The Children of Immigrants, Aliens in the Land

It isn’t often that your average Catholic digs in to Leviticus (one of those Old Testament books that is near the front of your Bible and rather dense reading). I find that when I go into the text, it is full of archaic details that seem so useless to today’s society; after all, many passages focus on the idol worship and sacrifices of long dead civilizations and religions. Yet, the text remains and remains a part of our canon of scripture. There must be something there for us…

Tucked into the section on legal holiness are a few short verses, “When an alien resides with you in your land, do not molest him. You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; have the same love for him as for yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt. I, the Lord, am your God.” Leviticus 19.33-34 stands out to me, today, as we celebrate our Independence, as we remember our ancestors who came from faraway lands with dreams and hopes or perhaps in desperation or slavery. 

Our forefathers and mothers sought education and opportunity, hope and freedom. They fled famine and drought, poverty and persecution, war and genocide. They were imperfect people coming to a new land, seeking the opportunity to create something good, strong, and beautiful. 

During this time of fireworks and picnics and bar-be-ques, may we remember the strength in our imperfections and those brave souls who battled so many daunting odds to create this country. May we remember that we walk in their footsteps, we the hopeful children of brave immigrants and refugees. May we remember their fear and anxieties. May we honor their fortitude and vision.

May we also remember that today war and terror, famine and drought, persecution and genocide still drive people from their homes; perhaps even more so than those centuries past. May we remember that we are a nation of immigrants, migrants, and refugees. May we remember the words of Leviticus and love those aliens in our land for we were once aliens.

• How did your family journey to the United States? Do you know your family’s story? Perhaps take some time this week to find out more about your own history?
• What is your family’s faith history? What traditions do you hold to as a family? 
• Take some time in prayer to share with God your hopes and dreams, fears and anxieties. 
• How can you better identify with those who are strangers, aliens in our homeland, our city? How can you reach out to them? (Ideas will be coming your way on Saturday, so if nothing else, consider how you could create time and space in your life to offer welcome and safe harbor for others.)

Jennifer Delvaux

Director of Faith Formation

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Profiles in Mercy - Lost Innocence of Children Refugees

Merciful Like the Father urges us to follow the example of the Father in our personal journeys as Disciples of Christ, revealing individual ways we can bring mercy and comfort to others, especially those facing loss.

In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, he describes the most basic physiological needs for human survival: air, water, food, clothing and shelter. The next level, physical and psychological safety, reveals what is needed to grow and thrive. The third level is interpersonal and reflects levels of love and belonging. 

The loss of any of these needs is challenging for anyone but for a child, it is overwhelming. For refugee children, the loss of nearly everything – food, clothing, home, security, and a sense of belonging – is devastating.

Steve Lehmann, MBA graduate of Notre Dame’s Mendoza School of Business, first saw this on a rescue mission to Haiti in 2011. After witnessing similar situations during trips to Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, he was determined to help these children. Remembering the comfort of his own childhood stuffed animal, Boppy, and inspired by Catholic social teaching, he began to explore the use of teddy bears.

Following years of research and design with humanitarians, child psychologists and toy experts, fast forward to an Azraq refugee camp on the Syrian-Jordanian border. Witnessing lines of silent refugees trying to enter the camp and even longer ones trying to leave standing in sweltering heat, Steve anguished over the misery on the faces of so many children.

Seeing the multi-colored teddy bear in his hand, a desperate mother rushed up to Steve to see if she could replace the towel wrapped like a baby as comfort for her 7-year old daughter. In that moment, Steve saw how Threadies could be a real source of mercy to children and families facing a hellish journey to find a new home in an unknown destination. 

Threadies produces twin bears as coping kits for refugee children, each with a special pocket. One sibling goes to a refugee child with research-based trauma healing instructions. The other bear goes to the U.S. donor with a poem to teach about love, healing and the plight of the refugee child holding the sibling bear.

Threadies partners with The Karam Foundation to ensure delivery to refugee children in the greatest need. Child’s Cup Full manufactures the teddy bears, a non-profit focused on training and employing refugee women in the West Bank. 

Steve Lehmann represents exactly what Pope Francis and Pope Benedict has called each of us to do – discover and act on ways to make a difference in another person’s life and extend this act for others to replicate in their own journeys as Disciples of Christ. 

Lori Doyle - Joined Holy Name Cathedral 6 1/2 years ago when I moved to Chicago. Currently the Chair of the Parish Pastoral Council, I also served as Chair of the Human Concerns Commission. Actively involved in our parish, I also serve as an Extraordinary Minister and a Minister of Care at Prentice Hospital/Northwestern Hospital. Was honored in 2015 with the annual Archdiocese of Chicago Christifidelis award

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Displays of Fright

In the United States, this past month has seen unprecedented displays of fright—which itself is quite frightening, when you consider the fact that this is coming from a country that’s become accustomed to mass shootings. 

Omar Mateen felt compelled to walk into a gay nightclub and shoot one-hundred-and-two people. He did this in tribute to ISIS, for reasons that many Americans (myself among them) are still struggling to understand. As far as I can figure it, it seems like he was acting from a place of fear. 

And now, in response to their own fears, many Americans are agitating for something to Be Done about the sort of person who might feel compelled to pledge themselves to ISIS. In doing so, they make broad generalizations about who these persons are. By and large, the persons are Muslim; and, by and large, they could be described as “harborless.” 

They ask for things like immigration bans being levied upon these people, even though Omar Mateen was born in the U.S. The idea is that we, as a country, are better safe than sorry. Maybe most Muslims aren’t mass shooters; but banning all of them from entering the country is nevertheless “worth it,” if it protects us from those who are violent. …At least, that’s the idea.

As Christians, one of the hardest things that we’re called to do is surrender our fears. In the face of abject horror, we’re asked to trust that power of mercy will somehow turn the world. Critics of religion will oftentimes describe this mindset as childish; but, in reality, it’s incredibly difficult to achieve. Oftentimes, listening to our fears is the “reasonable” thing to do. However, our faith will sometimes ask us to be unreasonable, all in the name of the greater good. Allowing fear to dominate us will only create a world in which violence, stoked by the belief that we’re fundamentally unsafe, persists. 

Initially, I’d planned to spend the bulk of this essay talking about a movie—A Better Life, directed by Chris Weltz, made in 2003. It’s good. In fact, it’s hard to imagine a better argument for harboring the harborless. And it actually spends a lot of time dwelling upon the subject of fear, and how much it should be allowed to dominate a life. Carlos (an undocumented immigrant) and Luis (his native-born son) are both paralyzed by it, so fearful of the bleak fates that might await them that they’re unable to truly see one another. You should watch it, if harboring the harborless is something that you’ve been thinking about (which—considering everything that’s been happening lately—it probably is).

If things had gone differently this month, I might’ve been able to write about it more. But events, as they say, have overtaken me. Go in peace, reader, and (try to) be not afraid.

Teresa de Mallorca is the pseudonym of a neophyte who just completed the RCIA program at Holy Name

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Harboring the Harborless

I find my thoughts and prayers returning over and over to those in Orlando and the exceptional number of victims of violence in our own city last weekend. Chicago experienced a record number of gun related acts of violence and far, far too many deaths. Countless families and friends mourn the loss of loved ones and dozens of victims who suffer emotional, spiritual, and physical wounds seek healing and an elusive grasp of what happened.

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." To this day, especially in times of "disaster," I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.” These words of Fred Rogers ring so true today.

We see those rushing to the victims, families, friends, witnesses, and bystanders of these tragedies. We see strangers open homes and hearts. We see people cross ideological boundaries and compassion cross borders. When a handful of individuals display the worst depravity of humanity, we see the better angels of countless human hearts and hands flock to those crying out.

This week I read a story about how, in the earliest hours of the tragedy at Pulse in Orlando, Catholic Charities had staff present to help translate for families that were just being notified regarding their loved ones. When law enforcement, media, and most of the country was still just learning of the event, these people left their safe homes to reach out to those in the most profound of crisis. They offered the comfort of understanding hearts, the gift of language, and the ministry of presence. They created a sense of home and hospitality for these people adrift.

As time moves on from those early hours of June 12, we are left to determine where do we go. How do we respond? With a presidential election, plenty of voices in Washington and the campaign trail have offered ideas and opinions. Media outlets and just about anyone with a social media account have offered their two cents. And that is as it should be. After all, these very freedoms of speech and press are part of what we celebrate this Independence Day week.

Yet, as Catholics, we have a more thorough understanding of freedom. Saint John Paul II said, “Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in doing what we ought.” As we celebrate our Independence Day, our freedoms, may we remember the call to do what we ought. May we remember we are a people of love and mercy – called by our God to love our neighbor, all our neighbors. May we open our hearts, minds, and souls to the love of God so that we may open our doors to all those seeking a safe harbor in troubled times.

Jennifer Delvaux

Director of Faith Formation

Holy Name Cathedral


If you would like to help the victims and families of the attack in Orlando, you can find out more about the support that Catholic Charities is offering with funerals, counseling, and much more.

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One Word at a Time - Sell

Pew to Pilgrim - May Peace Be With You

“Counsel the Doubtful” may seem like an Act of Mercy solely for the clergy. But there are many opportunities and needs for us as lay Catholics to actively participate in this spiritual act. 

Different from “Instruct the Ignorant”, this Act of Mercy involves assisting with decisions, or counseling. The word counsel come from the Latin word consilium meaning consultation or advice. 

“Counsel the Doubtful” may seem like an Act of Mercy solely for the clergy. But there are many opportunities and needs for us as lay Catholics to be actively counsel others in our life, our parish and community. 

How does one go about practicing this act? It starts with doing it ourselves “Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may eventually become wise.” Proverbs 19:20. Be an active listener.

What is going on around you? What questions are you hearing from others, reading in the media or hearing in a homily? Are you prepared to discuss these with others or do you need more information or practice? Volunteer to help others prepare for Sacraments, e.g. FOCCUS for marriage or parents for Baptism. 

Stay updated on what is happening in our parish and the Archdiocese of Chicago. Watch videos of Pope Francis, listen to podcasts, read the recent papal encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si, and Pope Francis’ recently published apostolic exhortation Joy of Love (Amoris Laetitia) about the family.

• Reflect on your own ability to accept counsel – Proverbs 19:20
• Read Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation on Love in the Family
• Reflect on a personal frustration – how can you share it with God?
• Test yourself – get a book of questions based on real-world situations & reflect on how your answers align with what God wants
• Become a member of Women’s Spirituality Group Lectio Divina
• Join the HNC Bible Study Group on Wednesday evenings
• Speak with an atheist in a non-judgmental way about their disbelief in God
• Consider a vocation as a lay spiritual or ministerial leader
• Watch videos to learn more about our faith Fr. Barron’s Word on Fire or Dynamic Catholic
• Become an RCIA Sponsor
• Say special prayers for those who are lost; become a Minister of Praise
• Practice the Sacrament of Penance – go to Confession & discuss your recent decisions with your priest
• Bring someone to the next Nightfever: Chicago to meet with a priest
• Participate in Young Adults upcoming Book Club When God is Silent on June 30
• Research a saint who counseled others – learn their ways, (e.g. St. Ignatius of Loyola, St.Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Augustine of Hippo)
• Start a small Faith Sharing group – explore key questions facing Catholics
• Become a lay leader at Holy Name Cathedral – join a commission, Young Adults Board or Parish Council
• Learn about counseling others grappling with depression Eriks’s Lighthouse

Lori Doyle and Gabi Schultz are members of the Parish Pastoral Council, active with a variety of Liturgical Ministries as Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers, Cathedral Altar Servers and Ministers of Care at Prentice Hospital/NW Hospital. Both parishioners for about 6 years, Lori loves to travel and cook and is a proud mother of her son John, a UM Wolverine. Gabi enjoys trying new restaurants, running, cooking lessons and spending time with friends and family.

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Faith and Doubt

Where have you found strength in times of doubt?

What fears trouble your faith?

How can you face those fears?

Who can you turn to for support and strength?