PROVIDENCE — Just over one year into his ministry as Bishop of Providence, Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., continues to place immigration and migration among the central pastoral concerns of the diocese.
On June 3, approximately 80 people from across Rhode Island gathered in the lower hall of the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul for “Continuing the Conversation: A Convening on Immigration and Migration,” an evening of reflection featuring Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn, sociologist Dr. Kara B. Cebulko of Providence College, and Father Joseph Brice, pastor of St. Patrick Church and president of St. Patrick Academy in Providence.
The gathering marked the latest step in a months-long diocesan effort focused on prayer, education, advocacy and accompaniment. Since December 2025, Bishop Lewandowski has led monthly Rosaries for Migration outside the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls.
In March, he led a pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., where clergy, religious and lay faithful met with Rhode Island’s congressional delegation to advocate for meaningful immigration reform rooted in human dignity.
More recently, the diocese joined the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association, Rhode Island State Council of Churches, Rhode Island Hospitality Association, and Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce in issuing a joint statement supporting Rhode Island’s immigrant communities and promoting trust among community institutions.
The June 3 convening sought to deepen this ongoing conversation by bringing together perspectives from Church leadership, academic research and parish ministry.
In his keynote address on “Meaningful Immigration Reform,” Bishop DiMarzio emphasized that addressing the complexities of immigration requires not only policy solutions but also a willingness to engage across differences in pursuit of the common good.
He pointed to the importance of civic dialogue as a foundation for that work, saying, “We want to have a country where we discuss, where we debate, where we compromise to find out goals that are for the common good.”
He also urged those working on immigration issues to move beyond polarization and toward coalition-building that can address the underlying realities shaping migration, including labor needs, family stability, and the long-term integration of immigrants into American society.
Bishop DiMarzio also encouraged collaboration among religious organizations, businesses and community leaders in promoting policies that respect the dignity of every person.
Dr. Cebulko examined the changing rhetoric surrounding immigration over the past two decades and the human consequences of current policies. Reflecting on research she began in 2006, she noted a shift toward increasingly dehumanizing language, contrasting it with earlier public framing of immigration by national leaders such as then-President George W. Bush. In his 2006 address on immigration reform, Bush described Mexico as “our neighbor, and our friend,” and emphasized the balance between enforcement and tradition, stating, “We’re a nation of laws, and we must enforce our laws. We’re also a nation of immigrants… These are not contradictory goals.”
As one example of what she described as increasingly dehumanizing language, Dr. Cebulko pointed to the recently launched “aliens.gov” website, which uses immigration enforcement data alongside extraterrestrial-themed imagery and terminology.
She noted that the site refers to immigrants as “aliens” and, in some instances, uses the pronoun “it” when referring to immigrants. For Dr. Cebulko, this language reflects a broader trend of dehumanization in how immigrants are discussed.
“It [aliens.gov] is propaganda. It is political theater. It is deliberate, and it is extremely dehumanizing,” Dr. Cebulko said.
Throughout her presentation, she encouraged attendees to approach immigration through the lens of compassion and empathy, recognizing the human impact of immigration laws and enforcement practices.
Offering a local perspective, Father Brice shared two parish experiences illustrating the impact of immigration-related challenges on families: one in which a father was deported, leaving behind a pregnant wife and children, and another where a father was detained, leaving relatives to care for his children. He noted that such situations create fear and uncertainty that ripple through family life, parish engagement, and broader community participation.
Still, Father Brice said he finds hope in the response of parishioners who choose to accompany those affected. “I see hope in people who stepped up when they hear those stories… they say to me, ‘How can we help that family? Can we call them, can we take their kids to school?’ They see all of this as a community issue—their problem is our problem,” he said.
One attendee, Marie Noel, reflected on her own experience arriving in the United States with limited English and finding a sense of belonging through her parish community and participation in the Mass.
“I thought it was necessary to show up [tonight]—to listen, to learn,” she said. As an immigrant herself, Noel shared that the Church became her true sense of home. “I didn’t speak English, but I spoke the Mass. I understood the liturgy. That sense of community, that sense of unity was so gracious to me, and that’s why I’m so committed to the Church more than anything else,” she said. She also reflected on what she sees as a challenge within the Church today, noting, “It’s a shame because I think many of our priests, many of our parishioners have shut that off. Our political views are more important to us than our fraternal Christian relationship.”
While speakers acknowledged the complexity of immigration policy and the need for orderly legal processes, they stressed that meaningful reform must begin with recognition of the dignity of every person.
Throughout the evening, a consistent theme emerged: immigrants are not abstract issues or political categories, but neighbors, parishioners, coworkers, and members of families. In that light, participants were reminded that the Church’s response to immigration is rooted not only in policy discussions, but in encounter, compassion, and a commitment to seeing Christ in every person.
