We are humbled to welcome Bishop Cristiano Borro Barbosa, auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Boston. Bishop Cristiano was born in Brazil and came to the U.S. for graduate studies as a priest. He ended up joining the Archdiocese of Boston and was later ordained an auxiliary bishop. He primarily ministers to the migrant population, including the large Brazilian population in Massachusetts. Bishop Cristiano reflects on the image from Pope Francis of the Church as a field hospital that tends the wounds of people amid the challenges of life, including the current climate of fear in the immigrant communities he accompanies.
Brian and Joe reflect on this image of the Church as a field hospital. Brian shares the story of Selina, a single mom from Honduras who sent her son Samuel into the United States alone as an unaccompanied minor. While Brian was upset about this decision, he realized that Selina didn’t need to be castigated; she needed someone to hold her and tend her wounds. Joe shares the story of a recent communion service at a detention center, where the spontaneous request of a detainee led to a beautiful moment of people reaching out for God’s healing touch.