Dear Friends,

Matthew 25:31-46 foretells a time of Jesus separating the sheep from the goats, sheep being people who welcomed him when he was “a stranger.” The sheep don’t remember doing this and ask Jesus, “When?” He replies, “As often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me.”

Pope Benedict XVI has expressed the hope that Catholics would help overcome “difficulties of acceptance and integration” and welcome migrants and refugees. This is both the demand of the Gospel and a way to gain knowledge of, and respect for, ethnic and cultural differences.

In this issue of Jesuit Journeys, a series of reflections by bishops and our other apostolic partners about immigration reform reminds us why, regardless of our roots, we are all one family in God’s eyes.

Our cover story about St. Francis Mission depicts how this ministry has adapted to help meet needs that have changed considerably since Jesuits first encountered and walked with the Lakota people of South Dakota. John Sealey’s column about the 50th anniversary of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps describes the grace we receive when we commit to reaching out and helping others.

Fr. Dick McGarrity’s reflection on the Holy Father’s first encyclical and our spirituality feature on Fr. Jeff Loebl and Bl. Peter Faber are important reminders of how God’s love is manifested through the lives of the people we know, as well as those whom we come to know through them.

The months ahead promise to be exciting for our Province. As we continue to celebrate this Jubilee year and honor the lives of St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis Xavier, and Bl. Peter Faber, we will also ordain two new Jesuit priests on June 9th in Omaha. In August our second-year novices will pronounce first vows, and our first-year novices will enter the St. Paul novitiate.

As Jesuits have for more than 450 years, we honor, we send forth, and we strive to welcome others as we hope to be welcomed by them.

The generosity and prayers of our lay colleagues and Partners are essential in helping our Province continue a tradition of working together as God’s children in service to our Church and Loving Creator. Thank you all for walking with us on this journey of hope.