Finding Healing and Hope within Social Injustices:
Monday, August 6th, 2007Mission Experience 2007:
Two weeks ago, I traveled to Tijuana, Mexico with twelve other young adults. Guided by a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate priest, we stayed at the Mexican Province formation house. The goal of our trip was to immerse ourselves in border life. We weren’t there to build houses or do service work. We were there to watch, listen, and learn. The experience was truly moving, and I feel as if I only scratched the surface of what there was to know about border life.
Each year speakers from across the country speak of the healing and hope that can come from the hurts and injustices prevalent in the world around us. Upon returning to the States, four of the trip members (including myself) spoke at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL during their Novena for Healing and Hope. Fr. Chava, our leader, gave the homily and invited four of us to speak about immigrants, prisoners, women and children, and foreign policy. Below is my reflection that I read during the homily on the topic of immigrants.
For the entire homily, including my reflection, go here:
http://www.oblatesusa.org/mami/apl.aspx?path=root/momi/MissionaryWork/novenas/socialinjustice
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Our nation was founded as a melting pot