'We are in the same boat': A migrant church

By Peter Finney Jr.
Clarion Herald

Dominican Father Sergio Serrano, head of the Hispanic Apostolate of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, celebrated a special Mass May 1 in front of the statue, "Angels Unawares," which depicts migrants throughout all of history leaving persecution and violence in their own countries for peace and freedom. 

For a photo gallery of the Mass, click here

Father Serrano said the statue on the front steps of Notre Dame Seminary, in many ways, tells the story of Hispanic Catholics who have come to the U.S. in search of freedom and a better life for themselves and their families.

Citing the Gospel reading for the Fifth Sunday of Easter – the image of the vine and the branches that Jesus used to emphasize to his disciples how important it was to remain connected to him – Father Serrano said: "Jesus wants to make it clear to us how God wants to share his life with you, with me, with us. A God who does not look at flags, tongues, creeds or culture, but a God who wants us to bear fruit. 

"We could say it is very similar to our reality of being Hispanic and Latino, because we are Latinos with different arms, but we all belong to the same tree called the human family. Look at your neighbors and see how nice God is."

Father Serrano reflected on the reality that many immigrants are working in the U.S. to support family members left behind.

"How many times have we not thought that we are not bearing fruit because we have received a cut and have been cut off in communication with our parents?" he said. "How many immigrants are in this country and cannot return to their place of origin, hug their parents, grandparents, children, and they have to watch them die in the distance and cry without giving them a last hug or a last goodbye? Maybe thousands, maybe millions.

"But now, in these lands, we are united and bearing fruit. Perhaps many of you are working and supporting your families. And maybe a lot of you left behind your dreams, your reality. Today, the Lord invites you to join him to bear fruit and an abundant life."


The statue in front of Notre Dame Seminary was sculpted by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz, who was encouraged by Pope Francis' call for Catholics to "welcome the strangers among us."

"There are 140 people on that (statue of the) boat representing the church, which represents a migrant world that is looking for a better future, from back to front," Father Serrano said. "What is even more interesting – in that boat is Jesus' family, and there is Jesus himself, there is Joseph, and Mary is carrying the child in her arms, like many mothers crossing the border carrying their children, looking for a better today and a better tomorrow. This is the story of many of us here.

"Some may not remember it, but this is how the Italians, the Irish, the Germans, the English came, who today are children of this nation and are children of the same church and the same God. Amen. So we have to remember that our church has responded to Christ's call to always receive the stranger.

"Let us pray that today the church of these times will have a true conversion in spirit, so that we, its institutions, may reflect cultural pluralism. This seminary has men from different continents educating themselves to serve this local church. They have come as the fruit of the universal church, for our church has distinguished itself in all these centuries as a church of many cultures."