COPS Metro staff and volunteers organize meetings around local people by districts. People talk about the challenges of their own districts and neighborhood with solutions that will also come from conversations in the meetings. It advocates for the causes of the common good and the vulnerable.
The COPS/Metro just celebrated its 50th Anniversary on October 26, 2025. Local parishes, organizations and international organizations gathered to celebrated the anniversary of the COPS Metro on October 26, 2025. The people attended the gathering in support of the causes of the organizations advocating for the needs of the vulnerable and the common good, looking forward to what comes next after this momentous event which is 50 years of work. Father Dennis Schaefer, OFM, one of the key speakers asked the people to reinvigorate, recommit and reform what belongs to God and His people.
Pope Leo similarly advocates for the impoverished that we need to build or gather as a community or work together and not to leave the poor behind. The COPS/Metro, with the support of the people in all these years, prides itself on collaborating with responsible organizations to make things happen such as water, sewage, swimming complex, community center, Texas Diabetes Institute, affordable housing, school in the west side, drainage, etc.
Through the COPS/Metro collaborating with other non-profit and business organizations, the people are able to overcome economic challenges recognizing their work and importance in the society. However, as Pope Francis said, "Do not rest in your laurels there is so much work to do." Therefore, the COPS Metro organization continues to commit with the help of the people and authorities in supporting each other. Support does not mean no disagreements. What the Frost Bank Executive said that they may have disagreements but they are both committed to a good cause.
Key Messages from Special Guests:
Bishop Sue Briner
"We are all immigrant. I am an immigrant from Canada. Except for the indigenous, we are all immigrants. We are here to protect for the safety and dignity of all"
Bishop Seitz
There is a great concern with the current policies when the end justifies the means. There’s violence and use power among the (migrants). The cries of the people are simply ignored. First of all (among the causes) is the families. The campaign that is happening is hitting the families. The status of the immigrant families are of mixed status. Where the families will be sent to a place they don’t know. How cruel we are to send the families?
We are generating a wounded families. We are hurting families. There is nothing Christian not Catholic about this.
Pope Leo supported its predecessor Pope Francis in his message coast of Tunisia, Lampedusa. Pope Francis said history is devastated by the powerful and saved by the humble.
Bishop Gustavo-Siller
"Bishops stayed together. We are inspired by the Catholic Social Teachings. Today, we are challenged. There are posters that invite suspicions. Pope Leo never discriminated. God loves all...We emphasize God’s compassion. We stood for six hours that day, visiting families. It was a strange feelings. There was no Hispanic families claiming families (in the detention) because of fear. This is unacceptable. We are celebrating with people who have received the benefit and those who will receive in years to come. We are challenged with our obligations. Christianity makes reference to the God of love. To welcome a migrant is to welcome Christ.
...
We are all building faith in action.”
Congressman Joaquin Castro
"We come today as people conscience. I have message for the President of United States. What we are seeing is lawlessness. We are seeing violence, people without badge and ID
… it doesn’t have to be that way. This is not American.
Policies should be guided by principles. A message to United States President. We are here calling out the inhumanity.
Families are being broken."
Sheriff Javier Salazar, Bexar County
"People like me need to be guardians and not oppressors. To one who declare himself as King but we have one King. We will be accountable for our actions."
There are other messages that have been said that focuses on the vulnerable situations of the migrants, as well as the accomplishments of the people whose lives have improved with the support of the COPS Metro.
The message of Pope Francis reberberates in this event given the works that have been done which he himself emphasized when he was with us. The greatest form of charity is political. As he told us, we need to focus on good.
More Information:
History - COPS/Metro Campaña Sandbox
Collaborate and Contact: Sister Francine (francine.keane@amormeus.org)
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