(ST. LOUIS) Marking five years as leader of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski is doubling down on two priorities that shape daily life for many local families: a public push against the nation’s tougher immigration approach and a sweeping church restructuring meant to steady parishes, schools, and social services. He says both efforts are about human dignity—helping people feel safe, and making sure the Church uses its limited resources where they do the most good.
The archbishop’s stance took center stage after President Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” into law on July 4, 2025. The law boosts funding for immigration enforcement and narrows protections long seen by churches as essential for family and community trust. Archbishop Rozanski called the measure a “moral failure,” pointing to the law’s $170 billion earmarked for ICE and Customs and Border Protection, plans for mass deportation, and the removal of protections for places of worship from enforcement.
“Our faith teaches us to have a special place in our hearts for the poor and the least among us,” he said. “This bill disregards the call of Jesus in our care for the poor amongst us.”
Interfaith Response and Community Fear
In June and July, Archbishop Rozanski served as a leading signatory among 20 U.S. Catholic bishops on an interfaith letter that opposed the legislation. Leaders from Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Islamic communities joined—a rare show of unity across faiths around immigration and human dignity.
Rozanski says the concern is not abstract. Immigrant families are now afraid to be seen, and he reports “a reduction in attendance at many of our religious services.” That fear has grown as families weigh the risk of public gatherings and travel, especially after protections for church spaces were removed.
For background on federal enforcement operations, see U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Policy Position and State-Level Challenges
Archbishop Rozanski has called for a “thorough examination” of the nation’s immigration system, urging Congress to craft reforms that value both security and the people who help power the economy. He:
- Supports deporting violent criminals
- Rejects broad enforcement that, in his words, “instill[s] fear or disrupt[s] the stability of peaceful communities”
- Urges measures that protect family unity and community trust
A new test arrives at the state level. Missouri Executive Order 25-05—signed January 13, 2025—requires state law enforcement to work with federal immigration authorities. Faith leaders worry the order could chill community trust and strain ministries that serve mixed-status families.
Not everyone agrees. Andrew Arthur of the Center for Immigration Studies criticized Rozanski and other bishops, accusing them of backing “amnesty” and opposing enforcement entirely. Supporters counter that Rozanski is not calling for open borders; rather, they say he advocates targeted enforcement and humane rules that don’t push families deeper into the shadows.
Policy Debate and Community Impact
The tension has real effects across St. Louis. Parish leaders describe how fear now shapes family routines:
- Parents think twice before driving at night
- Older relatives skip prayer groups
- Teenagers worry that any police stop could pull a parent into enforcement they don’t understand
Archbishop Rozanski’s guidance to pastors has been both pastoral and practical: welcome families, keep doors open, and make sure people know where to find legal help and community support.
He frames the issue as a test of moral leadership. If parishes grow quiet because people are scared, the entire city loses essential support networks. Schools, food pantries, and youth programs depend on community trust. When families stop showing up, they miss more than Sunday Mass—they lose touch with the networks that help during job loss, illness, or sudden crises.
Their interfaith letter called for federal action that:
- Balances border security with mercy and common sense
- Presses for legal pathways that reflect labor needs and long-term contributions of immigrants, including the undocumented
- Recognizes immigrants who work, pay taxes, start businesses, and raise children in the U.S.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, national coverage of church-led advocacy has highlighted how faith voices now focus on both family unity and local neighborhood safety.
Even with the new federal law, Rozanski insists there is room to reduce harm. He has urged officials to avoid sweeps that cause panic—especially near schools, clinics, and churches—and encourages parish teams to:
- Connect families with trusted legal partners
- Share clear, simple information in homilies, bulletins, and parent meetings
He emphasizes the goal is not politics in the pews but peace of mind for families who feel singled out.
Restructuring, Schools, and Housing Initiatives
While the immigration fight continues, Rozanski’s All Things New pastoral planning is reshaping the local Church. Launched less than a year after his arrival and now entering its next stage, the plan realigns parishes and ministries to match current population patterns and budgets.
Key pressures driving the plan:
- Fewer priests
- Lower parishioner counts in some neighborhoods
- Rising costs across operations
The archbishop has stressed that the Church must be present where people live now—not where they lived a generation ago.
Affordable Housing Efforts
One major pillar is affordable housing. After listening sessions identified housing as a top stressor for families, Rozanski convened an ecumenical “Oikos Group” to expand access. Highlights include:
- Creation of an Affordable Housing Fund within the Annual Catholic Appeal to support long-term, brick-and-mortar projects
- Launch of Catholic Charities Housing in 2024 to turn projects into addresses
- Development projects underway in Troy and Festus, with partnerships for additional projects in Washington and Troy
These are small but concrete steps to put roofs over heads rather than relying solely on short-term assistance.
Schools and Education Strategy
The school landscape is also shifting under All Things New. Actions and priorities include:
- Consolidation and restructuring of schools to stabilize enrollment and improve quality
- Ongoing reviews with no major closures or new openings in recent months
- Chancery-led parish and school listening sessions to gather input and promise updates before family enrollment decisions
Support measures for families and students:
- Help moving students smoothly to new campuses when reassignments occur
- Investments in teacher training and curriculum updates
- Partnerships with local organizations to strengthen classrooms
- Increased support for English learners and tuition assistance
Church leaders say these steps aim to protect the future of Catholic education in St. Louis amid demographic and financial pressures.
What Comes Next in St. Louis
Archbishop Rozanski, who marked his fifth anniversary on August 25, 2025, says the work is far from done. The Archdiocese plans to continue realigning parishes and ministries as population trends and budgets evolve.
On immigration, the archbishop and allied clergy intend to:
- Push for amendments and new bills that reduce harm while keeping borders secure
- Continue outreach to lawmakers, local police, and community partners
- Seek practical ways to keep families engaged in school, church, and neighborhood programs without fear
Backers say the Church is doing what it has always done—standing with people at the margins and building strong communities through steady, local work. Critics argue the Church’s stance on enforcement weakens the rule of law. Rozanski’s response is pastoral: protecting life and dignity is the point, and respectful disagreement does not end the conversation.
For families seeking updates, the Archdiocese and its partners post regular notices and resources online. These include parish changes, school timelines, and help for housing, food, and counseling. Official updates and contacts are available at:
Local Action Steps and Final Takeaways
As enforcement increases nationwide, local choices matter:
- Parish volunteers, school leaders, and social service teams often spot problems first—like a parent who stops coming to pick-up or a sudden drop in Sunday Mass attendance
- The Archdiocese is asking each parish to keep outreach simple and steady:
- One phone call
- One home visit
- One small ride share to help a parent get to work
These small acts help families feel seen and safe.
The next year will test whether these parallel tracks—strong advocacy on immigration and careful restructuring at home—can move together. For Archbishop Rozanski, the measure of success is simple: fewer empty pews, more stable schools, and families who feel they belong in St. Louis. If that happens, he says, the city will be safer and stronger, whatever the headlines in Washington.
Key takeaway: The archbishop’s dual focus on humane immigration policy and sustainable local church structures aims to protect human dignity, preserve community trust, and ensure the Church remains a steady support for families in St. Louis.
This Article in a Nutshell
On his fifth anniversary, Archbishop Rozanski opposes the July 4, 2025 immigration law’s $170 billion enforcement funding and leads interfaith advocacy while implementing All Things New, focusing on parish realignment, school consolidation, and affordable housing to protect families and community trust.
