Holy Spirit’s Social Justice Ministry focuses on the needs of refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers and how we can all help advocate for and serve these families. The group is developing ways to assist in advocating for this often-forgotten group, educating others about the issues surrounding immigration, organizing service projects, partnering with other like-minded groups, and more.
A Migrant Justice group at Holy Spirit can have a direct effect with concrete ways to help these families in need of safety and a new home. We look forward to helping those still making the hard decision to leave their homelands, as well as those who have already made their way to our local communities. Contact Lisa Neuhauser at migrantjustice@hspalmyra.com.
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Dear Friends,
Blessings to all as we near the midway point of our Lenten journey.
We are delighted to welcome Sr. Rose Patrice, IHM, to our latest episode of The Jesuit Border Podcast. Sr. Rose is a member of the community of Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) sisters based out of McAllen, TX, that works at migrant shelters on the border. Sr. Rose shares the story of how the IHM sisters recently started a community in the area, and she describes the work they do accompanying migrants. Reflecting on the Lenten theme of almsgiving, Sr. Rose talks about how generous people have been supporting their ministry, which they use for a variety of things, including buying shoes for migrants wearing flip flops before they board buses for the colder northern parts of the U.S.
Brian and Joe also reflect on the Lenten theme of almsgiving. Joe shares the recent example of a group of students from Boston College High School who extended charity by buying lunch for migrants they met at Whataburger. Beyond that, Joe also shares other ways that he saw the students giving of themselves in their time spent on the border, from helping to translate for a nurse to playing soccer with kids. Brian shares a remarkable story of self-gift through a young woman who put her talents and experiences to use in an emergency situation. The story begins with someone at the U.S.-Mexico bridge asking a group of migrants if any of them have medical experience. When Katy, a nurse from Venezuela, raised her hand, she had no idea what she was going to encounter as she went running onto that bridge!
SISTERS, CATHOLIC GROUPS SUPPORT IMMIGRANTS VULNERABLE TO POTENTIAL MASS DEPORTATATION | NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER
https://www.ncronline.org/news/migration/sisters-catholic-groups-support-immigrants-vulnerable-potential-mass-deportations
A LONG-TIME BORDER AGENT HAS A NEW JOB: MIGRANT AID
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/09/08/border-patrol-agent-running-migrant-shelter/74905548007/
COURT BATTLE TO KEEP ANNUCIATION HOURSE OPEN UNDERSCORES HOW FAITH GROUPS STRIVE TO WELCOME STRANGERS
https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/court-battle-keep-annunciation-house-open-underscores-how-faith-groups-strive
To listen to Season 6, Episode 4 of
THE JESUIT BORDER PODCAST, click on the link below:
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jesuit-border-podcast/episodes/S6E4-Almsgiving-with-Sr–Rose-Patrice–IHM–a-religious-sister-based-in-McAllen–TX-e2gkkc2/a-ab1h3f9
NCR Immigration article 4.01.24
FREEDOM TO MEET MIGRANTS’ BASIC HUMAN NEEDS MUST BE PRESERVED, SAYS BISHOP RHOADES/ USCCB
https://www.usccb.org/news/2024/freedom-meet-migrants-basic-human-needs-must-be-preserved-says-bishop-rhoades
Catholic theological tradition articulates three basic principles on immigration
FORGET ABOUT SECURING THE BORDER: IT WON’T WORK.
https://enews.pennlive.com/data/44110/reader/reader.html?#!preferred/0/package/44110/pub/74286/page/19/alb/2286904
SR. NORMA PIMENTEL, A FORCE OF GENTLE STRENGTH AT THE BORDER:
https://uscatholic.org/articles/202311/sister-norma-pimentel-brings-compassion-to-the-border/
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON “MIGRATION AND PEACE”
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2017/february/documents/papa-francesco_20170221_forum-migrazioni-pace.html
POPE FRANCIS’ RECENT MESSAGE TO THE WORLD
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2023/05/11/0353/00779.html#ing
WITH HELP, MORE THAN 90% OF ASYLUM SEEKERS PASS CREDIBILITY INTERVIEWS
https://nmpoliticalreport.com/2023/11/07/pilot-program-more-than-90-of-asylum-seekers-pass-credible-fear-interview-when-given-help/
2024 Ministry Meeting Dates (7pm):
December 10 at 7pm
2023 Ministry Events & Projects
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JmvfDv-2ig-MzLS-idQ87K0UnSeqBk_TGm-WZwdTP4Q/edit
RESOURCES
Ministering On the Border
Border Service Organizations
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WVBgpbQTTSuHvLMdSlgSiNZWL1BSj0SXKoqgPBCnERA/edit
Pope Francis Address to US Congress 2015
Pope Francis address to US Congress 2015-1
Justice for Immigrants (Catholic/Jesuit website)
https://justiceforimmigrants.org
The Most Common Arguments Against Immigration and Why They’re Wrong
The Most Common Arguments Against Immigration and Why They’re Wrong-2
Resettlement Services – How to Help
https://www.usccb.org/offices/resettlement-services/how-help
Justice for Families Separated at the Border update –
https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/16/politics/family-separations-lawsuit-settlement/index.html#:~:text=Federal%20government%20reaches%20settlement%20deal%20with%20ACLU%
20over%20migrant%20family%20separations,-By%20Priscilla%20Alvarez&text=The%20federal%20government%20will%20not,a%20settlement%20deal%20filed%20Monday.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to serve and advocate for those forced to flee their homelands, whether termed “refugee,” “immigrant,” “migrant,” or “asylum seeker” trying to make a safe, productive life in our country. As children of Christ and in line with our Catholic Social Teachings, we strive to…
- RAISE AWARENESS in our parish and community and grow those committed to serving this population through parish social media, bulletin inserts, narthex information and more.
- PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES to learn more about the humanitarian crisis at our border by sharing pertinent websites, articles, event notifications, and hosting informative events.
- PROVIDE SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES – Organize service projects that address needs of both border and local immigrant families, raise funds to support ongoing supplies at the border such as water, food, & (baby) items distributed by identified groups.
- PROVIDE SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES – Organize service projects that address needs of both border and local immigrant families, raise funds to support ongoing supplies at the border such as water, food, & (baby) items distributed by identified groups.
- PLANT SEEDS of service and commitment, especially in our parish youth, by working with PREP to provide hygiene kits, letters to children, books, and Rosaries. In addition, develop ways to sponsor learning trips to the border for interested older youth.
- BE GROUNDED in a spiritual journey and prayerful guidance in our work.
- SEE OURSELVES AS MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES just as our Lord, Jesus and the Holy Family found themselves.