JustMatters – Crossing Borders: Migration, Theology, and the Human Journey

Immigration is a complex issue that is reshaping the cultural, economic and political landscape of the planet. The Crossing Borders: Migration, Theology, and the Human Journey module offers the opportunity for prayer, reading and reflection as well as discussion and discovery related to this critical and controversial issue of our day.

Each group in the immigration debate makes rightful claims to issues like economic stability, American jobs, cultural integrity, fiscal constraints, national security, human rights, property rights, labor rights, law and order, and so on. Yet, the Bible reminds us that the debates surrounding immigration are first of all about human beings who are made in the image and likeness of God. Policy debates, statistics, spreadsheets, and economic outcomes have their place in the debate, but without considering the human costs surrounding migration we have an impoverished sense of the core issues at stake and a diminished sense of our own place in the world.

This eight session module provides participants a chance to find common ground and to discover more about themselves, their values, our God and the millions of people who are on the move in every part of the world.

Crossing Borders provides participants a chance to find common ground and to discover more about themselves, their values, our God and the millions of people who are on the move in every part of the world. It is an introductory study consisting of eight, 2 ½ hours sessions and covers the following topics:

The Contemporary Debate and Public Policy
 History of Migration
The Bible and Migration
 Foundations of Migration – Root Causes
Migration and Catholic Social Teaching
Slavery in America
The Human Face of the Migrant
Eucharist and a Theology of Migration

The sessions will be facilitated by Beverly LaBelle, staff member at Blessed Sacrament, and Bill Pickett from St. Mary’s. It is open to parishioners at all three partner parishes. The sessions will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 till 9:00 and will begin on September 26. Sessions will be held at Blessed Sacrament.  For more information, use the contact form below.