Act in the Spirit of Mercy

   

Adam (right) with his community in New York City

   Working as an immigration counselor at Catholic Migration Services in Brooklyn, NY has been nothing short of an amazing experience thus far. Helping people to apply for immigration benefits that I, by virtue of being born here, have always taken for granted has been a humbling experience and one that has afforded me some perspective on the privileged position I have in our society. In just a few short months I’ve been able to learn all about and help people with legal matters such as the citizenship process, deferred action for illegal childhood arrivals, obtaining a visitor visa for the United States, and Freedom of Information Act requests. Although my lengthy daily commute might sometimes make it difficult to want to get up in the morning, I can genuinely say that I enjoy going to work and having the opportunity to help change a person’s life each day.

   That being said, my job unfortunately comes with its fair share of disappointment as well. This disappointment usually stems from having to inform people that they cannot become a citizen or obtain the legal right to work, and is not something that I’m particularly fond of. However, I understand that this is an essential component of my job and I’ve recognized these moments as times when I’ve been moved to feel genuine empathy, compassion, or dare I say, mercy, for another person. One such example of this happened recently with a wonderfully sweet, older woman that had come to the office in order to apply for citizenship. I was immediately moved by her kindness and wanted nothing more than to help her obtain citizenship and thereby fulfill what she had previously started before her husband had passed away. Unfortunately though, after beginning the application process with her, I was forced to advise her that she ought to wait an additional two years before she could file her application. When I broke the news to her, I could hear the sadness and resignation in her voice, as she was devastated to find out she would have to wait even longer to become an American citizen. But something amazing happened, and sensing the sadness and disappointment in my own voice over the telephone, this kind, elderly woman actually began comforting me and thanking me for trying to help her. I was shocked that instead of dwelling on the unfortunate reality of her own situation, this woman was comforting me and trying to alleviate whatever misplaced feelings of guilt that I was having. Ultimately, this client would even go so far as to bring me a container of sweets when she next came to the office as a token of her gratitude.  

   I know that this might seem like a rather mundane story, but I think it encapsulates what this year has been about for me so far. In signing on to be a member of Mercy Volunteer Corps and work at Catholic Migration Services, I was focused on all the ways that I would be able to help those at the margins of our society. However, I’ve come to realize how people such as the sweet, older, Greek woman that came to the office are helping me and teaching me what it really means to act in the spirit of Mercy. 

Adam Augustyn - Catholic Migration Services - Brooklyn, NY