Care for Creation

“God of Justice, Saviour to all
Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Came to serve and not be served

And Jesus, You have called us
Freely we’ve received now freely we will give

We must go, live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken, we must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action, we must go

Fill us up, send us out

To act justly everyday
Loving mercy in every way
Walking humbly before You God…” ~ Tim Hughes

These words by Tim Hughes, a British worship leader, singer, songwriter, and Anglican priest reflect the Judgement of Nations in Matthew 25:36-40. This is what we, as Catholics are taught in Catholic Social Teaching. And, St. Ignatius Loyola’s Ignatian Social Justice Ministry has taken these words from contemplation into action.

For the past four years, parishioners involved in Social Justice Ministry have actively involved in Migrant Accompaniment. The first action was in January of 2021when Ignatian Social Justice chair, Laura De Boisblanc contacted Fr. Brian Strassburger, S. J. at the Del Camino Jesuit Border Ministries to arrange an immersion trip.

Fr. Brian invited the group to “come and see” how the Jesuit Ministry in McAllen, Texas and Reynosa, Mexico was ministering to the migrants fleeing their homelands in 2021.  This was a transformational experience for all and upon their return, they wanted to offer immersion trips to others. Over the past few years, a core group led by Laura De Boisblanc and Christine Meyer, included Dolores Troy Quinn, Terry Quinn, Anne Melanson, Regan Orillac, Laura Cronin, Jimmy Coffey, and Jim Skarzynski who went on either or both immersion trips to Mexico and Texas with Fr. Strassburger, S. J. or to Mexico and Arizona with the Kino Border Initiative.

Not only did they observe or “see” what was happening on the southern border, they helped with the activities and interacted with the migrant families. Moved by this experience, they organized ISJ to work with Team TLC NYC, a non-profit group who welcomed migrants at the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The next year the NYC migrant situation changed, and Team TLC NYC opened the Little Shop of Kindness. Not only did ISJ volunteer at the Little Shop but we followed their example and had a parish-wide clothing drive to run a “clothing boutique” for their families. The families selected clothes with appropriate sizes and styles. The surplus clothes were given to Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Service in Harlem. Recently TEAM TLC NYC began a new outreach called The Kindness Center. ISJ works with them as well.

The ISJ team sprang into action and invited the migrant families that they met or were assigned to them by Jesuit Refugee Services, to become a part of the St. Ignatius Loyola Family. The first year brought six families to St. Ignatius Loyola. They attended family Mass in Wallace Hall on Sundays. After Mass, Regis High School students along with ISJ Ministry members, helped the children with schoolwork, English language, played games and ate pizza together. Hospitality and community became key components of accompanying the migrant families. At Christmas, a party complete with Santa and presents by way of St. Vincent de Paul were distributed to the families. One of our parishioners, James Skarzynski, pro bono immigration lawyer, established a practice to represent six of our families in their asylum cases. Another parishioner, Patricia Azziz, helped with the legal work and interpretation from Spanish to English.

Many of the first migrant families have moved out of New York City and found jobs in other states. They keep in touch with us because St. Ignatius is family to them. Witnessing faith, hope, and courage of these migrant families, strengthens our faith and hope, and also helps us find joy in everyday living.

For the past three years, we initiated an Interfaith Migrant Prayer Service and invited neighborhood clergy and spiritual leaders from synagogues, Protestant and Catholic churches and Peace Island Muslim Center, students, migrants, and immersion trip participants to share their reflection on the migrant story. St. Ignatius Loyola’s music ministry provided piano interludes between each reflection creating a meditative, sacred space to pray for our migrant community. This spring attendance increased four-fold as spiritual communities continue working together to accompany migrants and tell the story.

Ignatian Social Justice Ministry actively responded to migrant needs in several ways. We collected used cellphones to send to Fr. Strassburger, S.J. for migrants at the border to use the government’s CBP One immigration app. We also organized clothing drives, school supplies drives, and appealed to the parish community for donations to their Migrant Accompaniment Fund. The Migrant Accompaniment Fund helps to pay for food, cell phone service, eye doctors, dentists and more. Currently, our ministry is accompanying six families, and some have children with special needs, such as cerebral palsy, and need more assistance with navigating medical assistance. When an ill older grandfather died, Terry Quinn donated a part of his burial plot and Associate Pastor Fr. Michael Hilbert, S.J. said a memorial Mass in Spanish in the Lady Chapel. The grandfather was laid to rest with love and dignity.

Picnics, birthday parties, trips to the Central Park Zoo, and Christmas celebrations help to keep some normalcy for our migrant families. The Ignatian Social Justice members, organized by chairperson, Laura De Boisblanc volunteer long, loving hours of service makes this a successful endeavor in ministering to those marginalized in society who need care, compassion, and hospitality. Freely we receive, and freely we will give- to act justly every day, love mercy in every way and walk humbly before God.

Migrants need accompaniment from parishes, religious organizations, and non-profits along with governmental agencies who spearhead asylum proceedings.

Recently Pope Leo XIV spoke about migrants and refugees, “Their presence, then, should be recognized and appreciated as a true divine blessing, an opportunity to open oneself to the grace of God, who gives new energy and hope to his Church: ‘Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it’ [Heb 13:2].”

Jeanmarie Santopatre, Yale Divinity, 2015

Pastoral Associate, Ignatian Young Adults | Ignatian Social Justice Ministry | Family Ministry | Laudato Si’/Care for Creation Ministry | Women’s Voices

The First Mass for the Care for Creation

On July 9, 2025 Pope Leo XIV celebrated the first Mass using the new “Care for Creation” formulary at the Laudato Si’ Village in Castel Gandolfo. This Mass, now part of the Roman Missal, invites Catholics to integrate the beauty and urgency of environmental stewardship into their worship life. Surrounded by nature, the Pope called for a conversion of hearts—both inside and outside the Church—to embrace our shared mission of protecting God’s creation.

What can you do?

Faith and caring for our planet go hand in hand. Here are practical ways you and your parish can live out this connection:

At Mass and Worship

Join special Creation Masses: Participate in services that celebrate our connection to God’s creation using new prayers and readings

Experience creation-focused worship: Enjoy music, art, and homilies that help you see God in nature and understand your role as a caretaker of the earth

Hands-On Activities

Prayer walks: Take meditative walks outdoors, combining prayer with appreciation for the natural world around you

Community clean-up days: Roll up your sleeves for neighborhood cleanups, park restoration, or waterway protection projects

Start a community garden: Help grow food for local food banks while learning about sustainable living

Spiritual Growth

Slow down and notice: Take time to really see the beauty around you – from sunrise to the changing seasons – as a way to connect with God

Learn from different generations: Join events where older and younger parishioners share wisdom about faith and environmental stewardship

Why This Matters

Pope Leo reminded us that when we truly look at creation with wonder and respect, we grow closer to God, to each other, and to the earth itself. This isn’t just about being “green” – it’s about living out your faith in a way that honors the world God entrusted to us.

Getting Started Ask your parish what creation-focused activities they’re planning, or suggest starting one yourself. Many parishes are looking for people who want to connect their faith with practical care for the environment.