly assist immigrant families. You can donate to support this humanitarian cause at: https://catholiccharitiesjackson.org/ and go to “August 7 ICE Raids” at the top right of the website.

Thank you for your concern, prayers and generosity.

Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz
Eleventh Bishop
Catholic Diocese of Jackson                                                                                        

Bishop Louis F. Kihneman, III
Fourth Bishop
Catholic Diocese of Biloxi

Bishop Brian R. Seage
Tenth Bishop of the Episcopal
Diocese of Mississippi                                                                                                 

Bishop James E. Swanson, Sr.
Resident Bishop, MS Conference
The United Methodist Church

The Reverend H. Julian Gordy
Bishop, ELCA Southeastern Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America

Click here for pdf version of Bishops Joint Statement

Agosto 9, 2019

Las redadas, como las realizadas el miércoles en la parte central de Mississippi, solo sirven como “causa del inaceptable sufrimiento de miles de niños y sus padres, y crean un pánico generalizado en nuestras comunidades,” según escribió el cardenal Daniel DiNardo, presidente de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos, el mes pasado en una carta al presidente Trump.

Nosotros, los abajo firmantes, condenamos ese enfoque, que, como se afirma acertadamente, “ha creado un clima de miedo en nuestras parroquias y comunidades en todo Estados Unidos.”

Decir que la reforma migratoria es un tema polémico y complejo sería quedarse corto. Como cristianos, dentro de cualquier desacuerdo, todos debemos mantenernos unidos por nuestras promesas bautismales. Nuestro bautismo, independientemente de su denominación, nos llama a la unidad en Jesucristo. Somos su cuerpo y, por lo tanto, estamos llamados a actuar con amor como una comunidad unificada para nuestras iglesias y para el bien común de nuestras comunidades locales y nuestra nación. Podemos solidarizarnos para brindar consuelo, asistencia material y fortaleza a los niños, padres y familias separadas y a los traumatizados. Por supuesto, estamos comprometidos con una reforma justa y compasiva al sistema de inmigración de nuestra nación, pero hay una necesidad urgente y crítica en este momento de evitar un empeoramiento de la crisis.

Agradecemos a todos los que están buscando ayudar. Catholic Charities se está organizado para socorrer directamente a las familias inmigrantes. Usted puede hacer una donación monetaria, para apoyar esta causa, en: https://catholiccharitiesjackson.org/ e ir al “August 7 ICE Raids” en la parte superior derecha de su sitio web.

Gracias por su preocupación, oraciones y generosidad.

Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz
Eleventh Bishop
Catholic Diocese of Jackson                                         

Bishop Louis F. Kihneman, III
Fourth Bishop
Catholic Diocese of Biloxi

Bishop Brian R. Seage
Tenth Bishop of the Episcopal
Diocese of Mississippi                                                                   

Bishop James E. Swanson, Sr.
Resident Bishop, MS Conference
The United Methodist Church

The Reverend H. Julian Gordy
Bishop, ELCA Southeastern Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America

Haga clic aquí para ver la versión en PDF de la declaración

Please help families affected by the ICE Raids in Mississippi by making a donation through Catholic Charities. Families affected need additional legal and financial assistance as the parents go through the legal process, which may take months to complete.