The nativity scene replaces the Holy Family with an anti-ICE sign protesting U.S. immigration policies.
The sign reads, “ICE was here,” which is meant to imply that Jesus, Mary and Joseph were taken by immigration agents, according to WBUR.
Below the message is a smaller sign that reads “The Holy Family is safe in our Church ... If you see ICE please call LUCE at 617-370-5023.”
The Rev. Stephen Josoma, the pastor, told WBUR the display’s purpose was to focus the Christmas story on the plight of immigrants. It comes after he recently spoke with refugee families the church has worked with.
“These are folks who carry a lot of scars with them. Some of them are physical scars, but most are emotional,” told the outlet. “They’ve seen their folks killed in front of them.”
The Archdiocese of Boston pushed back against the display. Terry Donilon, a spokesperson for the Archdiocese, said in a statement to MassLive that the display should be removed, calling it “divisive political messaging.”
The Archdiocese also noted that St. Susanna neither requested nor received permission for the display.
The church’s “norms prohibit the use of sacred objects for any purpose other than the devotion of God’s people,” Donilon told MassLive. “This includes images of the Christ Child in the manger, which are to be used solely to foster faith and devotion.”
The Archdiocese spokesperson also noted to MassLive that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has long-standing statements on immigration calling for the humane treatment of migrants, especially those in detention.
“We bishops advocate for a meaningful reform of our nation’s immigration laws and procedures,” the USCCB said. “Human dignity and national security are not in conflict.”
Josoma did not respond to a request for comment from MassLive.
The nativity scene also drew sharp attention from the Department of Homeland Security.
“Not only is this ‘nativity’ scene offensive to Christians, but it is also depicting something that — despite what Rev. Josoma says — NEVER happens. ICE does not separate families,” Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, said in a statement on Friday to the Boston Globe. “Get a grip and seek help.”
According to a Nov. 24 ProPublica report, some 600 immigrant children have been placed in government shelters since the beginning of the year, the highest number since such placements were first tracked a decade ago.
This includes a 13-year-old Everett boy, a Brazilian immigrant, who was taken into ICE custody and sent to a facility in Virginia, because the agency said he had a knife and a gun at school.
During an October press conference after the boy was sent to Virginia, Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria confirmed the boy had a knife but said he did not have a gun.
Everett Police were going to release the boy to his mother, who had arrived at the station. However, ICE, tipped off by the fingerprint database, took the boy into custody and whisked him off to the ICE facility in Burlington.
The boy will return to Brazil with an aunt and uncle while his parents continue pursuing asylum in the United States, attorney Andrew Lattarulo told MassLive on Oct. 30, 2025.
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to MassLive’s request for comment.