I normally volunteer and stand public witness on Sunday mornings at Delaney Hall, the private for profit immigration detention center run by the GEO Corporation under a 15 year $1Billion government contract. This weekend however I was away until Sunday afternoon attending an intercongregational formation weekend with our Candidate. (One of my current roles in community is as Candidate Director. Candidacy is the first stage of initial formation before Novitiate).

Tomorrow is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. In many Latin American countries, such as Columbia, tonight is celebrated as Dia de Las Velitas. We held a beautiful prayer this evening at Delaney Hall, reading the names of 16 of the friends who have been released and united with their loved ones.  We lit candles in their honor and prayed in Advent Hope that all families will be reunited. You can see a family with small children in the background of this photo, speaking to the guard to get on the list for visitors. This is real life.

When I told our Candidate that I was going to Delaney Hall this cold December evening, she said she wanted to come with me. We handed out pasta and hot chocolate and a tshirt to a woman who the guards decided violated the (arbitrary) dress code, among other things. It is a simple ministry of presence in the company of good people.

There were lots of volunteers this evening, so at one point we decided to stand by the table with the candles to pray. The two of us prayed the Sorrowful Rosary using this guide from CLINIC with stories of immigrants.

As we were praying a family with a grandmother, mother and little girl walked by on their way to talk to the guard. The mother stopped, looked at the table full of candles, and said “Dia de las Velitas.” They paused and little candles. It was a powerful moment I will not soon forget

Mary, Mother of Jesus, you who experienced being a refugee, you who were denied room in the inn, pray for these Holy Families. Comfort them and intercede on their behalf with your son Jesus that justice will prevail, that their loved ones will be treated with human dignity, and that they will be reunited with their families. Amen.