A Season to Welcome the Stranger: Maryknoll Advent Reflctions

The 2017 Advent Reflection Guide: A Season to Welcome the Stranger from the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns contains reflections, questions, prayers, and actions based on each week’s Gospel reading and the experience of Maryknoll missioners who have lived and worked with communities affected by forced migration in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

As the number of people fleeing wars, violent conflict, and political persecution reaches new heights, countries around the world are struggling to meet the demands of receiving these vulnerable people. Maryknoll missioners have the unique perspective of having been the stranger who has been welcomed, often by marginalized communities in some of the most isolated parts of the world. What a transformative experience it is! This lived experience of welcome has deepened our faith in the strength of God’s compassion and mercy and challenges us to create a culture of welcome for all migrants and refugees. We believe, as Pope Francis says, “Welcoming others means welcoming God in person!”

We will post excerpts from each of the four weeks of Advent in this space, starting with Week 1 this coming Sunday.