On the evening of Monday, December 1, Holy Cross Father Robert A. Dowd, president of the University of Notre Dame, presided and preached at a Mass for immigrants and immigration reform at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The Mass was held in response to a special message published on November 12 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in which the bishops expressed opposition to “the indiscriminate mass deportation of people” from the U.S. as well as to recent comments by Pope Leo XIV. The beginning of Advent, Father Dowd noted in his homily, was a fitting time to celebrate the Mass. “Advent is a season when, in a special way, we are called to prepare a place for the Lord Jesus in our hearts, in our minds, in our lives, and in our communities,” Father Dowd said. “Advent is also a season when we are called to develop insight – a holy insight – that allows us to recognize the Lord Jesus as He comes to us.” Father Dowd observed that Jesus “comes to us in ways that are stunning for their ordinariness.” Referencing the Mass’ first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy, he said that God’s people are to be especially attentive to the vulnerable in their midst, for “God continues to come to us in flesh and blood, especially the flesh and blood of those who struggle the most.” “While there are many vulnerable people in our midst here in our country and elsewhere in our world – and we Christians are called to recognize Christ present in them all – this evening, as members of the Notre Dame family, we join with our Holy Father, Pope Leo, and our bishops to pray that we might recognize Christ present in our immigrant population, many of whom are especially vulnerable these days,” Father Dowd said. Father Dowd noted that “it is important to recognize the right and responsibility of governments to decide who, when, and how to allow people into a country, including this one.” “There can be no doubt our immigration system in this country is broken, and has been for some time,” he said. “There is need for reform.” “However,” he continued, “it is imperative that we treat people who are in this country – many for several years, contributing to and enriching our country – with the respect that their God-given dignity demands.” December 1, 2025; Guests visit the Grotto after a Mass for Immigrants and Immigration Reform at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. (Photo by Michael Caterina/University of Notre Dame) Father Dowd exhorted the hundreds of attendees to consider how the community can work together to address the brokenness of the immigration system. “At Notre Dame, we must do more than complain. We must deepen our understanding of the complexity of the situation and work with others to propose sensible and humane solutions,” he said. “That’s what universities are for.” Father Dowd concluded his homily with a call to pray for immigrants, for “sensible and humane immigration policy reform” and for “elected leaders and all who have the responsibility of governing and enforcing our country’s laws.” “And let us pray that those of us who call ourselves Christians might be cultivators of hope by recognizing Christ in the vulnerable, serving Him there, learning from Him there, and standing with Him there,” he said. “May Notre Dame always be a community dedicated to growth, not only in knowledge, understanding, and technical expertise, but in wisdom and insight – the holy insight to recognize the mysterious presence of Christ in our midst.” Holy Cross Father Gerard J. Olinger, vice president for student affairs, closed the Mass with an invitation to join Father Dowd and himself in prayer at the Grotto on the university’s campus, “to light a candle and to ask for the intercession of Our Lady as we navigate these conversations as a nation.” Father Dowd’s full homily is available at president.nd.edu. Carrie Gates is associate director of media relations for the University of Notre Dame. The post ND President Celebrates Mass for Immigrants, Reform appeared first on Today's Catholic. ...read more read less