A Message from Fr. RJ Fichtinger, S.J.
JANUARY 8, 2026
Dear Saint Thomas More,
As members of the community, we acknowledge the feelings of sorrow, anger, and helplessness many of us are feeling at the senseless killing of Renee Nicole Good yesterday. We grieve the loss of life, we grieve with her loved ones, and we grieve as a community that has been wounded. As St. Paul reminds us, “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it” - 1 Corinthians 12:26. In this moment, we suffer together.
Our parish community is deeply committed to the plight of immigrants and refugees, and feel the increased presence of ICE in Minnesota and the climate of hostility more acutely. In the coming days, we will work to gather local resources for accompaniment, support, and education. It’s crucial that our response comes from a place rooted in the gospels, and that we continue to love our neighbors as ourselves and choose compassion over indifference.
We share in the following statement from Archbishop Bernard Hebda:
“We continue to be at a time in this country when we need to lower the temperature of rhetoric, stop fear-filled speculation and start seeing all people as created in the image and likeness of God. That is as true for our immigrant sisters and brothers as it is for our elected officials and those who are responsible for enforcing our laws. I echo today the repeated call of the U.S. Catholic bishops that we come together as a nation and pass meaningful immigration reform that does justice to all parties. The longer we refuse to grapple with this issue in the political arena, the more divisive and violent it becomes. It is only by working together – with God’s help – that we will have peace in our communities, state and world”With peace,
Fr. R.J. Fichtinger, S.J. and the staff of Saint Thomas More