My brothers and sisters in Christ, Pope Francis has declared the coming year an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, saying, “I am convinced that the whole Church will be able to find in this Jubilee the joy of rediscovering and making fruitful the mercy of God, with which we are all called to give consolation to every man and every woman of our time.”

For this extraordinary year, I am asking all of you to do something specific. During the Year of Mercy, let us especially be the Church present and alive to our brothers and sisters in the City of Flint who are in particular need of our love and consolation. In this magazine, you will read about what the Church is doing to help turn Flint around – and you will read how you can help.

Jesus tells us, “… I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Mt. 25:34-37) 

Jesus is right in front of us – in the hungry, the thirsty and the homeless of Flint. Please join me in treating them as we would treat the Lord.