Building Bridges
- Sr. Norma Pimentel
- Feb 17, 2017
- 2 min read
As executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, I have witnessed the arrival of immigrants crossing the border, oftentimes fleeing desperate and dangerous situations in their home countries. I know all too well their struggles to overcome poverty and violence back home. I see the faces of the young children for whom they risk life and limb to provide a better, brighter and safer future.
Unfortunately on this anniversary of our Holy Father's visit to the border, there is no doubt that the many immigrant families who are coming hopeful for protection and safety are finding themselves instead in family detention facilities where they may be forced to wait for months.
The parable of the Good Samaritan becomes so relevant to us today. We are encouraged by the kind-hearted Samaritan who tended to the Jewish traveler after he had been beaten, robbed and left for dead on the side of the road. Others had seen the battered Jewish man but none stopped to help. It was only the Samaritan, an outsider of the Jewish people, who bandaged the man's wounds, put him on his own donkey and took him to an inn.
Now is the time for those of us who believe in compassion to be Good Samaritans and stand with all immigrants and their families. The lives of immigrant families are inextricably woven into the tapestry of our nation. As a community of faith we have a moral responsibility to honor all of humanity, especially those whom society tries to exclude....
Sr. Norma Pimentel is the Executive Director for Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley.
Today Faith in Public Life launches our “Build Bridges, Not Walls Campaign,” to elevate the plight of immigrant families being torn apart by recent deportations and specific actions the faith community can take to publicly stand with immigrants & refugees during this time.
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