“Saint Joseph was a migrant. The Bible was written by migrants. Running off a migrant is like turning against yourself. A person must be more than spiritual. They must act. Some people read the Bible and fall asleep. For me, it was a jolt. The worst thing as a Christian is to go through life asleep.”
-Rev. Padre Leo

In the Spring 2020 semester, EDS at Union will be examining the perilous journeys that undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers take to get to the United States and the role that faith leaders can play in helping to build a more just future. To that end, EDS at Union has selected Sonia Nazario’s Enrique’s Journey The Story of a Boy’s Dangerous Odyssey to Reunite with his Mother as our Community Read for the upcoming semester. Please join us in reading this important book, and on-campus to hear from two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sonia Nazario on Wednesday, February 5, at 6:00 pm EST. She will deliver a lecture, then sit down in conversation with Dean Kelly Brown Douglas.

Click here to register to attend or to watch the live stream^*

Dean Kelly Brown Douglas noted, “As I read the book, I was struck by the way faith and faith leaders play an important, recurring role throughout the journey that immigrants make, and I was particularly struck with how a few key leaders, such as Bishop Hipolito Reyes Larios and Padre Leo of Nuevo Laredo, have inspired communities and congregations to take a proactive role in attending to the plight of the migrants.”

Please be advised: We urge all readers to prepare emotionally before joining the EDS at Union Community Read. Enrique’s Journey tells the story of a young boy’s dangerous, and at times deadly journey from Honduras to America. The violent experiences throughout his voyage may be disturbing for some to read.

^*Live stream will begin at approximately 6:50 pm EST and will not include Sonia Nazario’s opening remarks.