A Roman Catholic church in Massachusetts has gone viral for protesting the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement by replacing its standard Nativity scene with one featuring an “ICE was here” sign instead of Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus.
Underneath the “ICE was here” sign is a plaque that reads as follows: “The Holy Family is safe in The Sanctuary of our Church. If you see I.C.E., Please Call LUCE.”
LUCE is short for the Immigration Justice Network of Massachusetts, a group that advocates on behalf of illegal immigrants.
St Susanna’s nativity, Dedham MA pic.twitter.com/AlN17YTMJC
— Jeff The Emotional Support Human ✝️🇺🇸🇺🇦🙏🖖💙 (@czvnwd) December 1, 2025
Father Stephen Josoma, the pastor at St. Susanna Parish, told local station WCVB that the sign was his idea.
“What is the objective by doing this? To help people recognize the plight of people who are really in dire need, and how we are treating them,” he said. “We’re supposed to bring out the best of people in Christmas.”
Speaking with Fox News, Josoma added that he wanted others to “see what it would be like if Christ was born into the context of the world today, what would he be facing?”
He added that he views the new scene as “religious art” and that he intends for it to “evoke emotions in people.”
“It’s supposed to affect people deeply, it’s supposed to move people, it’s supposed to change people,” he said. “So, if this evokes a strong reaction, it’s maybe good to take a look at that.”
C.J. Doyle, the Executive Director of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, does not view the new scene as favorably as Josoma.
“This is not right, it’s divisive, it’s disrespectful, it takes away from the essential Christmas message,” he told WCVB.
“I think it’s very offensive,” he added in remarks to Fox News. “[Josoma] is politicizing Christmas, he’s exploiting and trivializing the Holy Family, and he’s using his Catholic parish as a platform to promote his left-winged ideology.”
This isn’t Josoma’s first foray into controversy.
“He and the parish peace and justice group have made statements on mass shootings, global warming, and immigration issues in previous years,” according to Fox News.
In 2018, for example, he protested the fake “kids in cages” scandal by placing a cage around Baby Jesus.
Here’s a closer look at the baby Jesus locked inside a cage at St. Susanna Parish. pic.twitter.com/9MPBhrMpnj
— Profile inactive (@GuthrieGF) December 9, 2019
Doyle was unimpressed with that scene as he is with today’s scene.
“This is a case of a dissident priest who has a long history of these kinds of ‘crackpot’ publicity stunts aimed at political activism,” he said. “This has nothing to do with the birth of our Savior and everything to do with ventilating [Josoma’s] own political projects.”
However, Doyle believes the one ultimately responsible is the Archdiocese of Boston, which he alleged has enabled Josoma.
“The archdiocese has tolerated this behavior in the past,” he said. “They should tell him to stop, pure and simple.”
But Josoma isn’t stopping. If anything, he admitted to Boston.com that his congregation has even helped resettle illegal aliens in the U.S.
“They’ve done everything that they’re supposed to do, but their status could be in jeopardy, and some of our people would be in danger being killed if they did go back,” he said of his illegal alien friends.
And Josoma isn’t bothered by the criticism either.
“It’s religious art. All art is supposed to move you,” he told Boston.com. “They hate to face that because it’s the reality, so they attack you for using religion in a sacrilegious way, which I find kind of amusing.”
“You feed the hungry, you take care of the homeless, you clothe the naked, you take care of people and their needs,” he added in remarks to The Boston Globe. “[ICE raids] are the complete antithesis of that on so many levels.”
Several of his parishioners have expressed support for his stunt.
“Jesus was a refugee,” parishioner Margo Yie, 67, said. “He had to flee his native country; his parents took him because they were worried he would be killed.”
“Everyone in the parish is in support of this,” parishioner Phil Mandeville, 71, added. “This is a parish that’s very supportive of immigration.”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
- Activist judge dismisses Trump admin lawsuit over California voter data – here’s why it matters - January 17, 2026
- Kansas elementary school does not allow students to name Charlie Kirk or Trump as role models: report - January 17, 2026
- Walz, Frey subpoenaed in criminal investigation for alleged impeding of ICE operations - January 17, 2026
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.