DeSales Service Works, an Oblate ministry, hosts school and parish groups that join the efforts of our “service partners.” Working with partner ministries, volunteers interact with people rather than issues or categories. At the Last Stop recovery program volunteers get to know— not addict, prostitute, dealer, gangster, but Alex, Mark the Marine, Pattie, Ms Alice*. At Joseph’s House shelter or Agape outreach program, we meet Joe, William, Carmen, Madison— not homeless person, bag lady, crack-head, bum. At Holy Name School we interact with Rosa, Yahyra, Jose— not alien, poor kid, underprivileged child.

Meeting actual people, hearing stories, working and laughing with them - changes perspective. Instead of viewing problems and issues, we get to know our sisters and brothers in Christ. We realize things are more complicated than labels or facile categories can convey.

One service partner is a charity law practice, Camden Center for Law & Social Justice (CCLSJ.) With immigration and deportations in the news, Jeff DeCristofaro, CCLSJ immigration lawyer spoke with a recent student group.

*Students listen to Jeff DeCristofaro’s talk at a DeSales Service Works retreat.*

We wanted students to hear about how the immigration process works in the US and how Catholic organizations are assisting migrants and refugees. Jeff explained how the US system works to unite families—different from some other countries' policies that prioritize highly valued professions and skills over connecting families. The challenge is that our system has a backlog of cases. A family member applying to come here to join their family and begin the process of being a resident under the law can take 10 or 15 years. So asking, “Why don’t they get in line?” or “Why don’t these people come legally?” is the same as asking, “Why don't they wait in line for a decade or more to reunite with family to begin their lives here?”

DeCristofaro explained that in no way does the Catholic position suggest that justice and mercy mean nations need to have “open borders.” He described the detailed process for people taking asylum here from dangerous situations in their nation of origin to become full citizens in this new country. CCLSJ works with Afghan refugees, and people from Latin America, Ireland, Ukraine—and places across the globe.

Students asked questions during the presentation, and it became clear that several of the students or their parents were living with an immigration status that was not legal—or that did not have a secure path to citizenship.

Pope Francis' letter to the US bishops this week makes the point strongly that “any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality” gives a distorted picture and is immoral. These high school students and their parents coming from a Washington, D.C. suburb hardly fit a picture of “aliens,” “illegals,” tattooed gang members, criminals, dangerous people. Again, encounters with real people rather than issues or problems can change perspectives.

One service partner that can inspire all American Catholics is Catholic Relief Service, CRS. The US bishops began this effort in the wake of World War II to help people rebuild their lives after that disaster. A quick look at CRS's website illustrates all the good they do in our name for people across the world in dire need. As a Catholic organization, CRS is ideally suited to connect to local organizations that can effectively translate the funding into real help for real people.

CRS has also received a great deal of funding from the United States Agency for International Development. USAID began in the Kennedy Administration to help alleviate poverty and suffering throughout the world. Recently, this agency has been shut down by the Executive Branch and there have been claims of waste, fraud, and misappropriation of funds. My hope is that any alleged criminals and wrongdoings could be named and dealt with by the Judicial Branch without ham-handedly dissolving the organization, whose aid amounts to 1% of the US Government budget. Work supported by USAID often makes the difference between life and death.

USAID is not solely altruistic. There is a significant benefit to the US; for example in helping address a deadly disease before it spreads more widely, even to our shores. The CRS website has a frank statement describing the situation they face. They are asking for help from the community by contacting their representatives to draw attention to the value of this funding. This is not political or partisan; it is about putting our Catholic and Salesian values of compassion and kindness into practice.

*I have not used anyone’s real name in this reflection out of privacy concerns. I did intentionally use names to stress that these are real people with names, individuality, identities, personalities, histories, futures.

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