REFUGEE PROGRAM IN GREAT PERIL

Friends,

The information below is quite startling and we are in danger of basically eliminating our USA refugee resettlement program.

 This week, the Trump administration could make the unprecedented decision to “zero out” the US refugee program.  In other words, the president could close the door to any refugees resettled through the US refugee program in the United States in FY 2021. This decision could take place despite the presence of nearly 25 million refugees worldwide in need of protection, of whom less than one percent are resettled to third countries annually. 

Since the formal advent of the US refugee program in the 1970s, the nation has resettled, on average, 95,000 refugees per year.  Since then, 3 million refugees have been resettled through the program and have become contributing members of our nation.

Under current law, the president must issue a presidential determination each year designating the number of refugees the United States will resettle in the upcoming fiscal year, which starts October 1^st.  Last year, the administration set a refugee ceiling of 18,000, the lowest amount ever.  Even so, only about half that total will be resettled this year in the US, a trickle compared to earlier years. 

If the president delays the issuance of a determination until past the beginning of the fiscal year, refugee resettlement halts.  If the president issues a determination with zero as the number—an unprecedented act—the program could stop for the entire fiscal year.  Many of the refugees resettled in 2020 were fleeing religious persecution, including Christian refugees.

The US refugee resettlement program, operated out of the US Department of State, has been a model public-private partnership serving the most vulnerable persons in the world for decades.  Nine non-profit resettlement agencies, including the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in conjunction with Catholic Charities programs around the country, receive refugees and help them integrate into local communities across the nation.   The refugees are expected to become self-sufficient within a year, and many do. 

The program is also safe, as refugees are vetted thoroughly, undergoing multiple security reviews and interviews before arriving in the United States.  Despite the claim by opponents that the program brings in security threats to our nation, there has not been one refugee who came through the program involved in a terrorist attack on US soil.

I have traveled to Africa, the Middle East, and other parts of the world to visit with refugees, and by and large I have found them to be resilient and hard-working people who simply want a chance to live their lives in safety.  They have been forced to leave their homelands because of persecution and wars and have survived horrific situations.  They deserve the protection of our nation, which has been built on the backs of immigrants and refugees.

The Trump administration has done everything it can to weaken the US refugee program and now they want to kill it, despite its success.  This is contrary to President Trump’s pledge to protect Christian refugees during his 2016 campaign.  

Let’s pray that President Trump and his administration do not continue down this road and instead allows this program to keep performing its live-saving work. 

ASH WEDNESDAY & HOLY SPIRIT MIRACLE OF GRACE!

Ash Wednesday is a really busy day for all of us priests because "God's magnet" draws them to Church for ashes.  It's incredible year after year, and regardless of why they are there, the point is they are actually there.  And God's grace, compassion, and mercy reaches all of them in different ways.

Ash Wednesday 2020 was an extraordinary day, and God's compassion and mercy were poured out in ways I have never experienced as a priest.

As with every parish, we had Masses and Services for Ashes from early morning until late at night.  I was at the early Mass helping, and I celebrated the 12:05 pm Mass.  Afterwards, I went to my rooms at the parish and was going to catch up on some desk work before going back later in the afternoon for ashes and Mass.

I sat down at my desk, and quickly this message began coming into my mind:  "Go hear confessions."  I ignored it, and went on with the desk work.  "Go hear confessions" kept coming back.  After a while I went to get a Parish Bulletin to see if we had confessions on Ash Wednesday afternoon.  We did not.

Back to my desk, but this message kept coming:  "Go hear confessions."

Finally, since I couldn't get anything else done, I made up a small sign that said:  "Confessions 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm."  I picked up a spiritual book to read and went over to Church.  Since Ash services were continuing all afternoon, I put on my alb and stole, and went to Our Lady's Chapel where we have a free standing confessional--for anonymous and face to face confessions.

I sat down and picked up my book since I thought no one would be coming.  And that's when the Holy Spirit went to work.

Within five minutes a person came to confession who had been away almost 30 years.  I was astounded at such a sincere and humble confession.  I asked the person how they got here.  The person responded that they had come "to get the ashes," and on the way out saw my small sign.  The Holy Spirit took hold of this person and brought them to confession.

And then, one after another, for three hours the Holy Spirit brought so many people--all who had been away from confession for 10 years or longer.  One after another.  I was spellbound at the grace and action of the Holy Spirit who had obviously called all of these people to receive ashes, and then in a marvelous way, "hijacked" them to confession.

Grace upon grace flowed all three hours.  I was so humbled by God's incredible compassion and mercy to these people, and humbled to be an instrument of Jesus' welcoming forgiveness.

These graces were poured out for three full hours.  I never picked up my book because they never stopped coming.  Miracles of God's limitless love and mercy took place in one long continuum of grace.  

Not a single person came who had been to confession recently.  All had been away for at least a year or more.  

And then at 4:35 pm, the long line of God's grace and mercy ended.  No one else came.

I went back to my residence and directly to the chapel where I sat before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and lifted up prayers of praise and gratitude for the miracles of grace which I had witnessed over those hours.  I sat there for a long time in disbelief, which is the human reaction.  But then I realized this entire afternoon was in God's plan for all of those people, and this was his day to show his love through compassion, and his mercy through forgiveness.

I urge my brother priests to love the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  You never know when at an unexpected moment, the Holy Spirit will prompt you:  "Go and hear confessions."

As Pope Francis has reminded us, "The Name of God is Mercy."

THREE HOURS WITH POPE FRANCIS

Monday, January 27, 2020

We have just concluded an extraordinary three hour private visit with Pope Francis as we begin our Ad Limina visit to Rome.

All of the Bishops of California, Hawaii, and Nevada shared their own pastoral experiences, and had a wonderful of exchange with Pope Francis.  We shared our hopes, our challenges, our joys, and our anxieties as we serve our various Arch/Dioceses in this era of history.

Sitting with the Pope in this setting felt like being with a beloved grandfather, a beloved friend who himself had been through the same struggles and hopes as we had.  He was so open, warm, welcoming, and invited us to share anything that we wished with him.

Pope Francis had the ability to listen carefully, ponder our views, and to respond in a kindly manner.  His demeanor and thoughtfulness truly reflected the mode of discernment which St. Ignatius of Loyola taught his fellow Jesuit followers.  The movement of the Holy Spirit needs to be discerned and recognized throughout our ministry.       

His insights about the world and the Church revealed his profound knowledge of the complexities of life across the broad spectrum of countries.  He expressed sadness over the sufferings and pain so many peoples endure daily, while always lifting up the hope which Jesus proclaimed and called us to live out.

The Successor of Peter truly carried out his role of "confirming his brothers in faith" and giving us courage to continue forward despite difficulties and even opposition from the culture.

 It was not the list of topics that was so impressive; rather, the openness of Pope Francis to listen to our faith journeys, our pastoral hopes, and to gently offer his own insights from his long ministry in Argentina.  The topics included the best efforts to bring Jesus to people living in our culture which at times seems so hostile to commitments and to making sacrifices for others.  The longing of young people, the challenges of family life in a cyber society, how to create unity among our people in their parishes, and similar topics were met with openness and collegial response.

Pope Francis is fond of the idea of "closeness" in our lives:  first, our closeness with Jesus day by day, and our closeness with brothers and sisters to Jesus.

He urged us to foster deeply "four aspects of closeness":  our closeness to Jesus through daily prayer and reflection, our closeness to our brother priests and all who minister with us, our closeness to each other as those called to shepherd God's people,  and our closeness to brother Bishops around the world in a new and vital unity.

An extraordinary and memorable day with Pope Francis!!  Surely one of the finest Ad Limina visits I have ever experienced!!

Viva Pope Francis!!