LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — On Christmas Eve, one Lexington church showed solidarity with children at the border by displaying the infant Jesus behind an metal enclosure.
The powerful nativity scene is on display at the Historic Saint Paul Catholic Church on West Short Street. It is scheduled to be up until January 5.
"The Incarnation still occurs, Jesus is that child at the border not yet reunited with his or her parents," said JR Zerkowski, the Director of Interfaith Ministry, the Director of LGBTQ+ Ministry, the Director of Communications and the Director of Music for the Historic Saint Paul Catholic Church. "The Holy Family of Bethlehem is that holy family separated at the border. The Gospel is clear: what we do to others we do to Jesus. We celebrate the birth of a child who was liberator, a man who demanded justice, who required love and said that what we do to each other we do to him. St. Paul Parish stands with those marginalized and on the peripheries and we believe that they are Jesus, whether a child at the border, families separated, LGBTQ+ sisters or brothers, immigrants, those on our streets, those who only want the dignity that is rightfully theirs. At Christmas, especially, we must consider where Jesus is born in 2019, where the Word becomes flesh and dwells among us. We make this statement in solidarity with Jesus who came to be with those on the margins."
Zerkowski told LEX 18 that at their Night Mass, beginning at 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve, they will sing the 'Carol of the Refugee.' They will also sing that during their Christmas Day Mass as well.
"We stand in solidarity with Jesus as he comes to us in others," said Zerkowski.
