Praying for Detained Immigrant Families

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Susan Hodge
5 years ago
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Praying for Detained Immigrant Families Prayer vigils and demonstrations are being held on April 22 and May 2 at the immigrant family detention center in Dilley, Texas where Sr.

1 Praying for Detained Immigrant Families Prayer vigils and demonstrations are being held on April 22 and May 2 at the immigrant family detention center in Dilley, Texas where Sr. Kathleen Erickson, RSM (West Midwest) is currently serving as chaplain to the detainees. In solidarity with those who are gathered to demonstrate in Dilley, we pray today for immigrants, especially mothers and children, who have fled the violence of their homes only to be met with imprisonment in our country. Opening Prayer Jesus, our teacher, when you multiplied the loaves and fishes, you provided more than food for the body, you offered us the gift of yourself, the gift which satisfies every hunger and quenches every thirst. Your disciples were filled with fear and doubt, but you poured out your love and compassion on the migrant crowd, welcoming them as brothers and sisters. Today you call us to welcome the members of God's family who come to our land to escape oppression, poverty, persecution, violence, and war. Like your disciples, we too are filled with fear and doubt and even suspicion. We build barriers in our hearts and in our minds. Help us, by your grace: To banish fear from our hearts, that we may embrace each of your children as our own brother and sister; To welcome migrants and refugees with joy and generosity, while responding to their many needs; To unmask and address the underlying causes of immigration. We praise you and give you thanks for the family you have called together from so many people. We see in this human family a reflection of the divine unity of the one Most Holy Trinity in whom we make our prayer: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. Reader 1 (Leviticus 19:33-34) When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Receive from us a blessed greeting, we are mothers with our children detained at Karnes Detention Center in the state of Texas, we are families that were detained 8 months ago and I.C.E.

2 Receive from us a blessed greeting, we are mothers with our children detained at Karnes Detention Center in the state of Texas, we are families that were detained 8 months ago and I.C.E. does not want to let us out We are women that have been raped, beaten, and tortured in our countries and we have not found a solution in our native countries. We have come searching for refuge for our children and for ourselves, because we no longer want to be victims of violence nor do we want our children to be. Reader 3 (Matthew 2:14-14) Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him. Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, Out of Egypt I have called my son. We see our children suffer, they don t eat, because the food they give us here is not prepared well, not even those that work here will eat it. There are many sick and pale children, and the water they give us to drink gives us diarrhea, when the children drink it, they re bellies blow up and it hurts, the milk they give them has no vitamins, it s cheap and many children get diarrhea, and some even vomit. When children get sick, they tell us to give them water, and if our children seem to have something contagious, they lock us up for up to one month. Reader 4 (Matthew 25: 35-36) I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. We, the mothers, have our emotions out of control, it s difficult to sleep thinking about what will happen to us, they don t give us a solution to our problems, they don t care if they deport us to our countries and they kill us over there. Because there have been many cases of women that once they are deported, the moment they arrive, they kill their children and these women continue to be victims of violence. We don t want our children to end up dead or become involved in crime,

3 we want them to grow up to be good men and women, so that we create a society free of violence. Reader 5 (Matthew 8: 18-20) Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19 A scribe then approached and said, Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go. 20 And Jesus said to him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. We don t ask to be provided for, all we ask for is our freedom. That we be given an opportunity, so that they see that we are responsible mothers, hard-working and honest. Please help us, we don t want to return to that life of violence in our countries, we want to live in peace with our children. We seek refuge in this country because we believe that this country has laws that are upheld and that violence doesn t exist in the same way it does in our countries. We plead for your support. This situation is too cruel, more for our children, our children that are very young, that need your help. We don t know who else to outreach to. Help us. Reader 6 (Pope Francis) A change of attitude towards migrants and refugees is needed on the part of everyone, moving away from attitudes of defensiveness and fear, indifference and marginalization - all typical of a throwaway culture - towards attitudes based on a culture of encounter, the only culture capable of building a better, more just and fraternal world." Pope Francis Prayers of Petition. Our response is Lord, hear our prayer. Recalling that Our Lord told his disciples to let the children come to me, that we may welcome the children of immigrants and work to provide security and dignity to the lives of their families. Let us pray to the Lord For the teens and young adults who were brought to this country as children and have now been deported to a country they barely know, that God will be

4 with them and guide them to reunite with their families. Let us pray to the Lord For immigrant families, suffering in the shadows from poverty and brokenness, may God bless them and protect them as we all work for a reform of the immigration laws. Let us pray to the Lord... That by seeing God's presence more clearly in every human life, we may repent of the ways that we have failed to honor, protect, and welcome that life, including the life of the immigrant. Let us pray to the Lord... Many injustices are caused by actions that are not easily visible. Help us continue to look critically at the issue of immigration and to understand the underlying causes that lead many to flee their homes. Let us pray to the Lord Closing Prayer God of Mercy, of Wisdom and Mystery, our journey through life is long and hard. We cannot make this trip alone; we must walk together on the journey. You promised to send us a helper, your Spirit. Help us to see your Spirit in those you send to journey with us. In the refugee family, seeking safety from violence, In the migrant worker, bringing food to our tables, In the asylum seeker, seeking justice for himself and his family, In the unaccompanied child, traveling in a dangerous world, Teach us to recognize that as we walk with each other, you are present. Teach us to welcome not only the strangers in our midst but the gifts they bring as well: the invitation to conversion, communion, and solidarity. This is the help you have sent. We are not alone. We are together on the journey, and for this we give you thanks. Amen.

5 Acknowledgements The Opening Prayer is adapted from the USCCB Prayer for Migrants and Refugees. Scripture passages are from the NRSV. Letter excerpts are taken from the letter written by detainees at the Karnes Center and translated and posted at Prayers of Petition are adapted from the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Closing Prayer is adapted from a prayer attributed to Rev. Enock de Assis. Both are posted at

Prayers. For those separated from their loved ones when they fled war and conflict, reunite them and give them protection.

Prayers. For those separated from their loved ones when they fled war and conflict, reunite them and give them protection. Prayers Prayer #1 All-embracing God, no one is a stranger to you and no one is ever far from your loving care. In your kindness, watch over refugees and exiles. For those separated from their loved ones