By Jose Kavi
New Delhi, May 20, 2022: Church people in India working among migrants have expressed shock and dismay at the murder of a priest who served migrants and refugees in Mexico.
“It was shocking news to know that Fr. Jose Guadalupe Rivas was found dead after been missing for a couple of days from his residence in Tecate on the US Mexico border,” says Father Jaison Vadassery, executive secretary, Commission for Migrants of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI).
Father Vadassery hailed the slain Mexican priest as “a diligent servant of God who worked also for the charismatic renewal of his diocese and good pastor for his sheep.”
The Indian Church official bemoans that working for the poor “and more specifically for the migrants and refugees has become a great challenge in the contemporary world even to the extent of losing one’s life.”
He says people speak “vehemently about human rights, right to life, and inclusive society,” but to achieve these demands requires real efforts and heroic sacrifices. The Mexican priest “has proved that he lived for the cause of the kingdom values through heroically laying down his life forever. Let his soul rest in peace,” Father Vadassery added.
Another Church worker among migrants, Sister Sujata Jena says she is “deeply pained and disturbed that a priest who had sheltered the migrants had to be murdered. Absolutely insane! shame on us, and on the world.”
The member of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Congregation wants accountability must be fixed for this murder. “But sadly, this is the trend. I painfully recall the unjustifiable, judicial murder of [Jesuit] Father Stan Swamy, a man who fought throughout his life for the most downtrodden. Such a travesty of justice should have no place in our world.”
Sister Jena, an advocate and social activist serving Dalit and tribal women of the eastern Indian states of Odisha and West Bengal, regrets that the rights and dignity of migrants are violated all over and at all times, regardless of place and people.
“The government lacks a clear immigration policy and a lack of coordination between factions in government with those who prioritize human rights. Therefore, the problem goes beyond there,” explained the nun who single-handled hundreds of migrants to reach their home during the lockdown because of the pandemic.
“Pope Francis reminds Christians that migrants and refugees should be welcomed worldwide,” she says while observing various challenges the world “throws at us.”
She says only a handful of people promise to follow the manifesto of Jesus. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free” (Luke 4: 18).
Sister Jena says the challenges should not dishearten Christ’s followers but only embolden them to accompany the poor, migrants, Dalits, Tribals and the most downtrodden ones.
“In fact, we priests and religious are migrants who have left our homes to participate in the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ. Fortunately we have better life, comforts and the like. We must not be unfaithful to God’s mission entrusted to us,” she adds.
Respectful farewell to Fr. Jose Guadalupe Rivas. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let your perpetual light shine upon the departed soul.