St. Susanna Church in Dedham, MA is an active Pax Christi parish. For this year’s outdoor Nativity scene, the figurines of the Holy Family are not displayed — instead, the parish placed a sign: “ICE was here.”
When contacted by a Boston Globe reporter who asked if the photo was authentic and if ICE actually had visited the church, St. Susanna’s pastor Fr. Steve Josomo confirmed the veracity of the image and wrote the following response:
“Each year our Peace and Justice group (Pax Christi) tries to hold a mirror up to the world around us and reflect the celebration of Christmas ( the mystery of the Incarnation) with the reality of the world around us.
“The divine became flesh not in a palace at the center of an empire but on the margins of life through a lowly people – born in a manger.
“This insignificant infant threatened a jealous king to the point of him ordering the killing of all children up to a certain age to eliminate this perceived threat. I always wondered what kind of men (soldiers) would carry out such a cruel and brutal order.
“It seems we are living in a time when that dynamic is now part of daily life. We see it in the work of ICE.
“It is reported that ICE is specifically targeting churches this season from Thanksgiving to Christmas. It is also reported that that the majority of these deportations are of people who have no criminal records. People in our parish have known targeted people- one who served time in prison and led an exemplary life afterwards serving those re-entering society after being released from prison.
“We also have had the privilege of assisting 10 refugee families resettle in the area since 2018 ( from Burundi, Afghanistan, Honduras, Guatemala and Myanmar). These families have all experienced trauma (witnessing family members being killed, etc.) and carry both physical and emotional scars that will be with them for a long time. They come seeking a place of safety, and a chance to heal and live their lives in peace. Assisting these families in resettlement and accompanying them on their journey has touched and transformed many of the members of our Refugee Resettlement Collaborative over the years.
“Some of these people are now worried that despite following all the rules to date that the current administration is retroactively changing the rules and putting them at risk of being deported to places where they would face certain violence, if not death. (As I mentioned, one man has already died after being returned to his place of birth.)
“Of course this is all being carried out by the masked men in unmarked cars. While they have not (yet) come to our church, they have been reported in Dedham removing parents from their children at school bus pick up spots while telling onlookers they are removing some ‘bad people’ from the neighborhood.
“As this brutality unfolds and becomes commonplace, we look to the promise of the peace Christ brings into the world at Christmas. We commit ourselves to the way of His nonviolent love to all people, particularly those on the margins of life who have been deemed expendable and whose dignity is denied.
“This Christmas it seems the administration – in the name of Christianity – is extinguishing the very spirit that the babe born in a manger brought into the world.
“Symbolically, our Holy Family is safe in the sanctuary of our church – church writ as the people of God.
“…. Hope that helps answer your questions.
“Peace, Fr. Stephen Josoma”
The Pax Christi Massachusetts board released the following statement in support of St. Susanna parish:
The Pax Christi Massachusetts board of directors stands with St. Susanna Parish, in Dedham, MA, and their pastor, Fr. Stephen Josoma, in replacing the Holy Family with the sign ICE WAS HERE in their outdoor creche this Christmas, while giving Jesus, Mary and Joseph sanctuary in a traditional manger at the altar inside the church. We affirm the parish’s intention to confront consciences with a window into the here and now, to be prophetic rather than partisan or divisive. We also commend Boston Archbishop [Richard] Henning and Cardinal [Sean] O’Malley, together with the overwhelming majority of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, for their leadership in delivering a strong message last month in defense of the human dignity and right to due process of
every immigrant. We believe that both actions uphold Jesus’ command, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13: 34-35) and Pope Leo’s call for us to open our arms and hearts to [immigrants], welcoming them as brothers and sisters, and being for them a presence of consolation and hope” (Vatican, October 5, 2025). We join all who see this as a major moral issue of our times.
Pax Christi Massachusetts is a state chapter of Pax Christi USA, a section of Pax Christi International.
Fr. Rocco Puopolo, s.x. Coordinator of Pax Christi MA Board
That is a great, peaceful, nonviolent response to the horrible, criminal attacks on peaceful immigrants by the president and his stooges. Thank you
Very sad indeed from an immigrant who lived in Hyde Park, Boston. Adjacent to Dedham, MA. 😢😢
Thank you Father Steven Josomo for your thoughtful and important message.
Paki