Tradespeople constructed the crosses by hand.
Catholic sisters, brothers, and priests are continuing their advocacy and activism for people in migration with “A Display in Remembrance” this fall.
Members of Priests for Justice for Immigrants as well as Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants partnered with local tradespeople to produce a public display: dozens of wooden crosses bearing the name, country of birth, and date of death for the dozens of people who have been killed by Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) in the last two years.
The crosses were handmade by the Regional Council of Mid-America Carpenters in Elk Grove Village, IL, and a local painters union assisted by inscribing the crosses. Custom travel crates will allow volunteers to pack and transport the crosses to various public displays this fall.
The display will first be set up at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago as part of National Migration Week (September 20-26, 2026), connected with a prayer service there that will be led by Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago.
(Left to right) Br. Michael, Sr. Carrie, Sr. Jean Keeley, OP, Fr. Corey, and Fr. Brendan Curran, OP, together at the carpenters’ center.
Br. Michael Gosch, CSV, helps organize SBI activities alongside several peers from religious communities. Br. Michael, Fr. Corey Brost, CSV, and several fellow religious visited with the tradespeople as they worked on the crosses. “We talked with many of the volunteers and coordinators of the project. They were interested in and grateful for our dedication in witnessing to and supporting justice for immigrants and immigration reform,” Sr. Carrie Miller, SLW, said. “Their presence and participation were an expression of their personal witness. That added a special joy to our day – a blessed day of collaboration, mutual support, and affirmation.”
SBI, Viator House of Hospitality, and friends and partners continue public witness in support of immigrants, usually once a month at various sites around Chicagoland. Subscribe to Viator House’s newsletter to keep up with upcoming plans.