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
July 10, 2023: Mourning the “silent massacres” of innocent people who died while crossing the Mediterranean Sea seeking a better life elsewhere, the world must change its attitude toward migrants and those in need, Pope Francis said. https://www.ncronline.org/node/248366
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
BILL WOULD PROHIBIT SHACKLING PREGNANT MIGRANT WOMEN
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/democratic-lawmakers-want-prohibit-shackling-pregnant-migrant-women-rcna123901
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/
2023 Ministry Meeting Dates (7pm):
11/28
2023 Ministry Events & Projects
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JmvfDv-2ig-MzLS-idQ87K0UnSeqBk_TGm-WZwdTP4Q/edit
RESOURCES
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
The Jesuit Border Podcast –
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jesuit-border-podcast/episodes/BONUS-EPISODE-Updates-from-Louie-and-Brian-on-the-eight-migrants-struck-and-killed-in-Brownsville-and-the-end-of-Title-42-e243j
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.