The following is a reflection from Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger, who was installed Tuesday, March 18, as Detroit's sixth archbishop.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Day One was incredible.
Gathering with the faithful of the Archdiocese at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, along with the vowed religious, deacons, priests, visiting bishops, and a host of my family and lifetime friends, made for a joyful and memorable Liturgy of Installation. I could not be more grateful to all who contributed to the day and its events.
While Day One was a time for joyful celebration and received much media attention, I got up on Day Two and asked the Lord in prayer to guide my efforts today, that I might reflect His love in some purposeful way.
The day unfolded with an unexpected blessing for me, as I was able to visit Archbishop Michael J. Byrnes in the hospital. Archbishop Byrnes, as many of you know, is a former Detroit priest and auxiliary bishop who went on to serve as Archbishop of Agaña, Guam. I actually had lunch with Archbishop Byrnes at our meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops last summer and consider him a friend. His health, as he has shared with members of his former parish here in Michigan, has deteriorated greatly in the last nine months. It was a blessing for me to simply spend a little time in his room and to pray for him. He was not alone when I arrived, and I was grateful for the presence of one of our fine priest hospital chaplains along with one of our deacons. Archbishop Byrnes is receiving good care, but his medical condition is truly precarious, and I ask the faithful of our Archdiocese to please lift him up in prayer.
After the hospital visit, I went by the home of a couple recommended to me by one of our auxiliary bishops. I will not use their names for reasons that will be obvious. The man (I’ll call him Jose) has been in the United States for 25 years, working all that time in construction. His expertise is brick and stonework for home and commercial buildings, and I suspect he has contributed generously to our economy and community over the quarter of a century he has lived and worked here.
Very recently, I learned, he received notification that he is being expelled from the United States. To be clear, he was not underground or in hiding. His presence was known. His wife’s immigration status is not in question, nor his children’s, nor his grandchildren’s. But he showed me the government-issued letter, which he had already discussed with his immigration attorney, and it seems he now must leave. I should note that I called them only 20 minutes before I was at their door. I was received warmly and with great appreciation in their tidy and inviting home. His wife wept no few tears, explaining what this will mean to their children and grandchildren, especially as “Jose” must now be gone for 10 years before he can make application to return. They also spoke of the terror they witness in every gathering of the immigrant community. The impact on families is profound.
While I acknowledge immigration issues are complex, especially as I dealt with them for years on the Arizona-Mexico border, I am nevertheless deeply grieved that America is expelling non-criminal immigrants whose longtime presence contributes so much to our nation.
Jose’s situation is not unique. He is among many whose presence in our nation is known — again, many are not in hiding or underground — who contribute to our economy, who are family men and women, and are known to us in our parishes. What is happening to these men and women does not strike me as a fix to America’s problems.
I prayed for Jose and his wife before I took my leave, at which time they humbly asked whether they could also pray for me. I warmly welcomed their prayers and was struck by the fact that at a time of such fear and anxiety for them, they repeatedly prayed that I would know great joy in my life and ministry. Making my way home, I prayed that God heard their prayer, as the greatest joy that could come to my heart would be a resolution to what is being imposed upon them.
Yours in Christ,
Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger
