Monthly Reflection September, 2005 Self-Sacrifice and the Migrant Christ in the Southeast Fr. Francisco Valdovinos, S.T "One of the essential elements of our vowed life as Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity is self-sacrifice." Resolution #1. Acts XII of the General Cenacle of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, 2003. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me. (Mt. 25:35) The purpose of this monthly reflection is to share a pastoral experience of an encounter with Jesus Christ through the migrant population in the Southeastern United States, based upon Matthew, 25:34-36, and Luke, 24:13-35. Our founder, Fr. Augustine Judge arrived in the South in Opeleika, Alabama in August 1915. He invited lay missionaries to work with him, as we know from our history, but he was not able to envision the Hispanic Ministry that has given new life through new pastoral challenges to the South. Fr. Judge and Mother Boniface can now look down from heaven at this new reality with joy and hope. Jesus, according to the Gospels, was a traveler, much like a migrant person. He traveled the whole of Palestine, from the south (such as Samaria and Jericho), to the North (such as Caesarea Phillipi), from the northwest (Tyre, Sidon), to the northeast (Bethesda and Gadara). However, he chose Capernaum, not his hometown, as his base, because it was a crossroads to all the areas of Palestine. The message he gave to his listeners at Capernaum would extend from this crossroads to all of Israel and surrounding lands. In his journeys he was looking for ways to serve people such as the "Anawim", who were abandoned in their poverty, misery, illness, hunger and loneliness. He served them by his preaching, healing, feeding and otherwise integrating them into the Kingdom of God. Jesus took the pastoral challenge of serving the poorest amongst him, who were without social or political power, were without homes, and lacked other traditional structures. Jesus served them in the desert, in the borders and other places where there was no place for rest or comfort. The only security available was walking under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, looking for ways to do the Fathers will. Every day I see Christ in the migrants who come to our area. I see the Migrant Christ as he described himself in Matthew 25:34-36: One who is abandoned, is naked, is homeless, is imprisoned, is starving, and is sick. The Migrant Christ in the South is the person who is faceless and without identity, without social position, economic power, or political clout. He is a person who needs to be treated like a human being, like our brother or sister. He is knocking on our doors for food, shelter, a job, an education, for the same basic human rights and dignity everyone is owed. The Migrant Christ has left his country looking for a better life, but encounters many tribulations. He leaves his country with hope, but may meet death in the desert through starvation or thirst, or may meet exploitation by smugglers who rob and abuse. Their families may wait in silence, not knowing if their loved one will ever return, has been successful, or is lying in an unmarked grave. The Migrant Christ may successfully reach the USA, but may only get a temporary job, or are killed in high-risk occupations or on the highway, resulting in the pain and weeping of a family back home. In preparation for this reflection I had the opportunity to pray and seek inspiration at the Chapel at Holy Trinity. Holy Trinity is sacred ground for us, and sought the guidance and intercession of Father Judge. I thought of my own background before I came to the South. I realize that I need to develop some skills, such as learning the American culture, and language, and learn how to attend to the variety of groups from Latin America and the Caribbean countries, in order to serve our people. Being in the Southeast has been a wonderful pastoral experience that enables me to be more open to others, to learn from others, to listen to others, to enrich my life within the encounter with the Migrant Christ. Being here has allowed me to experience a conversion through the encounter with the Migrant Christ who is facing loneliness, who sometimes is the victim of social injustice, who cannot get a drivers license, or social security, because of his undocumented reality. Many migrants come without papers. Many say the only passport they had when they crossed the border was the simple image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, and they bring this devotion and their profound love for the Virgin Mary, who is interceding constantly for our people, for the people of God. I have had the opportunity to serve many of them. One was sick at a hospital and wanted to be married. We got permission from his doctors to go to church. It was a joyous occasion. His family came from Mexico for the event. The husband had little money and was worried about payment for my services. He then took out of his pocket an image of Guadalupe and said: "Accept this. I have carried it in my pocket for more than 15 years". I was happy to receive it, and keep it in my wallet as a symbolic gift from the Migrant Christ. As Missionary Servants in the South we are looking for ways to serve others. We need to open the doors at the Churches, and offer welcome to them. We have been inspired by Father Judge to serve with a collaborative ministry along with our MSBTs, MCAs, and lay leaders. The collaboration, cooperation and coordination needs a process, conversation, communion, solidarity, conversion, and co-responsibilty with the concept of family. The Immediate Pastoral Challenges Migrant people have a transient nature. They follow agricultural jobs and construction work across the country. The pastoral task demands much physical and emotional energy in order to attend to their most urgent needs. The new arrivals need basic social and financial help, sometimes urgently. We must help them obtain these as part of the goal to welcome them to the Church and integrate them into the new society. An example of this challenge is the crisis created by Hurricane Katrina, which brought destruction and death on August 29th. As we saw on television and other mass media, thousands of people were affected throughout the Gulf Coast regions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and South Florida. Hurricane Katrina has made thousands of new migrants, who have lost their families, homes, health, jobs, dreams and hopes. The natural disaster brought to the region tragedy, chaos and devastation. The new migrants are as we speak looking for ways to survive, needing gasoline, food, water, ice and medical attention. We are required to create a new visionwhere we are and where we are going. The vision must allow us to be aware of the new reality: What is happening? What is the social, religious, legal and political situation? The vision mandates we work not only in the future but begin now, to create a new space where each person has basic human rights. Our pastoral task is to provide hope, enthusiasm and commitment to the present and the future. This vision requires the formation and education of a new leadership among the migrant population. The vision is to form a creative and participatory pastoral process that helps us celebrate life and promote social justice and the sense of solidarity and compassion. Christ has also given hope and direction to those suffering In Luke 24:13-35, two disciples were on the road to Emmaus. They were confused, afraid, and in despair. As they traveled, they were met by Christ, who aided them in their suffering. Following the example of Christ, we can aid and serve those on their own journey. We can offer a wonderful welcome to them, and we can offer hospitality. This requires we learn their culture and language, and be aware of the multicultural and multiethnic reality of those coming from Latino and Caribbean countries. We must remember that present-day migrants are like the Disciples on the Road to Emmaus, who were unsure of their present and future. We must accompany them on their journey. We must become a host to them, and empower them with the values of the Gospel and entrust in them the role of leadership of the structure of the family, church and society. Conclusion The Migrant Christ is a person who brings his or her own identity, cultural, language, background, customs and traditions, such as music, food, dance and holidays. The Migrant Christ is a gift, one who is able to offer ones time, talent, treasure and testimony as a witness of the Gospel. The Migrant Christ enriches our economy through service in the nations agribusiness, construction, tourism and service industries. The Migrant population is Christ in disguise, who not only receives but has a tremendous potential power and energy to promote and contribute to a new life from their own faith, hope and charity. It is a privilege to be here at this historical moment and remarkable time to serve them, to feel with them, to stay with them in their journey of hope, joy and dreams. This is the very meaning of self-sacrifice. Finally, the Migrant Christ is not a mere object, nor deserves leftovers, worn out goods, nor trash in place of true charity. He is not a social charge, nor is a stranger. He or she is our neighbor, our brother, and our sister, who deserves our attention, compassion, and charity through the spirit of solidarity and self-sacrifice. Questions 1. Based on your pastoral and ministerial experience, how do you discover and learn about self-sacrifice in the most poor and abandoned brother or sister? 2. How do you accompany the poor, needy or migrant persons in your local mission? 3. How does Father Judges practice of the virtue of self-sacrifice inspire you to do Gods will by looking at ways of transformation in your own humanity and that of others?