This Sunday, June 28, 2026, I will have the great privilege of joining the faithful of the Mission of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Delray Beach and its beloved pastor, Rev. Roland Desormeaux, C.S., as we celebrate the patronal feast of this extraordinary community of faith. It is always a profound joy for me to be among our Haitian Catholic brothers and sisters, whose steadfast faith, vibrant spirituality and deep love for the Church have become an indispensable part of the life of the Diocese of Palm Beach.
Only a few weeks ago, I had the blessing of making my pastoral visitation to the mission, where I encountered a parish family whose generosity, devotion and missionary spirit left a lasting impression on me. For nearly four decades, under the faithful pastoral leadership of Father Desormeaux, this mission has flourished as a beacon of hope not only for Haitians living in South Florida but for the entire Diocese of Palm Beach. It stands as a beautiful testimony to what can be accomplished when faith, sacrifice and pastoral charity come together in the service of God’s people.
For this very reason, although Sunday’s celebration is one of thanksgiving and joy, it is impossible for me to ignore the profound anxiety and sorrow presently affecting so many members of this community.
The recent decision of the Supreme Court of the United States permitting the federal government to proceed with the termination of Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of Haitian nationals has caused understandable fear throughout our Haitian Catholic communities. Many families now face profound uncertainty about their future, despite having lived peacefully in this country for many years, raising their children here, contributing to the economy, paying taxes, serving in our workplaces, volunteering in our communities and faithfully participating in the life of our parishes. Many know no other home than the one they have built here in the United States.
As Bishop of Palm Beach, I cannot remain indifferent to the anguish of these families. The Church walks with her people not only during moments of celebration but also during moments of suffering, uncertainty and fear. As our Holy Father, Pope Leo, keeps reminding us, the Gospel demands that we accompany those who are vulnerable, give voice to those whose cries might otherwise go unheard, and remind society that behind every immigration case there is not simply a legal file but a human person created in the image and likeness of God.
We recognize the legitimate right of every sovereign nation to regulate its borders and administer its immigration laws. At the same time, Catholic social teaching reminds us with equal clarity that immigration policies must never lose sight of the dignity of the human person. Justice and mercy are not opposing principles; rather, they must always accompany one another. Laws exist to serve the human person, not the human person to serve the law.
The current situation in Haiti remains deeply alarming. Years of political instability, the near collapse of governmental institutions, widespread gang violence, economic devastation, severe food insecurity and repeated humanitarian emergencies continue to inflict immense suffering upon millions of innocent people. Entire communities have been displaced, schools and hospitals have ceased to function in many regions and countless families struggle each day simply to survive. Returning large numbers of people to such conditions raises serious humanitarian concerns that deserve careful and compassionate consideration.
Within the Diocese of Palm Beach, the Haitian Catholic community has long been a tremendous blessing. Its members have enriched our local Church through their vibrant liturgical traditions, their strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, their generous service to the poor, their commitment to family life and their extraordinary fidelity to the Catholic faith. Our parishes, schools, charitable ministries and numerous apostolates have benefited immeasurably from their presence. They are not strangers among us; they are our brothers and sisters. They are members of our parish families. They are catechists, choir members, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, volunteers, benefactors, teachers, healthcare workers, first responders, business owners, laborers, students, faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, and even priests who provide a priceless spiritual service to so many members of our society.
For this reason, together with the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Diocese of Palm Beach, I respectfully and earnestly appeal to President Donald J. Trump, to members of his administration, to the Congress of the United States, and to all public officials entrusted with shaping our nation’s immigration policies to exercise wisdom, prudence and genuine humanitarian concern toward our Haitian brothers and sisters.
I respectfully ask that every lawful avenue be explored to avoid unnecessary suffering, to preserve the unity of families, to recognize the exceptional humanitarian circumstances that continue to exist in Haiti, and to seek solutions that reflect both justice and mercy. The greatness of a nation is measured not only by its ability to enforce its laws but also by its capacity to protect human dignity while doing so.
At this difficult moment, I also wish to address directly our Haitian Catholic faithful: Dear brothers and sisters, you are not alone. Your Church stands beside you. Your priests stand beside you. Your Bishop stands beside you. We pray with you, we suffer with you, and we will continue accompanying you spiritually and pastorally. Do not allow fear to extinguish your hope. Continue placing your trust in the Lord, who never abandons His children even during their darkest hour. Continue praying for our nation, for our civic leaders and for peace in your beloved homeland.
I likewise invite all Catholics throughout the Diocese of Palm Beach to join me in praying for our Haitian brothers and sisters. Let us reject every temptation toward indifference. Let us continue welcoming one another with charity, supporting those who suffer, and remembering that our unity in Christ transcends every language, nationality, race and culture.
This Sunday’s celebration of Our Lady of Perpetual Help reminds us that Mary never abandons her children. She stood faithfully beside her Son beneath the cross, and she continues to accompany all who experience fear, uncertainty, displacement and sorrow. May she wrap her maternal mantle around the people of Haiti, protect all migrants and refugees, comfort families living with uncertainty, enlighten our nation’s leaders, and inspire all of us to build a society where truth is always united with justice, justice with mercy, and mercy with love.
May God bless Haiti.
May God bless the United States of America.
And may Our Lady of Perpetual Help continue to intercede for all her children with the tender love of a Mother who never ceases to help those who call upon her.
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Bishop Manuel welcomes comments and reflections from readers: bishopofpalmbeach@diocesepb.org
