“ICE was here” Nativity at St. Susanna Parish in Dedham ignites dispute — archdiocese urged to remove display
A Nativity scene at St. Susanna Parish in Dedham featuring an empty manger and a sign reading “ICE was here” sparked debate, with critics urging the Archdiocese of Boston to remove it and supporters defending its migrant-focused message.
- Empty manger, provocative message: An outdoor Nativity substituted the Holy Family with an empty crib and a printed sign: “ICE was here.”
- Intent and defense: Fr. Stephen (Steve) Josoma said the installation was meant to prompt reflection on migrants and refugees; he kept traditional figures inside the sanctuary.
- Criticism and calls for removal: C.J. Doyle of the Catholic Action League condemned the installation as divisive and urged the Archdiocese to intervene; the Archdiocese had not issued a public statement in the reporting reviewed.
- Sources: Reporting is based on coverage by Pax Christi USA and a local TV coverage clip.
What the display showed
The outdoor manger at St. Susanna Parish in Dedham replaced the traditional figures of Mary, Joseph and infant Jesus with an empty crib and a printed sign that read “ICE was here.” Local television reporting described the tableau as implying that baby Jesus had been taken by immigration agents.
The installation also included contact information for a Massachusetts group that monitors immigration enforcement, inviting passersby to report sightings of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity. The scene was photographed and documented in reporting by Pax Christi USA and in a local TV coverage clip.
Who created it — and why
Fr. Stephen Josoma, pastor of St. Susanna Parish, confirmed he created the display. He told reporters he intended the image as a conscience-raising prompt, emphasizing that Jesus “was a refugee” and suggesting the Holy Family’s vulnerability is a present-day moral issue.
Fr. Josoma said the parish retains the figures of Mary, Joseph and Jesus inside the sanctuary and that the outdoor tableau was meant to spur reflection rather than to replace the traditional Nativity story.
St. Susanna’s recent history of politically themed Nativity scenes
This is not the first time St. Susanna has used its manger scene to comment on public issues. Local coverage notes previous Nativity displays highlighted climate change and gun control, and in 2018 the parish staged a protest scene depicting baby Jesus in a cage intended to criticize family separation at the U.S.–Mexico border. Those installations established a pattern of using Christmas imagery to focus attention on social issues — a pattern that has repeatedly split opinion among parishioners and local Catholic groups.
Criticism inside the Catholic community
“A political stunt” — C.J. Doyle, executive director of the Catholic Action League, called the display divisive, labeled Fr. Josoma a “dissident priest” and said a parishioner had contacted his group to complain and request archdiocesan intervention.
Doyle urged the Archdiocese of Boston to remove the installation. As of the reporting cited, the Archdiocese had not issued a public response to that request.
Framing the display in Catholic teaching
Supporters — including Pax Christi USA — framed the installation as rooted in Gospel teaching and Catholic social doctrine, noting the Holy Family’s status as refugees and urging solidarity with migrants and families affected by detention and enforcement.
Pax Christi characterized St. Susanna as an active parish within its network and presented the display as a nonviolent effort to raise conscience and encourage civic engagement on immigration issues.
Law enforcement and ICE: public comment status
In the materials reviewed, there was no published statement from ICE or local law enforcement addressing the St. Susanna display. A user-supplied claim that ICE acting director Todd Lyons criticized the installation could not be independently confirmed in the available reporting.
Future statements from ICE or the Boston field office could clarify whether federal officials will comment on the symbolism or community reaction.
Broader debate and public reaction
The dispute at St. Susanna reflects a national debate about the role of houses of worship in public discourse. One perspective holds that religious communities must apply moral teaching to public policy and defend vulnerable people; another argues that sacred symbols and seasons should remain separated from partisan messaging to preserve unity.
The inclusion of a hotline for an immigrant-rights monitoring group signaled the display’s intent to move from symbolism to action by directing people to report enforcement activity and offering a concrete path for civic engagement.
Implications for the United States
Economic impact: Immediate local economic effects are minimal, but faith-based attention to migrant issues can influence volunteer support, legal aid, donations and local services — with downstream effects on labor markets and community resources.
Political consequences: The display feeds polarized conversations on immigration enforcement, sanctuary policy and the role of religious leaders in civic life. Calls for archdiocesan intervention underscore tensions within institutional church governance and could affect Catholic voters and local leaders.
Social and cultural effects: Such displays can deepen divisions within parishes while making immigrant families and advocates feel seen. The use of the Nativity to comment on policy raises questions about balancing prophetic witness with pastoral care.
Practical applications for residents
For congregants and neighbors in Dedham and similar towns, the display prompts practical questions: Will parish leadership seek diocesan guidance? Might town officials or law enforcement receive calls from concerned residents? For those wishing to help immigrants, the hotline displayed offers an immediate route to report enforcement activity; for those concerned about politicizing worship, the dispute suggests raising governance questions with parish councils or the archdiocese.
Sources and further reading
- Pax Christi USA: “ICE was here at the manger” (Dec. 3, 2025)
- Local TV coverage clip reporting on the St. Susanna display
Reporting note: This story is based on available reporting from Pax Christi USA and a local TV clip. Public comments attributed to ICE leadership and a formal public statement from the Archdiocese of Boston were not found in the sources reviewed; additional statements could alter aspects of this account.
