JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (OSV News) – "My journey reminds me that we are all God's children and that we need one another as we walk together toward eternal life."
Felicia Annunoby's words echoed off granite walls etched with Scripture verses and ceiling panels emblazoned with images of past immigrants to Missouri hard at work.
"By God's grace and with persistent prayer and the support of my faith community, I was able to overcome the challenges I faced as an immigrant," said Annunoby, a member of St. Peter Parish in Jefferson City.
She was one of several people who spoke of their immigrant experiences during a "Prayer and Witness to Stand with Migrants" event in the rotunda of the Missouri Capitol.
The Jefferson City Diocese and Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri co-sponsored the peaceful, nonpartisan prayer service Aug. 15, the feast of the Assumption.
About 300 people gathered in the Capitol with Bishop Ralph B. O'Donnell of Jefferson City and Fr. Scott Jones, a priest representative of St. Louis Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski.
In her remarks, Anunoby, a registered nurse, recounted that when she was young and vulnerable she traveled from her home country of Nigeria to find work in the United Kingdom. During difficult times, "I held firmly to my faith, which sustained me," she said.
Her journey led her to the U.S. in 1966, where she endured emotional and verbal abuse in an arranged marriage marred by addiction. Local service agencies helped her set out on her own. She went on to pass her nursing board exam and earn a bachelor of science degree in nursing and two master's degrees. She later reconciled with her late husband, and they raised their children together.
Thirty years ago, she joined St. Peter Parish. "The parishioners and perpetual Eucharistic adoration became the sanctuary I needed during my struggles, isolation and loneliness as an immigrant," she said.
The crowd in the rotunda prayed for strangers to be welcomed, as Anunoby was, with compassion and for the God-given dignity of every human person to be upheld from conception to natural death.
Fr. Stephen Jones, vicar general of the diocese and pastor of Cathedral of St. Joseph Parish in Jefferson City, served as emcee.
"We honor the many immigrant, migrant and refugee communities whose faith, labor, cultures and sacrifices have helped shape this nation into what it is today," said Fr. Jones.
He mentioned his own great-grandparents from Germany who arrived at Galveston Island, Texas, in 1871.
"All of us have an origin story which has led us to this time and to this place," he said.
The people began in the nearby Proto-Cathedral of St. Peter by meditating on the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary, which recount Christ's passion and death.
Several people took turns leading the prayers in Igbo, Tagalog, English, Spanish and Burmese. Marissa Madden-Flores, director of Family and Immigrations Services at Catholic Charities, offered a brief meditation for each sorrowful mystery.
The prayers reminded Bishop O'Donnell of how his grandmother, a daughter of immigrants from Germany, would pray the rosary in her native tongue at her kitchen table each morning.
"From generation to generation, we learn and carry the faith," the bishop said.
The people prayed quietly before processing in sacred silence to the Capitol.
The bishop and priests led the faithful in walking behind the diocese's Jubilee Cross, built for the Great Jubilee 2000 and containing a relic of the True Cross.
Hymns, antiphons and petitions rose up within the Capitol rotunda.
Bishop O'Donnell called upon St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, patron saint of immigrants, to intercede for everyone present.
"May we receive through your prayers the grace to open our hearts so that we may provide hospitality for all who come in search of refuge," he said.
The bishop proclaimed the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46).
In that passage, Jesus warns his disciples that when he returns in glory, he will separate those who treated others with mercy and compassion from those who did not.
Those who acted righteously will be taken up into heaven, with the Lord saying, "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me."
Those who neglected the people around them will be consigned to eternal punishment.
Bishop O'Donnell said the parable is an urgent reminder to notice people who are hungry, thirsty, estranged, naked, sick or imprisoned and to help them on God"s behalf.
"Let us pray today that all will come to know the Lord's mercy," said Bishop O'Donnell, "and in receiving that gift extend it to one another."
Representatives of various communities offered prayers for churches and communities; for unaccompanied minor children; for neighbors, friends and family members; for migrant workers; for all who have been driven out of their homeland by violence; for government leaders; for people in law enforcement and first responders; and for all who have died while searching for safety and hope.
"Strengthen us to recognize Christ in every person we encounter," Fr. Stephen Jones prayed, "and help us to build a world marked by justice, mercy and peace."
Everyone present prayed the Lord's Prayer together in his or her own native language.
Fr. Scott Jones gave voice to prayers from Archbishop Rozanski, who had hoped to take part in the event but woke up sick that morning.
"You love each one of your children regardless of the lands they come from," the priest prayed. "We ask that you make our hearts humble and willing to welcome those who knock at our doors."
On the archbishop's behalf, the priest urged everyone to pray daily for hearts to be open to seeing Christ in every person; for immigrants, migrants and refugees to find safety, hope, justice and welcome; for wisdom and compassion to guide elected officials, civic leaders and law enforcement; and for this nation to grow in unity, justice, peace and respect for the dignity of every human life.
"Go forth today," Fr. Scott Jones proclaimed, "with a simple prayer on your lips: 'Lord, help me to see you in every person I meet, and make me an instrument of your peace.'"
