One of the world’s top Catholic thinkers on migration will speak in Portland in June. Holy Cross Fr. Daniel Groody’s latest book, A Theology of Migration: The Bodies of Refugees and the Body of Christ, includes a foreword from Pope Francis. In a talk organized by Catholic Charities of Oregon, Rev. Groody will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, in Brian Doyle Auditorium at the University of Portland.
A professor and administrator at the University of Notre Dame, Rev. Groody has for decades traveled worldwide, met with migrants and deeply plumbed what migration means for life, society and faith. The priest not only examines the many instances of displacement and migration in Scripture — including the holy family — but reminds readers that Jesus made a migration from divinity to humanity. Also, Jesus came to reconcile humanity, Rev. Groody says, positing that the Christian life overall is a migration from brokenness to oneness.
Rev. Groody has served on the U.S. Catholic bishops’ committee on migration. He advocates seeing the humanity of migrants. That differs from a rising narrative in the United States, which frames migrants in general as threats.
“We don’t just need more statistics about migration,” says Father Groody. “We need a new imagination.”
Tickets are $10, advance registration suggested.