Denver Catholic

2 JANUARY 17-23, 2015 | DENVER CATHOLIC For Christmas Archbishop Samuel Aquila gave each priest of the archdiocese a copy of the book "Pope Francis and the Joy of the Gospel: Rediscovering the Heart of a Disciple" written by Edward Sri, a professor of Scripture, theology and catechetics at the Augustine Institute. From the archbishop Samuel Aquila gave each priest of the archdiocese a copy of the book "Pope Francis and the Joy the Heart of a Disciple" written Archbishop's Page Denver Catholic (USPS 557-020) is published weekly except the last week of December and the fi rst weeks of January, and in June, July and August when it goes bi-weekly. Denver Catholic is printed by Signature O¦ set in Denver. Periodical postage paid in Denver, CO. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $35 a year in Colorado; $42 per year out of state. Foreign countries: $42 surface, all countries, 6-8 weeks for delivery; $135 air, all other countries (average). Mexico, $48 air; Canada, $55 air. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Denver Catholic, Circulation Dept., 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 or email circulation@archden.org. EDITORIAL: 303-715-3215 or denvercatholic@archden.org | ADVERTISING: 303-715-3253 or denvercatholicads@archden.org CIRCULATION CUSTOMER SERVICE: 303-715-3230 or circulation@archden.org General Manager KARNA SWANSON Director ANDREW WRIGHT Business Manager MICHAEL O'NEILL Published by the Archdiocese of Denver, 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 " An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Get up, take the child and his mother, and fl ee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him'" (Mt 2:14). The angel's message to St. Joseph was clear. He needed to fl ee from Bethlehem to protect Mary and Jesus from the wrath of King Herod. And so, as soon as Joseph woke from his dream, he gath- ered Mary and Jesus and fl ed by night to Egypt. Jesus was driven from his birthplace by violence and forced to seek shelter in a foreign land. The summer of 2014 brought a wave of unaccompanied children to our southern border as they fl ed the drug-fueled violence and poverty of Central America. The stories that these children brought with them are heart-wrenching. The reaction to these children arriv- ing was mixed. Some people welcomed them with compassion, while others worried about the burden that their arrival would place on our country. On Jan. 3, a new U.S. Congress began work, and among the issues on its plate is the sensitive topic of immigration. The issue has divided our country, but as we begin a new year I want to suggest a change to the framing of the immigra- tion debate. Americans are not anti-immigrant, as some activists claim. We are a people who believe in the rule of law. But our current laws are not adequate for the situation being faced by those who come seeking refuge. They fail to take into account that many people are driven from their homeland by violence or crippling poverty. This is what needs to change in our debate. It needs to be framed around respect for the human person and what our laws can do to protect and promote it. Immigration reform should take into account both our citizens' needs and the dignity of those who are forced to leave their home to survive. When Jesus speaks about the Last Judgment in Matthew 25, he specif- ically lists giving food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty and welcoming the stranger, among the behaviors that charac- terize those who will be welcomed into heaven. And this should be our response to those who come to us seeking refuge. In his message for the 2014 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Francis urged Cath- olics to see every human being as a child of God. "He or she bears the image of Christ! We ourselves need to see, and then to enable others to see, that migrants and refugees do not only represent a problem to be solved, but are brothers and sisters to be welcomed, respected, and loved." This is especially true when they are children. As the issue of immigration is dis- cussed in your families, workplaces and among friends, I encourage you to not think in terms of political party but to take the side of those who are vulnera- ble and are in search of refuge. May the Lord grant to us the courage to live according to the Gospel and the strength to love as he does! Photo by BBC World Service Photo provided Jesus was an immigrant Archbishop's Column Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila Colorado contingent @ #SEEK2015! Future of the Church & the #NewEvangelization in good hands! Joy & hope abound! +sja » Jesus was driven from his birth- place by violence and forced to seek shelter in a foreign land." ARCHBISHOP AQUILA " Jan 6 @ArchbishopDen OFFICIAL Father Stephen 2015, for Father Cli– 1, 2015, for The following Card. Robles Father David Feb. 2, 2015 a period The following vincial superior, Father Francise tive Feb. OFFICIAL Mr. John to the Sacred Mr. Joseph nected to

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