Prophetic Responses to ICE: Mangers With a Message & a Non-Sentimental Christmas

In a Nativity scene at St. Susanna Roman Catholic Parish in Dedham, Massachusetts, the Christ little one is lacking this Christmas. So too are Mary and Joseph. As a substitute, there sits a hand-painted signal: “ICE was right here.”

One other signal reads: “The Holy Household is protected within the Sanctuary of our Church. In case you see ICE please name (617) 370-5023” (an asylum hotline). An indication over the emptied creche reads: “Peace On Earth?”

A parallel reminder is going on outdoors Lake Road Church in Evanston, Illinois, close to Chicago, the place Mary stands close to the Nativity scene sporting a plastic gasoline masks and flanked by Roman troopers in vests labeled “ICE.” The child Jesus is zip-tied and wrapped in a silver emergency blanket.

At one other Chicago suburb church situated close to an immigration and Customs Enforcement facility the place protesters have continuously amassed, an indication on the manger reads: “Attributable to ICE exercise in our neighborhood the Holy Household is in hiding.”

Within the month of September alone, over 2,000 folks have been arrested in Illinois and Massachusetts. Clearly the communities are responding in methods which might be acquainted to those that comply with the Bible: Awakening creativeness via artwork and symbols and making use of the tales to right this moment’s evil goings-on, is at all times a part of a prophetic motion. As Aquinas taught, imaginative imaginative and prescient is required of the prophet—Jesus had these items, as do all who act prophetically. The prophet appeals to society’s ethical creativeness.

Unfavorable responses have ensued. The Boston Archbishop ordered the show at St. Susanna to be taken down, however the pastor, Father Steve Josoma, held a parish council and the parishioners voted to stick with it.

Conservative Catholic activists known as the scene “a grave scandal for Catholics.” Fr. Josoma notes that the aim of the show is to maneuver “past static conventional figures and evoke emotion and dialogue” in response to the concern many parishioners face, as federal forces unfold anxiousness, arresting undocumented immigrants and longtime authorized residents.

The United Methodist church in Evanston put up an indication, “We maintain this house to honor and keep in mind all of the victims of immigration enforcement terror.” 

St. Susanna’s Parish has supported ten refugee households since 2019, and labored alongside the federal authorities to take action. “It’s not a stunt. We work each day with refugees…..Take a look at the Gospel simply earlier than Christ was executed—that was political. We have been at all times taught: once you’re uncertain, ask, ‘What would Christ do?’ Now we’re doing that,” commented Phil Mandeville, a member of the Parish Council who coordinates a multi-church refugee help committee.

In Evanston, volunteers confirmed up from a close-by synagogue and stood outdoors through the church companies “to assist worshippers really feel protected.” 

Again in Massachusetts, one Catholic objector mentioned that “we should always converse to non secular issues, not issues of political division.” However one former Catholic schoolteacher who drove an hour to point out his help, mentioned: “The Archdiocese says, ‘Oh no, that goes towards our custom.’ Properly. We’re dwelling in occasions which might be completely irregular. We will’t simply proceed as regular. If we’re following the scriptures of Jesus, then we have now to acknowledge that these ICE raids, and all of those horrible issues occurring, are completely towards that.”

Mahatma Gandhi had an opinion on these issues. He mentioned: “Those that say faith has nothing to do with politics have no idea what faith means.” And he continuously complained about “a Christianity with out Christ.”  

In the meantime, should you take have a look at the Christian story, it consists of Joseph ushering his household in a foreign country to flee dangerous man Herod who was a politician par excellence. And naturally it additionally consists of the demise and torture of Jesus by the empire about 30 years later. So plainly faith and politics do certainly intersect.

Each Christian Nationalist Motion and the MAGA motion declare to be Christian, in order that sounds type of like politics and faith mixing, albeit of a perverse model of Christ. Type of antichrist it could appear.    

Ann Douglas defines sentimentalism as “rancid political consciousness.” Could this be a non-sentimental Christmas for all—one which celebrates the approaching of Justice and genuine Peace, of feeding the hungry and welcoming the stranger. Type of what Jesus stood for and why he died.

Leah Willingham and Laura Bargfeld, “Church Nativity scenes add zip ties, gasoline masks and ICE to protest immigration raids,” Related Press, December 12, 2025.

See additionally Fr. Stephen Josoma, “‘ICE was right here’ on the manger,” Pax Christi USA, December 3, 2025.

To learn the transcript of Matthew Fox’s video meditation, click on HERE.

Banner Picture: An ICE-raided crèche. Picture by Fr. Stephen Josoma of St. Susanna Parish in Dedham, MA. Used with permission.

Queries for Contemplation

Do you see politics within the Christian story of the Nativity in addition to in Jesus’ teachings? And do you acknowledge these teachings as particularly significant on this time of whipping up of hatred and hysteria towards immigrants and different minorities by sure political leaders?

Associated Readings by Matthew Fox

Sheer Pleasure: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality, pp. 448ff.