“remember, you too were once strangers”...cantor to lead: come and fill our hearts, by jacques...

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“Remember, You Too Were Once Strangers”

ASOLIDARITYVIGILFORREFUGEESNOTES

• AdaptedtorespondtorecentU.S.Administrationexecutiveordersandpolicychangesaffectingmigrantsandrefugees.TheadvocacyaskandsomeofthetalkingpointsareupdatedfromtheoriginalversionofthisSolidarityVigilreleasedFall2016.

• PleasefeelfreetousethisVigilresourceinitsentirety,oryoucanalsoadaptit,reviseit,orshortenittofitintoanothereventorspecifictimeframe.

• [email protected].

MATERIALS

• Audio-visualequipment

• Internetaccess(forvideosandletterwriting)

• Basketslargeenoughtocollectletters(ifsigninghandwrittenletters)

• Bible,opentoMatthew2:13–14,16

• 2–4largecandles

• Candleforeachparticipant

• Copiesofthissolidarityvigilforleader,cantor,readersandpersonmanagingPowerPoint

• Copiesofthe2-pagedletterstoyourmembersofCongress(seelastpagesofthisdocument)ORparticipantscanusesmartphonesorlaptopstoelectronicallysignusingthislink.

• Lighterormatches

• Musicforsongs,“ComeandFillOurHearts,”and“OLord,HearOurPrayer,”byJacquesBerthier,TaizéCommunity

• Pensforparticipants(ifsigninghandwrittenletters)

• PowerPointPresentationforimagesandvisuals:“Remember,YouTooWereOnceStrangers”

o DownloadPPTversionofPowerPoint

o DownloadPDFversionofPowerPoint

mailto:[email protected]://secure.crs.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=963&_ga=1.29090367.2063296771.1482266185https://www.giamusic.com/search_details.cfm?title_id=4696http://university.crs.org/sites/default/files/Refugee Vigil Power Point.pptxhttp://university.crs.org/sites/default/files/Refugee Vigil Power Point.pdf

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PREPARATION

• InviteandpreparecantortoleadtheTaizésongs,“ComeandFillOurHearts,”and“OLord,HearOurPrayer.”Preparesongsheetswithlyricsandmakeavailabletoparticipants.

• Setupthevigilspace:o Lightthelargecandlesandputtherestofthecandlesaroundtheminacentralspaceinfront

oftheroom/church.o Placebasketsnearthecandles(ifsigninghandwrittenletters)o TestPowerPointpresentationandvideo.o PlaceaBibleandonecopyofthissolidarityvigilatthepodiumorlectern.o PutcopiesofthelettertoCongressandpensateachseatorpew(ifsigninghandwritten

letters).• Selectandprepareoneleaderandsevenreaders:

o Giveeachreaderacopyofthissolidarityvigilwiththeirparthighlighted.o Option:Insteadofhavingonereaderleadthe“RefugeesinScripturereflection”sectionat

thelectern,invitesevenpeopletoeachreadoneoftheexcerpts.Directthemtobeseatedthroughoutthecongregation,andtostandandreadtheirpartsattheappropriatetime.

• PreparesomeonetoclickthroughthePowerPointpresentationasinstructedintheprayerservice.• BepreparedtoinstructparticipantstoidentifytheirmembersofCongressforlettersigning(if

signinghandwrittenletters)ortoinstructparticipantstosigntheonlineletteratthislink(whichcanalsobenavigatedtoviahttp://university.crs.org/migration.)o ParticipantswillneedtoaccesstheInternet.Youcaneithersetuplaptops/tabletsconnectedto

Wi-Fiorrelyonparticipantstousetheirsmartphones.o Forhand-writtenletters

o Makecopiesofthelettersastheyarefromtheendofthisdocumentforeachparticipant.Eachparticipantwillneedthreeletters:oneforeachoftheirtwosenatorsandonefortheirrepresentative.Notethatthelettersare2pagesandcanbeprintedfront-back.

o Duringtheevent,youwillshowparticipantshowtoidentifytheirsenatorsandrepresentative,andhowtoaddresstheletters.Theywillcompletetheletterswiththedateoftheeventandthenameofyouruniversity,andotherinformation

o Duringtheletter-writingsection,offertoshowparticipantshowtofindtheirmembersofCongressonlineatconfrontglobalpoverty.com/toolkit,usingthe“Findyourdistrict”buttonunderthesectionlabeled“MeetwithCongress.”AskthemtoentertheirZIPcodewhenprompted.Aftertheyenterit,thenamesoftheirtwosenatorsandrepresentativewillpopup.Theyshouldwritethefullnamesoftheirsenatorsandrepresentativeatthetopoftheletter.

https://www.giamusic.com/search_details.cfm?title_id=4696https://www.giamusic.com/search_details.cfm?title_id=4696https://secure.crs.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=963&_ga=1.29090367.2063296771.1482266185http://donate.crs.org/site/PageNavigator/Action Center/find_repEnglish2016.html?

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o Yourletterswillhavethemostimpactiftheyarehanddeliveredtolocaloffices.CheckoutthesetipsonhowtosetupameetingwithyourmemberofCongress.And,afteryourvisit,letCatholicsConfrontGlobalPovertyknowyouhadameetingandhowitwent.

o Ifyoucan’thanddelivertheletterstomembers,it’sbesttomailthemtotheirlocalordistrictoffices.Ifyouaremailingletterstoseveralstatesand/ordistricts,besuretomailthelettersseparatelytoeachsenatorandrepresentative.Youcanfindsenators’addressesbyvisitingwww.senate.gov,andrepresentativesbyvisitingwww.house.gov.

o Ithelpstosendalongacopyofanypresscoverageofthesolidarityvigilalongwiththeletters.Also,besuretofollowupwitheachmemberofCongressyousentalettertosoyou’llknowwhethertheyreceivedit.

• ReadandfeelfreetoprintanddistributeCRSStatementsontheAdministration’sExecutiveOrdersregardingmigrantsandrefugees.

o FindthemostupdatedStatementsanddocumentsonour“IamMigration”pageatuniversity.crs.org/migration.BelowaretwoexamplesfromlateJanuary:

i. CRSStatementonU.S.-MexicoBorderWall(January25,2017)ii. CRSStatementonMigrationBan(January27,2017)

http://www.confrontglobalpoverty.org/act/toolkit/#congresshttp://www.confrontglobalpoverty.org/act/toolkit/#congresshttp://www.confrontglobalpoverty.org/act/toolkit/district-visit-form/http://www.senate.govhttp://www.house.govhttp://university.crs.org/migrationhttp://www.crs.org/media-center/news-release/crs-questions-border-wall-proposal-citing-us%E2%80%99-moral-responsibility-protecthttp://www.crs.org/media-center/news-release/head-of-crs-reacts

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CUEPOWERPOINTSLIDE1.

Welcomeandopeningprayer

LEADER:Wegathertogetherinsolidaritywithrefugeeswhohavefledtheirhomecountriestoseekabetterlifeforthemselvesandtheirfamilies.Wewillprayforrefugees,listentotheirstoriesandacttogethertoaskourgovernmentleaderstosupportthembyensuringwelcomeforrefugeesandmigrants.Itisespeciallyimportantforustobetogetherincommunity,toorganizeourselvesandourcampusandtomakeourvoicesevenstrongerinsupportofmigrantsandrefugeesastheU.S.AdministrationreleasesExecutiveOrdersandpoliciesthatarenotinlinewithourCatholicandAmericanvaluesofthesacrednessanddignityofhumanlife.WeknowthatthoseseekingrefugeintheU.S.andelsewherearevictims,oftenofterrorism,violenceandpoverty,andthatourcountrywasfoundedasanationofimmigrantsandrefugees.Aswebeginthissolidarityvigil,werememberthatthroughoutScripture,Godhasgivenusexamplestofollow.Godstoodwithrefugees,eventothepointofbecomingarefugeehimself,inthepersonofJesus.Andsowepray…

InthenameoftheFather,andoftheSon,andoftheHolySpirit…

GodofourWanderingAncestors,LonghaveweknownThatyourheartiswiththerefugee:ThatyouwerebornintotimeInafamilyofrefugeesFleeingviolenceintheirhomeland,WhothengathereduptheirhungrychildAndfledintoaliencountry.Theircry,yourcry,resoundsthroughtheages:“Willyouletmein?”Giveusheartsthatbreakopen

Whenourbrothersandsistersturntouswiththatsamecry.

Thensurelyallthesethingswillfollow:Earswillnolongerturndeaftotheirvoices.Eyeswillseeamomentforgraceinsteadofathreat.Tongueswillnotbesilencedbutwillinsteadadvocate.Andhandswillreachout—workingforpeaceintheirhomelands,workingforjusticeinthelandswheretheyseeksafehaven.Lord,protectallrefugeesintheirtravels.MaytheyfindafriendinmeAndsomakemeworthyoftherefugeIhavefoundinyou.

Amen

Openingsong

CANTORTOLEAD:ComeandFillOurHearts,byJacquesBerthier,TaizéCommunity

https://www.giamusic.com/search_details.cfm?title_id=4696

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Gospelreading

READERONE:AreadingfromtheGospelofMatthew:

When[themagi]haddeparted,behold,theangeloftheLordappearedtoJosephinadreamandsaid,“Rise,takethechildandhismother,fleetoEgypt,andstaythereuntilItellyou.Herodisgoingtosearchforthechildtodestroyhim.”JosephroseandtookthechildandhismotherbynightanddepartedforEgypt…WhenHerodrealizedthathehadbeendeceivedbythemagi,hebecamefurious.HeorderedthemassacreofalltheboysinBethlehemanditsvicinitytwoyearsoldandunder,inaccordancewiththetimehehadascertainedfromthemagi.

TheGospeloftheLord,

RESPONSE:PraisetoYou,LordJesusChrist.

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CUEPOWERPOINTSLIDE3

RefugeesinScripturereflection

LEADER:WewilllistennowtopassagesthroughoutScripturethatgiveveryclearinstructionsabouthowweshouldtreattherefugee—or“alien”or“stranger”—amongus.Afterapassageisread,wewillsaytogether:Remember,youtoowereoncestrangersinthelandofEgypt.

Note:Oneoptionistodividethepassagesamong7readersandinvitethemtositscatteredthroughoutthecongregationandstandtoreadtheirparts.

READERTWO:Youshallnotoppressaresidentalien;youwellknowhowitfeelstobeanalien,sinceyouwereoncealiensyourselvesinthelandofEgypt.(Exodus23:9)

RESPONSE:Remember,youtoowereoncestrangersinthelandofEgypt.

READERTWO:Cursedbeanyonewhodeprivestheresidentalien,theorphanorthewidowofjustice!Andallthepeopleshallanswer,“Amen!”(Deuteronomy27:19)


READERTWO:Youshallhavebutonerule,foralienandnative-bornalike.I,theLORD,amyourGod.(Leviticus24:22)


READERTWO:Iwilldrawneartoyouforjudgment,andIwillbeswifttobearwitnessagainstsorcerers,adulterers,andperjurers,thosewhodeprivealaborerofwages,oppressawidoworanorphan,orturnasidearesident

alien,withoutfearingme,saystheLORDofhosts.(Malachi3:5)


READERTWO:Listentomyprayer,LORD,hearmycry;donotbedeaftomyweeping!ForIamwithyoulikeaforeigner,arefugee,likemyancestors.(Psalms39:13)


READERTWO:Sothenyouarenolongerstrangersandsojourners,butyouarefellowcitizenswiththeholyonesandmembersofthehouseholdofGod.(Ephesians2:19)


READERTWO:Donotneglecthospitality,forthroughitsomehaveunknowinglyentertainedangels.(Hebrews13:2)


LEADER:Werememberthejourneyofourancestorsinfaith,theIsraelites,whofledfromEgyptwithMosestoescapeslavery.GodstoodwiththeIsraelites,protectingthemfromPharaoh,andwhentheyfledEgypttheybecamestrangersinanewland.

GodidentifieswiththerefugeeevenmorestronglyinthestoryoftheHolyFamily.Jesus,theSonofGod,becamearefugeechildwhenMaryandJosephdepartedbynightwithhimandleftIsraelforEgypt.TheyescapedfromIsraeltoavoidthewrathofKingHerod,whoorderedthemassacreofallboys2yearsoldandyounger.Today,aswehearabouttherefugeeswhoarefleeingtheMiddleEast,letusrememberthestoryofthesedesperateparents,

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whofledwiththeirinfantchild,andwhatbelongingstheyhad,toseeksafety.

ThejourneyoftheIsraelitesfleeingEgypt,oftheHolyFamilyescapingHerod,andoftherefugeesleavingSyriatodaycanfeellikedistantstoriesthathavenobearingonourlives.Toenkindlesolidarityinourhearts,weneedtoremindourselvesconstantlythatthesestoriesarereal—thatmen,womenandchildrenwithnamesandlives,hopesandfears,aresufferingatthisverymoment.WewillnowlistentosomeoftheaccountsofrefugeeswhohavemadeittoEurope.Aswelisten,wepraythatGodwillopenourheartsandmoveustowardcompassionateaction.

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Sharingthestories

READERTHREE:TheBasheerfamilyfledSyriawhenabombdestroyedtheirhome.Luckily,KhaledBasheer,hiswife,andthreechildrensurvived.Twoofthemareshowninthisphoto.

“Canyoureallysaywewerelucky?”Khaledasks.“Wehadtoliveinatentinthesuburbsofourhometown,Aleppo,fromthenon—formorethan1year.Andwewerefrightenedeverysingleminute,everydayandeverynight.”

TheBasheersfearedmorebombattacks.Theyheardexplosionsandgunfirenearlyeveryday.“Wewerealsoveryfrightenedofanattackbythe[IslamicState].Weheardsuchhorriblestories[about]howcruellytheykillinnocentpeopleandrapewomenandyounggirls,”Khaledsays.

AtarefugeecampinSerbia,theyexpressedtheirhopetomakeittoGermany.“Daddypromisedwewillgetanicehomethere,”8-year-oldOmamasays.“Andhesaidtherewillbegoodpeoplethere.”

KhaledwasaconstructionworkerinSyria.Hesayshe’susedtoworkinghardandwantstodothatagaintoprovidethatnicehome.

Omamasometimestellsherfatherthatshefeelshomesick.Hisreply:“Howcanyoufeelhomesickwhenthereisnohomeanylonger?”

READERFOUR:TheSyriancivilwarhasledtothedisplacementofmorethan11millionpeopleoverthepast5years.That’smorethanhalfthecountry’spre-warpopulation.Andthatnumbercontinuestogroweveryday.

ThenumberofrefugeesandmigrantsinEuropesurpassed1millionasofDecember2015.

Refugeefamiliesneedfood,water,sanitation,protectionfromtheelementsandlegaladvice.

CUEPOWERPOINTSLIDE5.READERFIVE:AbdalkarimZahraarrivedinSerbiaaftermakingthetreacherousjourneyfromTurkey,wherehehadspent2yearsafterfleeinghishomeinSyria.ThenationalarmyofBasharal-Assadwastryingtorecruithim.“Ideserted,”hesays.“I’masensitiveman.Icouldneverhurt,letalonekill,someone.”

ZahraworkedinashoerepairshopinTurkeyfor2years,thenheadedtoEuropeinsearchofabetterlife.

“Iwalkedsomanyroads,”hesays.“Icrossedsomanyrivers.Iwentoversomanyhillsandvalleys.Ilostmyhome,mybelongings,literallyeverything.”

Zahraisonly26,yethesaysheis“totallyfinished.”

HisjourneytookhimfromTurkeythroughGreeceandMacedoniatoSerbia.Smugglerstookallhismoney.HewaspushedintoanovercrowdedboattoreachGreece.HehasbeenkickedbyborderpoliceandhasstayedinthreedifferentcampsinSerbiaalone.

“CanIstillbecalledahuman?”heasks.

READERFOUR:SeventypercentofrefugeeswhofledtoEuropecamethroughGreecein2015.ThesearoutetakenbymostrefugeesfromTurkeytoGreeceisperilous.Yetrefugeescontinueriskingtheirlivestoreachsafehavens.Some2,000SyriansdrownedintheMediterraneanattemptingtoreachEuropeanshores.Othershavebecomevictimsoftrafficking,aresubjectedtoabuseenroute,orboth.Somespendtheirlifesavingsortakeonmassivedebtforanewstart.

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CUEPOWERPOINTSLIDE6.READERSIX:Malak,ayoungSyrianwomanwhofledherhomeinAleppoacoupleofyearsago,hasbeenworkingasateacherinTurkey.

“Itwasalwaysmydreamtobeateacher,”shesays.“But,thisdreamistobewithchildrenbackinAleppo.”

Instead,sheisteachingSyrianchildrenwho,likeher,havelosttheirhomesandarelivingasrefugees.Manyaretraumatizedbytheviolencethey’vewitnessed.

“Atfirstthechildrenwouldsitbythemselves,alone,inacorner,”Malaksays.“Now,theyarenolongerscreamingorshouting[infear].”“Atfirst,everysinglechildwoulddrawplanesorgunsortanks,”shesays.“Wewanttogivethesechildrenspacetomoveandfeelfree.”

OneoftheactivitiesMalakdoeswithherstudentsistostartastoryandthenletthechildrencontinueit,eachaddingsomething.

“Theylovetocreateastorywithahappyending,”shesays.

READERFOUR:Halfofthe65millionpeopledisplacedgloballytodayarechildren,andthis“lostgeneration”couldspendtheirentirechildhoodwithoutaplacetocallhome.ManySyrianrefugeechildrenaredealingwiththeimpactsofdistress,traumaandgrief.

Educationisalsoanurgentneed.Ithelpsgivekidsasenseofnormalcyandroutine.Plus,thelongerachildisoutofschool,thelesslikelyheorsheistoeverreturn.

Butgoingbacktoschoolisachallenge.Asrefugees,childrenfacelanguagebarriersandlongdistancesfromgovernmentschools.Identitypapersareoftenneededtoenrollinschool,butmanyfamiliesfledSyriaata

moment’snotice,withouttimetograbtheirbelongings.


LEADER:Aswelistentothesestories,itiseasytofeelsimultaneouslymovedandoverwhelmed.Theneedsarevast:Wewanttohelp,butwheredowestart?

TheCatholicChurchintheUnitedStateshasbeenworkingtirelesslytohelptheBasheerfamily,Zahra,andMalak—andoveramillionotherrefugees.InEurope,wherethenumbersofrefugeeshavesurgedinthepastyear,CatholicReliefServicesisteamingwith10localpartnersinEuropetoprovidefoodandreliefassistance,aswellasshelter,sanitation,medicalcareandtranslationservices.CRSistheofficialinternationalhumanitarianorganizationoftheCatholicChurchintheUnitedStates.Withaccesstoalarge,committednetworkofthousandsofpeoplefromdifferentfaiths,CRSisabletorespondquicklyandadaptourresponsetotheneedsfacingrefugees.

WewillnowwatchashortvideothatoffersasnapshotoftheCatholicChurch’sresponsetotherefugeecrisisthroughCRS.

PLAYVIDEO:Miriam’sStory:FindingHopeinEducationonCRS’YouTubechannel,usingthelinkinPowerPointslide8.

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LetterwritingLEADER:PopeFrancishassaid,“Anauthenticfaith–whichisnevercomfortableorcompletelypersonal–alwaysinvolvesadeepdesiretochangetheworld,totransmitvalues,toleavethisearthsomehowbetterthatwefoundit…Ifindeed‘thejustorderingofsocietyandofthestateisacentralresponsibilityofpolitics,’theChurch‘cannotandmustnotremainonthesidelinesinthefightforjustice’”(EvangeliiGaudium,no.183).WecanputourfaithinactionandcareforrefugeesinourmidstbycontributingtotheworkoforganizationslikeCatholicReliefServices,byvolunteeringtosupportlocalagenciesthatassistrefugeesinourowncommunities,andbyusingourpowerthroughourdemocracy,whereourvoicematters.Wecanaskourgovernmenttodoallinitspowertohelporganizationsmeettheimmediateneedsofrefugeesandtoendtheviolencethatforcespeopletoflee.

[Ifyouarenotdoinghandwrittenlettersandareratherhavingfolksusetheirphonesforelectronicletters,pleaseadapttheinstructionsaccordingly.TheonlinelinkwilldirectpeopletoaletterthatwillgototheirSenators,theirRepresentativeandPresidentTrump.]

Therearethreelettersonyourseat:oneforeachofyoursenatorsandoneforyourrepresentative.We’reaskingCongresstodomoretohelprefugeesbyopposingproposedrestrictionsonrefugeeadmissionstotheU.S.ItasksCongressspecificallytoprotecttheU.S.Refugeeprogram,particularlytoadmitthe110,000refugeesscheduledtoarrivein2017andtocontinuetoallowSyrianrefugeesintoourcountry.OurmessagetoCongressalsoemphasizestheneedtoendtotheviolence,andtoencourageeffortstobuildinclusivesocietiesinSyriaandIraqthatwillprotecttherightsofallcitizens.

Itmakesadifferencewhenweliftupourvoicestogether,butit’salsoimportantthatyoupersonalizeyourmessagetoyourmembersofCongress.Iinviteyoutotakeafewmomentstoedittheletterbyaddingyourname,afewlinesaboutwhythisissueisimportanttoyou,andyoursignatureandhomemailingaddress.Pleasealsofillintheblanksaboutthisevent,notingthenameofourinstitution,yourrolehere,etc.Afteryousigntheletter,placeitinoneofthebaskets(atthefrontof/aroundthe)churchandtakealightedcandlebacktoyourseat.Pleasebeginsigningthelettersaswesingtogether.

Note:Pleaseadapttheseinstructionsasneeded.IfasmallgroupofpeopleishanddeliveringtheletterstolocalCongressionaloffices,besuretosharethatwiththegathering.Iffolksaresigningelectronicletters,justaskthemtocomeuptotakeacandleafterthey’vesigned,eventhoughtheywon’tbedroppinglettersoffintothebasket.IfyouareaskingparticipantstofindtheirmembersofCongress:CUEPOWERPOINTSLIDE8.Directparticipantstousetheirsmartphonesorlaptops/tabletstoaccessthewebsiteontheslideandaskthemtoclickonthe“Find”buttontoentertheirZIPcodeandidentifytheirsenatorsandrepresentative.

CANTOR:Lead“ComeandFillOurHearts,”byJacquesBerthier,TaizéCommunity,duringlettersigning.

Onceeveryoneisholdingalightedcandle,dimthelights.

https://secure.crs.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=963&_ga=1.29090367.2063296771.1482266185https://www.giamusic.com/search_details.cfm?title_id=4696

228W.LexingtonStreet,Baltimore,MD21201Formoreinformation,visitcrs.org©2016CatholicReliefServices.AllRightsReserved.

CUEPOWERPOINTSLIDE9

ClosingpetitionsandprayerSONG:OLord,HearMyPrayer,byJacquesBerthier,TaizéCommunity.Note:Theresponsetothepetitionswillbeledbyacantor.

LEADER:Thisroomisnowlitbyourcollectionofcandles.Whilenosinglecandlecouldofferenoughlightonitsown,theeffectofallofthelighttogetheristohelpilluminatethedarkness.Wekeepthisinmindaswecontinuetostandinsolidaritywithrefugees.Aswecloseoursolidarityvigil,wekeepourcandleslit,andweofferoneamplifiedprayerandsong.

READERSEVEN:Ourresponsetothepetitionswillbesung.Wesingtogether:

CANTOR/ALL:OLord,hearmyprayer,OLord,hearmyprayer.WhenIcall,answerme.OLord,hearmyprayer,OLord,hearmyprayer.Comeandlistentome.

READERSEVEN:Forrefugeesallovertheworld:thattheirimmediateneedsforfood,shelterandsafetywillbemetandthattheywillalsobegiventheopportunitytofindwork,puttheirchildreninschool,andforgeanewwayforward,wepray:

CANTOR/ALL:OLord,hearmyprayer…

READERSEVEN:ForanendtotheviolencecausedbyreligiousextremismintheMiddleEast,andthatthecountrieswreckedbywarwillbeabletorebuildapeacefulsociety,wepray:


READERSEVEN:Forallthosepeoplewhohavediedcaughtinthecrossfireofwar,orontheirjourneyoutofSyriatoescapetheviolence,thattheymayrestinGod’seternallove,wepray:


READERSEVEN:ThatworldleaderswillworktogethertohelpendtheviolenceintheMiddleEastandtoaddresstheneedsofthemen,women,andchildrenwhoarefloodingoutofSyriaandIraqintoothercountries,wepray:


READERSEVEN:Forallofusgatheredhere,thatwewillcommittobuildingacultureofradicalhospitalitybyurgingourfamily,friendsandcommunitytoopenourheartsandourdoorstorefugeesinneed,wepray:


READERSEVEN:Godofallpeople,throughouthistory,wehavewitnessedhowyourheartmoveswithcompassionforthestranger.Wepraythatwewillembracetherefugeeasyouhave,andthatwewillneverallowindifferenceorfeartoextinguishthelightoflove.Senduswithyourspiritaswegoouttobringyourcompassionatelovetoothers.Inyournamewepray,Amen.[Allextinguishcandles.]

https://www.giamusic.com/search_details.cfm?title_id=4696

228W.LexingtonStreet,Baltimore,MD21201Formoreinformation,visitcrs.org

TheHonorable____________________________UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativesAddress:__________________________________________________________________________________________DearRepresentative________________________________,Mynameis________________________________andIamwritingtourgeyoutoprotecttheU.S.Refugeeprogram,particularlytoadmitthe110,000refugeesscheduledtoarrivein2017andtocontinueallowingSyrianadmissions.IstandwithCatholicReliefServicesandtheUnitedStatesConferenceofCatholicBishopsinaskingyounottosuspendthearrivalofrefugeestotheUnitedStates,tonotstoptheadmissionofSyrianrefugees,tomaintainthecommitmenttoadmit110,000refugees,andtoconsultwithpeopleonthegroundregardinganypossiblysafehavensinSyriaortheregion.CatholicReliefServicesandtheUnitedStatesConferenceofCatholicBishopshaveextensiveexperienceworkingwithrefugeesaroundtheworld,assistinginrefugeecampsandwelcomingthemintheUnitedStates.Refugeesarenottheperpetratorsofviolence.Theyareitsvictimsoftenatthehandsofthesameterroristsfromwhomwemustprotectourselves.Theyneedourhelp,notourhostility.CRSstaffmetafatherinSerbiawhoswamtoEuropewithhistwo-and-ahalf-yearyoungdaughterclingingtohisneck.AsCatholicsandChristians,wehaveamoralobligationtooffershelterandassistancetoourbrothersandsistersinChrist,toaffordthemrefuge.AsaCatholic,IsupportrefugeesbecauseofmyvaluesandagreewithPopeFrancis:"Theremustbenofamilywithoutahome,norefugeewithoutawelcome,nopersonwithoutdignity...."Aspeopleoffaithwemustactandsendapositivemessagetothosearoundtheworldwhoaresuffering.InMatthew25,Jesusisasked,"Whendidweseeyouastrangerandwelcomeyou?"Jesusreplied,"Amen,Isaytoyou,whateveryoudidforoneoftheseleastones,youdidforme."Iaskthatwefollowthisexampleandwelcomethestranger,notturnthemaway.TheU.S.governmenthasanobligationtoprotectthesecurityoftheAmericanpeople.Iwelcomeeffortstoensurevettingissecure,butbelievethiscanbeachievedwithoutsuspendingandcuttingadmissionsandwithoutbarringwholenationalities.Withmorethan21millionrefugeesaroundtheglobe,nowisnotthetimefortheUnitedStatestoretreatfromourgloballeadershiptoprotectandwelcomerefugees.


Thankyouforyourconsiderationofmyconcernsforrefugeefamilies.Asa___________________at

___________________,Iamlearningaboutthisissueandhowtohelpourbrothersandsistersinneed.

On____/____/____wehostedasolidarityvigilformembersofourcommunitytopray,learnabout

andadvocateonbehalfoftherefugeecrisis.

Icareaboutthisissuepersonallybecause

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Ournationhasanincredibleopportunitytodowhatisrightandmerciful.Again,Iaskyoutodoeverythingyoucanto:-stopissuanceoftheproposedexecutiveorder;-notsuspendrefugeeadmissionstotheUnitedStates;-notreducerefugeeadmissionsforFiscalYear2017from110,000to50,000;and-ensureconsultationwithstakeholders,includinghumanitarianorganizations,beforeimplementinganysafehavensinSyriaandtheregion.Thankyouforhearingmyconcerns.Sincerely,________________________________Address:_____________________________________________________________________________________

228W.LexingtonStreet,Baltimore,MD21201Formoreinformation,visitcrs.org

TheHonorable____________________________UnitedStatesSenateAddress:__________________________________________________________________________________________DearSenator________________________________,Mynameis________________________________andIamwritingtourgeyoutoprotecttheU.S.Refugeeprogram,particularlytoadmitthe110,000refugeesscheduledtoarrivein2017andtocontinueallowingSyrianadmissions.IstandwithCatholicReliefServicesandtheUnitedStatesConferenceofCatholicBishopsinaskingyounottosuspendthearrivalofrefugeestotheUnitedStates,tonotstoptheadmissionofSyrianrefugees,tomaintainthecommitmenttoadmit110,000refugees,andtoconsultwithpeopleonthegroundregardinganypossiblysafehavensinSyriaortheregion.CatholicReliefServicesandtheUnitedStatesConferenceofCatholicBishopshaveextensiveexperienceworkingwithrefugeesaroundtheworld,assistinginrefugeecampsandwelcomingthemintheUnitedStates.Refugeesarenottheperpetratorsofviolence.Theyareitsvictimsoftenatthehandsofthesameterroristsfromwhomwemustprotectourselves.Theyneedourhelp,notourhostility.CRSstaffmetafatherinSerbiawhoswamtoEuropewithhistwo-and-ahalf-yearyoungdaughterclingingtohisneck.AsCatholicsandChristians,wehaveamoralobligationtooffershelterandassistancetoourbrothersandsistersinChrist,toaffordthemrefuge.AsaCatholic,IsupportrefugeesbecauseofmyvaluesandagreewithPopeFrancis:"Theremustbenofamilywithoutahome,norefugeewithoutawelcome,nopersonwithoutdignity...."Aspeopleoffaithwemustactandsendapositivemessagetothosearoundtheworldwhoaresuffering.InMatthew25,Jesusisasked,"Whendidweseeyouastrangerandwelcomeyou?"Jesusreplied,"Amen,Isaytoyou,whateveryoudidforoneoftheseleastones,youdidforme."Iaskthatwefollowthisexampleandwelcomethestranger,notturnthemaway.TheU.S.governmenthasanobligationtoprotectthesecurityoftheAmericanpeople.Iwelcomeeffortstoensurevettingissecure,butbelievethiscanbeachievedwithoutsuspendingandcuttingadmissionsandwithoutbarringwholenationalities.Withmorethan21millionrefugeesaroundtheglobe,nowisnotthetimefortheUnitedStatestoretreatfromourgloballeadershiptoprotectandwelcomerefugees.


Thankyouforyourconsiderationofmyconcernsforrefugeefamilies.Asa___________________at

___________________,Iamlearningaboutthisissueandhowtohelpourbrothersandsistersinneed.

On____/____/____wehostedasolidarityvigilformembersofourcommunitytopray,learnabout

andadvocateonbehalfoftherefugeecrisis.

Icareaboutthisissuepersonallybecause

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Ournationhasanincredibleopportunitytodowhatisrightandmerciful.Again,Iaskyoutodoeverythingyoucanto:-stopissuanceoftheproposedexecutiveorder;-notsuspendrefugeeadmissionstotheUnitedStates;-notreducerefugeeadmissionsforFiscalYear2017from110,000to50,000;and-ensureconsultationwithstakeholders,includinghumanitarianorganizations,beforeimplementinganysafehavensinSyriaandtheregion.Thankyouforhearingmyconcerns.Sincerely,________________________________Address:_____________________________________________________________________________________

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“remember, you too were once strangers”...cantor to lead: come and fill our hearts, by jacques...

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