Dear People of St. James’,
On Sunday afternoon, Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a young Venezuelan immigrant, was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer during a traffic stop in North Austin while he was delivering food for DoorDash. Subsequent to his arrest, he was denied full and humane medical treatment and adequate conditions for recovery from the gunshot wound. Investigations into what happened are ongoing, and the media fight between agencies and interests has begun. Regardless of what is yet to be uncovered, my heart and my spirit are heavy and I cannot help but feel outrage, because this violent arrest and its aftermath clearly show us the inherent and capricious violence of our current practices of immigration enforcement. This is the kind of violence that tears apart the vital fabric of communities and families through fear, terror, and separation. It has no respect for human dignity, and it damages the human soul.
The Episcopal Church continues to cry out for humane and compassionate immigration reform and for a faithful response to the global migration crisis. We must remember and not forget that every person is a child of God, beloved and cherished by their creator, and worthy of dignity, love and compassion. As the people of St. James’, we believe in making spaces and building relationships where love can overcome fear, where kids can be kids, where people of all ages and backgrounds can experience joy and community, and where they know that they are not valued based on their productivity, but because they are a gift from God as a companion on this journey. We continue our steadfast and ongoing pastoral work of reaching out to and listening to and walking with those who are most vulnerable during this time. If you need to talk or if you have a loved one who has been detained, please contact our clergy.
I ask that you, the people of St. James’, would pray for Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, for his family and friends, for all who have been involved, and for the larger community facing pressing fears in the light of this shooting. Let us also pray for the institutions involved, that they may, through transparency, honesty, and self-examination, learn to better serve all people in our communities.
May God bring healing to those who suffer. May God give wisdom, strength and courage to those empowered to act for the good. May our prayers make us attentive to the fears and needs of all of our neighbors, regardless of immigration status, and may our prayers make us creative and active in the exercise of compassion, generosity, and resistance to injustice.
Join us in prayer this Sunday as we continue to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and the blessings of diverse community. During the 12-1 pm hour, we will have some community conversation with our guest preacher, The Rev. Nancy Frausto, which I believe will help us continue to faithfully navigate this moment together.
Rev. Eileen
