The Immigration Ministry serves in the leadership role of evangelization, accompaniment, and welcoming of immigrants. As disciples of Christ, we are called to build community, to accompany and to empower the marginalized, and to work towards the transformation of society seeking justice for all.

An Immigration Parish Coordinator (IPC) coordinates efforts in his or her non-immigrant parish to help parishioners get closer to the realities immigrants experience in our society through advocacy, education and accompaniment. An IPC encounters Christ in this experience and responds with actions of solidarity by advocating for immigration reform. The IPC also coordinates opportunities to engage in the empowerment and accompaniment of immigrants, often by connecting parishes with an Immigrant to Immigrant Ministry like Pastoral Migratoria/Polish Immigrant to Immigrant Ministry.

See the IPC brochure here.

Advocacy

Rooted in the Gospel message and based on Catholic Social Teaching, Immigration Parish Coordinators act with and on behalf of the vulnerable and oppressed in society and advocate per the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ position on immigration reform. With the assistance of the Immigration Ministry, an IPC can stay current on issues and provide parishioners with ways to participate in actions that facilitate living in solidarity with our immigrant sisters and brothers.

Accompaniment

The IPC recognizes the God-given dignity of all people, especially those most vulnerable. Pope Francis reminds us that “an evangelizing community gets involved by word and deed in people’s daily lives; it bridges distances, it is willing to abase itself in necessary, and it embraces human life, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in others,” (Evangelii Gaudium, 24). The IPC is willing to facilitate intentional connections to share the Catholic faith with, advocate for, and be ministered to by our immigrant sisters and brothers. It is a modern-day experience of the Road to Emmaus.

Coat Collection

Released detainees are many times arrested in a warm season or state and released in Chicago during cold weather. The Immigration Ministry collects coats and clothes to keep them warm upon release. Email Michael Warrell at [email protected] to coordinate.

Education

Because IPCs recognize Christ in the face of others, they work toward the transformation and conversion of hearts and minds in themselves and their communities through educational efforts. An Immigration Parish Coordinator can provide learning opportunities for parish groups and coordinate with nearby parishes.

Priests for Justice for Immigrants (PJI) was established in 2005 as a coalition of 200 immigrant and native-born priests. PJI represents more than 150 parishes of the Archdiocese of Chicago and members of religious communities who have stood in solidarity with immigrants and engaged in education, pastoral care, and legislative advocacy.

PJI works in collaboration with the Immigration Ministry and its various networks to promote immigration reform. Priests for Justice for Immigrants works per the principles set forth by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops through the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform.

Mission

Compelled by the conviction of faith and a respect for the dignity and sanctity of every human life, the Priests for Justice for Immigrants program works to influence the public conversation regarding immigration policy and to promote the basic human rights and well-being of immigrants and their families living in our communities.

Advocacy

Priests for Justice for Immigrants promotes the passage of a compassionate, comprehensive immigration reform that respects the fundamental and basic human dignity, rights, and contributions of undocumented workers.

Education

Priests for Justice for Immigrants provides education that transforms minds and hearts. As teachers and co-learners, PJI engages parish leaders and parishioners as they raise awareness of our undocumented brothers and sisters’ struggles and contributions to the Church and society. Services and resources are provided for preaching, theological reflection, speaking engagements, parish-focused liturgical activities, and urban/border experiential learning trips.

Accompaniment/Pastoral Support

Priests for Justice for Immigrants accompanies the thousands of undocumented immigrants who face discrimination and abuse by employers, unscrupulous lawyers, and the horror of separation from their wives, husbands, and children.

Reflection

Priests for Justice for Immigrants assists and advises the development and facilitation of formation curriculum, and reflection sessions related to the Immigrant Social Ministry that integrate Catholic social teaching, faith sharing and Scriptural reflection.

Monthly Meetings

All priests are invited to attend meetings of the Priests for Justice for Immigrants that take place the third Monday of each month.

More Information

For more information on the Priests for Justice for Immigrants, including how to join, contact Fr. Larry Dowling, PJI moderator at 773.522.3050 or Elena Segura, the Senior Immigration Coordinator at 312.534.5333. For more information on the monthly meetings, please contact the Immigration Ministry at 312.534.8105.

Who We Are

The Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants (SBI) was founded in January 2007 in the greater metropolitan Chicago area by Catholic Sisters. The original collaboration centered on the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform initiatives, coupled with volunteer members of congregations of women religious. The group chose to expand membership in ever-widening circles, to associate members of religious congregations, to religious brothers, and to all those committed to justice for immigrants.

The Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants revere the dignity of each person, and each person’s fundamental right to life — food, shelter and clothing, employment, health care, and education. This is an urgent duty and challenge to stand in solidarity with immigrants.

The Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants are committed in uniting with the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform to become a powerful collective voice seeking justice for immigrants and to call forth government’s responsibility to promote human dignity, to protect human rights, and to build the common good.

This is in response to the Gospel call and the shared belief of the strength of all people of good will.

For more information on the Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants please visit sistersandbrothersofimmigrants.com or contact Sr. Dorothy Pagosa at 312.641.5151 ext. 113 or [email protected].