Page 52 - Catholic Extension Magazine Winter 2019

PASTORAL LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD IN EL PASO

Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun,
for the Lord God shall give them light, and they shall reign forever and ever.
(The Revelation to John 22, 5)

+ In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen.

INTRODUCTION
August 3rd, 2019: Matanza en El Paso

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Why so far from my call for help,
from my cries of anguish?
Psalm 22, 2

1. On August 3rd, 2019, El Paso was once the country’s attention moves white supremacy to reflect together
the scene of a massacre or matanza on, who will remember the names of on the evil that robbed us of 22 lives.
that left 22 dead, injured dozens and the dead? God can only be calling our commu-
traumatized a binational communi- nity to greater fidelity. Together we
ty. Hate visited our community and 3. Faith assures us that because of are called to discern the new paths of
Latino blood was spilled in sacrifice the Resurrection of Jesus, death can- justice and mercy required of us and
to the false god of white supremacy. not have the last word, for ‘death no to rediscover our reasons for hope
longer has power over him’ (Romans (cf. 1 Peter 3, 5).
2. The killing became part of a 6, 9). But to encounter meaning
growing litany of deadly shootings in in the matanza of August 3rd with 5. This letter comes shortly after the
the United States. It is a list so long integrity, we must brace ourselves for recent pastoral letter against racism
that each mass murder competes the task of naming truths which are by the bishops in the United States,
for our attention and memory. What uncomfortable and perhaps buried Open Wide Our Hearts: The Endur-
happened was swallowed up in a inside all of us. ing Call to Love, which I recommend
spectacle of debate on gun control to our priests and community. My
that holds our children and families 4. After prayer and speaking with brothers in the episcopate have also
hostage. It made our community the People of God in the Church of published penetrating reflections on
cannon fodder in a political battle El Paso, I have decided to write this the intersection of race and violence,
rending the soul of our nation. Yet letter on the theme of racism and especially Bishop Edward Braxton.