Walking with Migrants
Dear Editor: Thank you for publishing Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio’s column on critical points in immigration history (“Critical Points in Immigration History,” Dec. 20, 2025).
It is a helpful summary of the policies that shaped our country’s stance on migration through the 20th century.
He rightly notes the specific initiatives of Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Ronald Reagan.
But why no mention of the president who has now brought the “tremendous changes” to our immigration system that Bishop DiMarzio refers to?
If, indeed, “it is important to name a problem if you wish to solve it,” then name the people behind the new emphasis on deportation and the “return to nativist [and racist] attitudes.”
These changes did not arise spontaneously or materialize out of nowhere, as the column might leave readers to think.
They were purposely brought into being by Donald Trump and are being executed by U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, homeland security advisor Stephen Miller, and “border czar” Tom Homan.
Reticence or reluctance to mention these figures does the publication’s readers a disservice.
Dominic Preziosi
Carroll Gardens
God Bless the Staff of The Tablet
Dear Editor: I want to thank the entire staff of The Tablet. I can’t tell you how much the paper means to me. I love the paper copy, but I also love the newsletter too. The newsletter enables me to read a few stories when I have a few minutes free and gives me bite-sized moments of faith in my busy day.
I love reading The Tablet because it gives me ideas on how I can deepen my faith, how I can inspire and help others and it introduces me to new parishes to visit, personally or virtually, just by reading about them and looking them up online.
I love all the photos of the churches and the people. I will put the photos up on my refrigerator or bulletin board as a visual reminder that they are part of my spiritual family and that they need my prayers.
The Tablet has also helped me become a more devout Catholic and has helped me find new ways to have a closer relationship with God and the Eucharist.
I just wanted to share and say thank you. You are always in my prayers.
With deep gratitude,
Christina Panas
Elmhurst
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Thanks for a ‘Bright Christmas’ Season
Dear Editor: What a joy it was to celebrate Three Kings’ Day here at St. Joan of Arc! I am filled with gratitude as I reflect on the smiles, excitement, and faith shared by so many of our children and families. I truly hope that our young parishioners enjoyed the gifts brought to Jackson Heights by Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar, and that this (first-of-its-kind) celebration helped deepen their love for the Christ Child whom the Magi came to adore.
This beautiful day would not have been possible without the generous support of The Tablet’s “Bright Christmas Campaign,” our local NYPD precinct, and the Make a Difference organization, which continues to support our parish students in meaningful ways. Because of their generosity and collaboration, nearly 300 children received gifts between the two Masses. The long lines of children at the 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Masses were truly incredible to witness! It was a powerful sign of a parish that is alive, growing, and centered on families.
Moments like these remind us that when we come together in faith and generosity, something truly beautiful happens.
The joy of our children is not just a celebration of the season, but a sign of hope for the future of our parish community.
Father Christopher Heanue
Jackson Heights
Editor’s note: Father Heanue is pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Jackson Heights.