The recent events in Afghanistan shook many of us, leaving us angry, sad, and feeling helpless as we witnessed the tragic arc of the crisis unfold. Fear for the safety of vulnerable Afghans weighed heavily on our minds and hearts as images of crowded airports, blocked streets, and grounded airplanes fanned across our newsfeeds. And as the Church, we prayed for their safety and security, echoing the words of Pope Francis, "In these tumultuous moments, in which Afghans are seeking refuge, I pray for the most vulnerable among them, I pray so that many countries welcome and protect all those seeking a new life".  

 

Yet, embedded in our sadness and solidarity is also an important question for each of us to consider: "how do I respond to this crisis in light of my Catholic faith?"

 

Jesus' words in Matthew 25:35 "when I was a stranger, you welcomed me" sets a simple, saving, and altogether challenging principle to help us answer this question. And, while discerning the political dimensions of this crisis are important, as parishes and individuals we are now faced with concrete opportunities to respond in ways that go far deeper than the political sphere and take us to the heart of Jesus' words. Namely, some of the very Afghan people we prayed for-- for their safety, security, and freedom from persecution--- have been evacuated and are now arriving in Lexington as strangers in our midst. The Kentucky Refugee Ministries (KRM) has already begun receiving Afghan evacuees and have now reached out to us for help. So, let us together, with faith and courage, discern how we can respond as a diocese. 

 

Please prayerfully consider these simple ways to respond (click on the links to learn more):   

• Volunteer or assemble volunteer teams at your parish (contact Derek Feldman at [email protected]) 
• Collect items at your parish or make a personal donation
• Make a financial donation
• Pray for migrants and refugees 
• Get your youth, young adult, or campus ministry group involved (contact Michael Bayer, Director of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry, Diocese of Lexington, [email protected])
• Share information with your parish (see attached information sheet)
• Share stories of how you are responding in faith with the whole diocese to encourage other parishes (contact [email protected])

 

If you have further questions on how you can get involved with KRM, please contact Derek Feldman ( [email protected]) and see the attached info sheet. Also, do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions about coordinating efforts in the diocese around this. 

 

May God grant each of us a heart like His own,

 

Joshua van Cleef