One Border One Body: Immigration and the Eucharist

Transcription

1 One Brder One Bdy: Immigratin and the Eucharist Film length: 30 minutes Directed by award winning filmmaker Jhn Carls Frey and Fr. Daniel Grdy, CSC frm the University f Ntre Dame. Spanish subtitles menu ptin. Synpsis: In the dry, rugged, and sun-scrched terrain where many immigrants lse their lives, bishps, priests and lay peple cme tgether each year t celebrate the Eucharist. Like ther liturgies, they pray and wrship tgether. Unlike ther liturgies, a sixteen-ft irn fence divides this cmmunity in half, with ne side in Mexic and the ther in the United States. One Brder, One Bdy tells the stry f a ritual that unites peple beynd plitical cnstructins which divide them. Amidst a desert f death and a culture f fear, the film testifies t Gd s universal, undivided and unrestricted lve fr all peple. It speaks f the gift and challenge f Christian faith and the call t feed the wrld s hunger fr peace, justice and recnciliatin. Mre than just anther dcumentary n immigratin, this film is a meditatin n the Kingdm f Gd, the glbalizatin f slidarity and a jurney f hpe. Themes t Engage Thrugh the Film: The right t emigrate and the right nt t emigrate. The nature f brders whether plitical, spiritual, r persnal. The liturgy as a sacrament f unity, recnciliatin and transfrmatin. The understanding f what it means t be ne bdy in Christ. The ability f gds t crss brders mre easily than human beings The building up f the cmmunity int ne bdy healed f all divisin The rle f the Church as an agent f welcme and hspitality - a sanctuary fr life. The preferential ptin fr the pr - caring The Liturgy f the Eucharist is a place and welcming the mst vulnerable. where we seek t develp a cmmunity The dignity f wrk and rights f wrkers - that transcends all brders, that sees in seeking a better life fr ne s family. The nature f slidarity - recgnizing we are the eyes f the immigrant stranger a ne human family and lve f neighbr has sister, brther and a real presence f glbal dimensins. Christ. Supprting Educatin fr Justice Resurces: Fr. Daniel G. Grdy, CSC Backgrunder n Structural Sin The 700-Mile Fence Immigratin: The Origins f the Church's Psitin The Bishps' Five Principles t Guide Immigratin Plicy Cathlic Scial Teaching and Immigratin Web Links: One Brder One Bdy T Purchase the DVD 1 / 7 by Sr. Katherine Feely, SND

2 Backgrund Infrmatin n the Film: When des this liturgy take place? The liturgy takes place n Nvember 2. In the United States, the church celebrates All Suls. In Mexic and ther Latin American Cuntries they celebrate the Dia de ls Muerts. The Día de ls Muerts Mass It is precisely the death penalty f the desert that is being cmmemrated at this Day f the Dead celebratin. Like ur liturgical setting, the unity and diversity are again apparent here. All Sul s Day is a cmmemratin f the universal church celebrated everywhere n Nvember 2; yet in Mexic, as in much f Latin America, its ppular celebratin as día de ls muerts in the cemeteries and with special fds, drinks, hme altars and even theatrical wrks and editrial cartns, vershadws the Slemnity f All Saints and the mre ppular American versin f Hallween with its wn skeletns and skulls and night f the living dead theme. Here it is precisely the peple wh die enrute t the secular prmised land that are being remembered and celebrated. The Symblism f the Brder and the Backdrp The Día de ls Muerts Mass celebrated annually n the brder highlights bth the unity and the separatin f the Church. We are bviusly united in ne faith and as members f a Church which claims neness as a defining characteristic. On the United States side f the brder, mass is frequently celebrated in Spanish and bi-lingual liturgies are nt unusual. On bth sides f the brder we find scalled Hispanics and s-called Angls, descendants f native Americans and descendants f Eurpeans; there is unity in the diversity f the assembly. We use cmmn liturgical texts, we use cmmn symbls, the clrful decratins and grassrts music are mre similar than dissimilar, the rder f mass is equally predictable frm either side, vestments and vessels are easily recgnized by bth sides, the enthusiasm and jy f the assembly is apparent n each side as is the tensin prvked by the presence f media, immigratin fficials, helicpters verhead and thers wh are nt exactly participants in the liturgy. Even the Crist Rey muntain whse twering image f the Crucified Savir King frms the rereds f this liturgical space has a base that is bi-natinal. Liturgical Implicatins fr Living a life f Faith Our celebratin f the Eucharist leads us t cmmunin in bth the vertical dimensins (with Gd) and the hrizntal dimensins. As we break bread with sisters and brthers n the ther side f the fence we remember that Jesus is ur unity. If all that has been transfrmed in the eucharist are bread and wine, then we have nt celebrated wellhave nt allwed Gd s spirit t be at wrk in us. Transfrmed urselves int the bdy f Christ we are sent int the wrld, Ite missa est, t be abut transfrming that wrld by incarnating Gd s wrd and presence. We must ask urselves if we truly live and put int practice what we celebrate in the eucharist. Des ur eucharistic celebratin affect the way we think abut immigratin plicy? Especially as ur whle US Cathlic experience has been ne f integrating new waves f immigrants wh transfrm the land by their labr and cultural cntributins. Bishps in the film: Bishp Armand Xavier Ocha, Bishp f El Pas, Texas Cardinal Rger Mahny, Archbishp f Ls Angeles, Califrnia Bishp Ricard Ramirez, Dicese f Las Cruces, New Mexic Bishp Renat Ascenci Len, Dicese f Ciudad Juarez, Mexic Auxillary Bishp Jse Gudalupe Trres, Dicese f Ciudad Juarez, Mexic Bishp Gerard de Jesus Rjas Lpez, Dicese f Nuev Casas Grandes, Mexic --Backgrund infrmatin prvided by Fr. Jhn Stwe, OFM Cnv, Dicese f El Pas, Texas 2 / 7 by Sr. Katherine Feely, SND

3 Discussin Questins: DISCUSSION GUIDE 1. What images frm the film were mst cmpelling t yu? What new cnnectins did yu make r insights did yu gain frm the film? 2. In this film, the Church has left the building and brings the liturgy, a sacrament f unity and life, t a place marked by divisin and death the U.S. /Mexic brder. Why is the liturgy celebrated n the brder? Hw are we called t cnnect what usually happens inside f church with what happens utside f it? 3. What are the U.S. and Mexican Bishps attempting t celebrate and witness thrugh this Eucharistic liturgy n the brder? What is the symblism here? What are the similarities and differences n each side f the fence? Hw d we frm ne church despite cultural and plitical divides? 4. The Eucharist is a graced event that celebrates Gd s transfrmative activity in the wrld. Hw are we called as Christians t participate in that transfrmatin and live ut the actin f the liturgy in ur daily lives, bringing abut a mre just wrld? What are the scial implicatins f ur faith? 5. Cardinal Mahny ntes that The Church will always minister t peple regardless f dcuments. We will always advcate t make laws mre just and prmte the cmmn gd. While the church is nt advcating breaking the law, it is strngly critical f the failure f the current system. What is the church advcating and what are the implicatins fr immigratin plicy? 6. Where shuld we draw the line between legitimate brder cntrl as an apprpriate exercise f natinal svereignty, and excessive brder cntrl that puts human life at risk and ignres human rights? What criteria shuld be used? 7. In the film, ne f the celebrants states, We must understand the reality f pain, suffering, fear, persecutin, discriminatin and separatin f families ur brthers and sisters are suffering tday. Hw des the principle f slidarity call us t see the suffering impsed by a failed immigratin system frm a perspective that is a different pint f view than that f the mainstream media? 8. As Christians, hw are we being challenged t prvide a cuntercultural Gspel witness? What are the risks? What are the rewards? 9. What deeper questins must we ask urselves abut respnding t and cnfrnting the current fear and discriminatin twards peple wh are cming t the United States seeking a better life? Where des this fear cme frm? What is needed in rder t dismantle such fear? Peple partake in a mass separated at the U.S./Mexic brder during Day f the Dead celebratins, Nvember 2. The event was in memry f the undcumented immigrants wh have died while crssing the U.S./Mexic brder. 3 / 7 by Sr. Katherine Feely, SND

4 10. There is a widely held miscnceptin that its easy t cme int the United States legally. In fact there are nt sufficient legal avenues t meet the present demand fr the wrkers in the U.S. and thse seeking t cme legally may expect t wait up t 25 years t be reunited with family members. Why d the labels f illegal demean and disrespect human beings made in Gd s image? Why are such labels used plitically? What is their effect? 11. The liturgy in the film is celebrated n Nvember 2, the Day f the Dead, in rder t remember and pray fr all thse wh have died crssing the brder. In the ffertry prcessin, a small pair f shes frm a little child wh died in the desert are brught t the altar symblizing the hardship and death caused by immigratin plicies. As the number f deaths n the U.S/Mexican brder cntinues t climb, why wuld peple undertake such a dangerus jurney when they knw the pssible utcme? 12. Blessing becmes privilege becmes entitlement becmes exclusin. Discuss this statement frm tw perspectives, ne a US citizen, tw a Central American immigrant seeking emplyment and a better life in the US. What are the push and pull factrs ecnmically, plitically and culturally? 13. Dan Grdy writes, The walls and fences we set up, which we think will prtect us frm utsiders, are barriers that imprisn us and keep us frm realizing ur cmmn intercnnectin with each ther. The Eucharistic celebratin affirms that breaking dwn walls and bringing tgether the wrld is already happening in the liturgy, and when the wrld is cnsummated in Christ, the recnciliatin f all peple will be cmplete. Fr [Christ] is ur peace, he wh made bth ne and brke dwn the dividing wall f enmity, thrugh his flesh (Eph 2:14). Hw des the building f walls actually make the prblem f immigratin wrse and the suffering mre prnunced? Where else in histry r in the wrld tday d we see the failure f walls? Hw has histry judged thse walls? What alternatives can prvide bth security and justice? 14. Where are the walls f separatin in ur wn lives, walls that separate cntemplatin frm actin, devtin frm discipleship, liturgy frm justice, lve f Gd frm lve f neighbr? 15. Our Church may transcend brders, but it is difficult at times fr ur minds and hearts t d the same. What brders must we crss in ur persnal lives t bring abut a Kingdm visin? 16. In the early church, the sign f peace in the liturgy riginally meant that anyne wh needed any kind f recnciliatin had t be recnciled with thse persns in rder fr them t be fund wrthy t receive the sacrament. Hw and where are we called tday t be recnciled with thers and t be active agents f recnciliatin as part f ur life in the Eucharist? 17. What are the challenges t yu in yur families, neighbrhds and cmmunities in terms f recnciling differences? 18. We must ask urselves if we truly live and put int practice what we celebrate in the Eucharist. Des ur eucharistic celebratin affect the way we think abut immigratin plicy? What is happening t the least f these ur brthers and sisters? What are we ding t end the suffering and restre the bdy f Christ? 4 / 7 by Sr. Katherine Feely, SND

5 Scripture Passages fr reflectin highlighted in the film Mark 12: Jesus replied, The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lrd ur Gd is Lrd alne! Yu shall lve the Lrd yur Gd with all yur heart, with all yur sul, with all yur mind, and with all yur strength. The secnd is this: Yu shall lve yur neighbr as yurself. There is n ther cmmandment greater than these. Exdus 23: 9 Yu shall nt ppress an alien; yu well knw hw it feels t be an alien, since yu were nce aliens yurselves in the land f Egypt. Ephesians 2:11-18 But nw in Christ Jesus yu wh nce were far ff have becme near by the bld f Christ. Fr [Christ] is ur peace, he wh made bth ne and brke dwn the dividing wall f enmity, thrugh his flesh, ablishing the law with its cmmandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself ne new persn in place f the tw, thus establishing peace, and might recncile bth with Gd, in ne bdy, thrugh the crss, putting that enmity t death by it. Hebrews 13:14 Fr here we have n lasting city, but we seek the ne that is t cme. Philippians 3:20 But ur citizenship is in heaven, and frm it we als await a savir, the Lrd Jesus Christ. Rmans 12:2-12 D nt cnfrm yurselves t this age but be transfrmed by the renewal f yur mind, that yu may discern what is the will f Gd, what is gd and pleasing and perfect... Fr as in ne bdy we have many parts, and all the parts d nt have the same functin, s we, thugh many, are ne bdy in Christ and individually parts f ne anther... Let lve be sincere; hate what is evil, hld n t what is gd; lve ne anther with mutual affectin; anticipate ne anther in shwing hnr. D nt grw slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lrd. Rejice in hpe, endure in afflictin, persevere in prayer. Matthew 25: Wh is My Neighbr? When the Sn f Man cmes in his glry, and all the angels with him, he will sit upn his glrius thrne, and all the natins will be assembled befre him. And he will separate them ne frm anther, as a shepherd separates the sheep frm the gats. He will place the sheep n his right and the gats n his left. Then the king will say t thse n his right, 'Cme, yu wh are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdm prepared fr yu frm the fundatin f the wrld. Fr I was hungry and yu gave me fd, I was thirsty and yu gave me drink, a stranger and yu welcmed me, naked and yu clthed me, ill and yu cared fr me, in prisn and yu visited me.' Then the righteus will answer him and say, 'Lrd, when did we see yu hungry and feed yu, r thirsty and give yu drink? When did we see yu a stranger and welcme yu, r naked and clthe yu? When did we see yu ill r in prisn, and visit yu?' And the king will say t them in reply, 'Amen, I say t yu, whatever yu did fr ne f these least brthers f mine, yu did fr me.' Then he will say t thse n his left, 'Depart frm me, yu accursed, int the eternal fire prepared fr the devil and his angels. Fr I was hungry and yu gave me n fd, I was thirsty and yu gave me n drink, a stranger and yu gave me n welcme, naked and yu gave me n clthing, ill and in prisn, and yu did nt care fr me.' Then they will answer and say, 'Lrd, when did we see yu hungry r thirsty r a stranger r naked r ill r in prisn, and nt minister t yur needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say t yu, what yu did nt d fr ne f these least nes, yu did nt d fr me.' 5 / 7 by Sr. Katherine Feely, SND

6 Handut - Befre: DISCUSSION GUIDE Befre viewing the film, take a few minutes t identify yur current perspectives n immigratin. Cmplete the questins belw in the space prvided. I assume that immigrants: The adjectives that I wuld use t describe immigrants are: Questins I have abut immigratin are: Describe a persnal experience with immigrants: 6 / 7 by Sr. Katherine Feely, SND

7 Handut - After: DISCUSSION GUIDE After viewing the film, take a few minutes f silent reflectin t let the images and message sink in. In the space prvided recrd yur respnses. Reactins and Thughts: Wrds r phrases that struck yu: Images and Impressins: What changed r shifted as a result f viewing the film? What was reinfrced? What new questins arse as a result f the film? 7 / 7 by Sr. Katherine Feely, SND