The theme of the 400^th Anniversary year of our Vincentian Family, Welcoming the Stranger, is becoming a more urgent focus of our Catholic Faith, especially in the United States where immigration reform is occurring. So, what are other Catholics doing? In his National Catholic Reporter Article, “Parish Roundup,” Peter Feuerherd offers some links to articles about what our fellow Catholics are doing to Welcome the Stranger:

• Pope Francis wants your parish to get involved in resettling refugees and migrants.
• Churchbells ring out in the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, in support of immigrants and refugees.
• Immigrants continue to reinvigorate Catholic life throughout the U.S.
• Racial reconciliation is the theme of a series of meetings in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Similar gatherings have been held by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
• A Colorado parish provides ministry to the homeless, the deaf and Native Americans.
• In Arkansas, university parishes provide a forum for college students to find God.
• A Wallingford, Connecticut, parish is inviting back alienated Catholics. A recent NCR article explored why Connecticut is No. 1 in the percentage of Catholics who have fallen away from active practice.
• The Diocese of Columbus, Ohio, sponsors meetings to address the heroin and opioid crisis.

Source: National Catholic Reporter Online. [Peter Feuerherd is a correspondent for NCR’s Field Hospital series on parish life and is a professor of journalism at St. John’s University, New York.]