Sharing Life and Dignity in Christ Our Peace was the title of a recent bi-national gathering of Church leaders, clergy, religious, and laity from the Arizona-Mexico borderland region. CRS Southwest along with CRS Mexico gathered with over forty participants from Dioceses without Borders –a tri-diocesan pastoral initiative of Tucson, Phoenix, and the archdiocese of Hermosillo, MX.- and Manos Unidas, a bi-national farm worker ministry to listen and share stories of the social reality of communities living along the US/ Mexico border in Arizona.
The agenda included presentations on Peacebuilding and Mission in the 21st Century by Fr. William R. Headley, dean of the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at University of San Diego, and Mysticism and Social Justice on the Border by Anna Alicia Chavez of CRS SW.
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Bishop G. Kicanas of Tucson
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Archbishop U. Macias of Hermosillo, MX. |
Hermosillo’s Archbishop, Ulysses Macias Salcedo presented a prayerful reflection on the pastoral letter by Mexican Bishops entitled, Que en Cristo Nuestra Paz Mexico tenga Vida Digna (That Mexico may have Life with Dignity in Christ Our Peace). In this document the bishops address the growing violence in their society and speak of the need to work for a culture of peace. The bishops acknowledge that the dream of a more just society can become a reality through nationwide peacebuilding efforts where the Church is committed to build just relationships among all people and institutions. The bishops call for a reformation of the country’s legal and justice system which currently has a 97% impunity rate, reconciliation and healing for the thousands of families who are grieving the murders of their loved ones, advocacy for more just legislation, and a revival of the faith through evangelization and catechesis for all Catholics in order to build the new Mexico where all of Mexico may live with dignity.
Bishop Kicanas followed with a response to, stressing the need to work together as one Church with a unified voice in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Mexico. CRS Mexico’s Head of Office, Lynette Asselin also presented a sketch of their 3-year work plan highlighting their commitment to work with the Bishops on their peacebuilding efforts. At the end of the second day, Bishop Kicanas celebrated mass with the group along with worshiping community of Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in Nogales, Senora.
There was a great desire to strengthen the relationships and networking capacity between the various groups represented. Their hope is for a more cohesive effort among them to help bring about greater relief to the pervasive suffering of the immigrants and their families with whom they live and care for. Their stories recounted the widespread human rights violations, the growing violence, and fear of the “other” witnessed in their communities. The most common concern was the growing disintegration of the family unit, due in large part to the deportations of one or both parents which is leaving many families in crisis. The meeting resulted in an agreement to focus specifically on the issue of separation of family members and in the coming months the group will work to identify a more concrete plan of action.
-Anna Alicia Chavez, CRS SW
published in the November-December CRS US Partner Maier
