In 1891 Pope Leo XIII wrote in his encyclical Rerum Novarum that all people have the right to migrate to sustain their lives and the lives of their families.  Every person has the right to receive from the earth what is necessary for life: food, clothing, shelter.  It is not God’s will that some of his children live in luxury while others have nothing, nor does the native population of a country have superior rights over the immigrant.  As we have seen throughout many years, most recently in Ukraine, most people migrate because they are desperate, and do not have the opportunity for a safe and secure life in their own land. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops reminds us that we will be judged on how we treat the most vulnerable, and states that pastoral, educational, medical, and social services provided by the Church are never conditional on the legal status of immigrants who seek our help.  How do we model this openness toward our immigrant brothers and sisters in our own lives?  Interested in joining MMOC’s Peace and Justice Ministry?  Call Sharon Barron 314-892-2331.