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Home / Economic Crisis / Pastoral Letter
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My brothers and sisters in the Lord,
As the liturgical year comes to a close and we begin a new Church year with Advent, we face incredible challenges and much uncertainty with regard to the economic well-being of our families, our Church and our metropolitan area. Yet, we are people of faith. With Christian hope, we trust God is with us precisely in times of loss, pain and darkness; we believe He will work with us to grow closer to Him and one another through these tough times.
Advent is a season of hopeful expectation. At this darkest time of the year, we proclaim that Christ is our light and Christ is our hope. While the government and business communities are searching for reasonable and just solutions to the current economic challenges, the Church seeks to help us put these things into a spiritual perspective.
Again and again, the Scripture for these weeks of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany proclaim God's Word of consolation and hope, even in the midst of uncertainty, loss and suffering. On Christmas Eve, we will hear the encouraging words of Isaiah, words that ring true for believers in every age: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone … For a child is born to us, a Son is given to us …"
We will also hear the message the angels addressed to the shepherds that first Christmas, a message we need to hear more than ever: "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy … a Savior has been born for you, who is Christ and Lord …"
As your archbishop, I am writing to offer some pastoral insights and suggestions about how we might prepare to celebrate Christmas this year when economic conditions are so grim.
Many people in our community have lost their jobs or face the likelihood of permanent layoffs. Countless people live in fear of losing their homes, while many others have experienced loss of pensions and serious diminishment of personal investments. The automobile industry, our primary employer, is going through a major transition. While many of us have lived through other times of downsizing and economic downturns, this time, the prospects for recovery require radical changes. Things in Michigan will probably never be the same.
Like our brothers and sisters all around the globe and over the course of the centuries, the residents of this area have always been people of extraordinary tenacity, perseverance and determination, ready to do whatever it takes to survive, even to thrive. As believers, we have all the more reason to see these challenging times as an opportunity to be creative: we know that living more simply can be spiritually purifying, bringing us closer to God and one another. Wherever there is death, there is also reason for hope and resurrection, new birth and new life. During a time of great crisis some 200 years ago in our then-frontier settlement, Fr. Gabriel Richard was inspired to write: "We hope for better things; it will arise from the ashes." Those words remain to this day as the motto of the City of Detroit.
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