GOOD FRIDAY Faith-Based Immigration and Refugee Resources


Cross at the Arizona/Mexico Border Photo Source

The Way of Asylum as a community experience of compassion and empathy was inspired by the art of Michelina Nicotera-Taxiera, who created a moving interpretation of Stations of the Cross, a 14-step Catholic devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ’s last day on Earth as a man. In her version, Michelina's art recognizes that asylum seekers embody Christ in our midst, confronting us with the truly horrific journey that many who seek asylum endure on their journey to seek safety and refuge.

Meditate on Christ’s journey to the cross in solidarity with people experiencing poverty around the world. As we walk through the Stations, we take time to pray and reflect on where we see Christ in our world.

Catholic Relief Service: Ministry 
Resources throughout the year related to justice for immigrants, refugees, and the marginalized.  Powerful Stations of the Cross.

As EKKLESIA associate Doug Hynd, from Australia, has also observed recently: “Jesus was crucified with criminals by the imperial occupying power. A permanent reproach to those of his followers who wish to use political power to enforce their vision of the sacred.”

DSJ: Stations of the Cross: The American Immigrant Experience 
Via Cruces: La Experiencia de los Inmigrantes en Los Estados Unidos Based on the Scriptural Version of the Stations by Fr. Jon Pedigo, STL

Daylesford Abbey: Stations of the Cross for Immigrants and Migrants
When we pray the Stations, it is not for the purpose of undertaking an historical remembering of what occurred but to show us what is happening now – what is happening within each of us. The reason for praying the Stations of the Cross is to enter into the mystery of Jesus’ gift of himself for us – to experience his means of transforming suffering through love. (see their collection of themed-SOTC)

Episcopalian Migration Ministries

Our reflection authors represent a wide variety of experiences and backgrounds; each offers a poignant reflection on a Station and its relevance to migration and what it means to welcome the stranger as we would welcome Christ. Each reflection calls us back to our essential identity as beloved children of God and asks us to prayerfully reflect on the meaning of the Cross in a world being transformed by migration.

Stations of the Cross is a public art project that seeks to use the story of the Passion to prompt reflection and action in response to challenges of social justice.   Also see imago-arts.org.

Im/migration: Stations of the Cross
The following series of stations was curated by Grace Commons during Lent 2012, contemplating each station through the lens of immigration and migration.

JRUSA: The Jesuit Refugee Service Way of the Cross
Christ calls us to keep watch. Let us accompany Jesus on this journey as we watch and pray over all that is going on with many of our sisters and brothers around the world. pdf  | 2024-refugee-reflections 

MIGRANT STATIONS OF THE CROSS ARE IN EXHIBITION AT CHRIST CATHEDRAL
Lenten worshippers admired the artwork exhibit created with sacred artifacts found along the U.S.-Mexico border

Welcome to 'Way of the Cross', a stations of the cross series allowing you to follow Jesus on his journey to the cross and the Resurrection, whilst praying for refugees around the world. Each station begins with a piece from scripture, followed by a reflection, and culminates with a prayer to say together.

SVD: STATIONS OF THE CROSS OF JESUS, THE MIGRANT AND REFUGEE
The Way of the Cross is directed towards those communities and people who are living the painful experience of migration and refugee status, to all who work with migrants and refugees in order to build a better world, a world without borders, and to all men and women of goodwill who wish to be involved in this noble task.

Trocaire: Stations of the Cross: Reflections on war by Syrian Child Refugees
Trócaire is delivering humanitarian assistance to those fleeing conflict and seeking refuge. Download and use our stations of the cross with reflections on war by Syrian child refugees.

USCCB: PRAYING THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING  English 
Hear the prayers which we pour forth to you, for the freedom of captives and the conversion of those who enslave them.

USCCB: Overcoming Racism  English | Espanol | More Thematic Stations of the Cross
This new Stations of the Cross resource on overcoming racism can help you, your family, or faith community reflect on the pastoral letter against racism, Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love. A rich Lenten reflection, this prayer resource can help open our hearts to the persistent sin of racism and the call to help overcome it.



More Faith-Based Immigration and Refugee Resources

CLINIC: Praying the Rosary with Our Lady of Guadalupe and Tales of Immigrants - The Luminous Mysteries | pdf
CLINIC invites you to join us in praying for dignity and justice for our immigrant sisters and brothers. Just as the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary shed light on an important aspect of Christ’s mission, we hope these reflections will shed light on some immigrant experiences. Also see Holiday Prayer Cards for Immigrant Integration in English and Spanish

Crossing Borders: The Reconciliation of a Nation of Immigrants - with Ali Noorani and Amanda Ripley (video)
In an era when immigration on a global scale defines the fears and aspirations of Americans, Crossing Borders presents the complexities of migration through the stories of families fleeing violence and poverty, the government and nongovernmental organizations helping or hindering their progress, and the American communities receiving them. (TED Talk)

ESA: Immigration and Refugee Resources
We propose a discussion based on the reality that immigrants (authorized or otherwise) are human beings made in the image of God.  Download ESA's Citizen Among Us: Loving the Immigrant as Ourselves, ESA’s free small group study guide on immigration

Esperanza Immigration Legal Services
Driven by the biblical mandate to serve the “least of these” (Matthew- 25:40), we strengthen Hispanic communities. We carry out this mission through a variety of programs and services that are all designed to empower people through education, housing and economic development, immigration legal services, job training and advocacy.

Global Refugee: Congregational Resources (was LIRS Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service)
Congregations play an invaluable role in welcoming immigrants and refugees to their new communities, whether sponsoring a family, showing solidarity through advocacy, or accompanying new neighbors in other ways. Global Refuge creates resources to support congregations in living out the Biblical call 

IIC: Holy Days and Holidays Resources
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC) is a partnership of faith-based organizations committed to enacting fair and humane immigration reform that reflects our mandate to welcome the stranger and treat all human beings with dignity and respect. Coalition members work together to advocate for just and equitable immigration policies, educate faith communities, and serve immigrant populations around the country.

IOCC humbly offers a collection of spiritual reflections each Lent, plus other resources you may find helpful during the Great Fast.

This Lent, the Justice for Immigrants Campaign invites you to pray, fast, learn, give and advocate for just and humane immigration reform, in solidarity with immigrants and refugees by committing to one or more of the following activities. 

As we enter the season of Lent, the Office of Immigration Issues offers this brief study guide for the Sunday lectionary, with additional prayers for Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. For each Sunday, we have prepared brief contextual notes for a few of the lectionary readings, including where possible and appropriate their context in the Bible, in history, and in interpretation. We also offer some questions and thoughts to ponder as you prepare for worship. 

Sojourners: Immigration: Welcoming the Stranger
The United States is a nation of immigrants. Yet, our laws prevent immigrants from using their God-given gifts to improve communities and grow the economy. Through our work with the Interfaith Immigration Coalition and other partners, we are articulating the biblical witness for immigration reform, demonstrating the human cost of inaction, and encouraging our political leaders to take action. By working together, we believe the faith community has a historic opportunity to help create a road map to citizenship for 11 million aspiring Americans. who wish to fully integrate and contribute to the social fabric of our nation. 

We have a long history of providing and creating robust structures of welcome for the resettlement of refugees and the protection of asylees within the United States, while advocating for and responding to
the needs of those displaced globally.

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