From the RectorDear Parishioners and Friends, Last Thursday the priests of our deanery met for lunch with Bishop Matt Heyd at a restaurant in downtown Chester. This lunch had been planned for a while, and we were all prepared to discuss mission priorities, especially the proposed new system for calculating each parish's "Common Mission Share" aka the assessment to the diocese. We did those things, and even shared a few laughs, but something else broke into our fellowship. The bishop apologized because his phone was ringing, and he was having to excuse himself from our conversation frequently. He explained that this was because the daughter of a priest of our diocese had been detained by federal agents. We were shocked. Yeonsoo "Soo" Go, the daughter of the Rev. Kyrie Kim, was detained outside Federal Plaza in Manhattan after attending a routine hearing. Go is in the US legally on a visa that is extended to family members of religious workers. She has been here since 2021, graduating with honors from Scarsdale High School and currently attending Purdue University in Indiana. She was attempting to convert her visa, which is set to expire at the end of December, to a student visa in order to complete her studies. She was flown to a Louisiana prison, where more than one thousand like her are being held. Thanks to the swift action of our bishop and other faith and government leaders, as well as national media attention, Go was released after five days and reunited with her mother. At least two other local Episcopalians, one a member of St. Bartholomew's, White Plains, and the other a member of St. Mary the Virgin, Times Square, are also in ICE custody. In this case, both are asylum seekers. Efforts are underway to secure their release as well. Our Bishop has spoken clearly: "the illegality and cruelty of weaponizing our immigration courts and upending due process are evil. We’ve participated in lawsuits around faith institutions serving as sanctuary. Courts were sanctuary, too — until this year. We will continue to speak and advocate as well as be present for those who are in danger." The clergy of this diocese are very well attuned to the frightening situation that many of our people are in. We are working closely with diocesan officials and other faith and community partners to "...strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being." (BCP 305) Blessings,
Father Rick
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