Our Lord, Jesus Christ, became flesh in this world among us, taking on our humanity.

Born in a lowly stable, Jesus’ compassion for the marginalized was at the center of His sacred teachings. He comforted the poor, befriended the sinners, touched the lepers, healed the lame, empowered the women, welcomed the children, defended the shamed and washed the feet of his betrayer.

In the passage of the Good Samaritan, Jesus instructs us to “Go, and do likewise” (Luke 10:37).

He calls upon us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and house the stranger, for whatever we do to the least, we do to him (Matthew 25:40).

Our savior gave his life for us, but not before first imparting to us his words, example and command to love others as he has loved us (John 13:34-35).

We, the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation’s Board of Directors and staff, take heed to the power of Jesus’s explicit message. We are deeply concerned about the immigrants and refugees in our community.

These neighbors are among the most vulnerable people in our midst. As Christians, we are obligated to respond to their needs.

Never should a child in our schools wonder whether their parents will be present to pick them up at the end of the day. A mother should not isolate in her home for fear she will be separated from her family. An infant should not go without health care because of a parent’s inadequate documentation of their local residency.

This is all happening in our Fort Wayne community. The inhumane treatment of the powerless is unjust. Human life is sacred, and each person deserves to be treated with compassion, respect and dignity.

The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation continues the legacy of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and their foundress, St. Katharina Kasper, by walking alongside underserved populations.

We believe in responding to the needs of the time. In answer to the cry of the poor, we have narrowed our financial resources to focus on supporting community organizations that serve immigrants and refugees, along with those that provide perinatal and infant care to the most vulnerable.

Following the statements of Pope Leo XIV and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, we recognize that countries need to implement immigration laws because, without these, people are at risk for trafficking, exploitation, unsafe journeys and lack of protection.

These laws must be enforced humanely, treating people with the dignity bestowed upon them by our lord.

We are profoundly troubled by the dehumanizing impact our approach to immigration is having in our nation, and we vigorously defend the fundamental dignity of all people, including immigrants and the unborn.

The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation affirms the inherent dignity of immigrants and refugees. We promise that our work will embody charity, justice and unwavering support for the needs of every immigrant and refugee in our community.

To our marginalized neighbors, we stand in solidarity with you.

Living our faith in action, the foundation commits to:

• Attentive listening and courageous response to the most urgent needs of our immigrant brothers and sisters.

• Steadfast adherence to the Catholic Social Teachings, recognizing the dignity of every person.

• Steer our grant dollars toward resources that aid all immigrants, ensuring access to basic needs, health care, education, legal assistance and programs that empower immigrants to thrive.

• Advance community initiatives that uplift the most vulnerable among us.

• Partner with local organizations that care for underserved populations, amplifying their impact on immigrant families.

• Promote awareness of the needs of immigrants in our community to foster empathy and solidarity for all people, especially those who are marginalized or at risk.

The Fort Wayne community has a venerated history of caring for the neighbor who is suffering in body, mind and spirit. We have a number of faith congregations and nonprofit organizations that are focused on assisting vulnerable families, including immigrants.

We urge our community to continue honoring this legacy of caring for the underserved and to be especially mindful and generous with both time and financial support as we accompany our neighbors during this time of acute need.

As for the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, we will continue to strive to be instruments of God’s care for the immigrant, refugee and vulnerable person in our community as dictated by our faith and challenged by moral justice.

Meg Distler is executive director of the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation. This piece was submitted on behalf of the foundation’s board of directors.