On Wednesday, January 22nd Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC staff and community members joined the New York Immigration Coalition in Albany, New York for their annual Member Congress. CIS-NYC and other immigration organizations from around New York State came together to advocate for our state budget and policy priorities. CIS-NYC staff and community members visited with 9 state Senators and Assembly Members to discuss these priorities and ask that they commit to supporting them in the 2020 legislative session. We advocated for an increased investment in immigration legal services, healthcare coverage for all, an end predatory ICE apprehension activities in NY Courthouses, and more. We look forward to continuing our fight for these essential pieces of legislation in the coming months!
Closing Observance of National Migration Week
~ by Sr. Cathy Fedewa, CSFN
This past Saturday, I planned to attend the screening of One Border, One Body at a nearby parish. This was part of the “Film Festival” organized by the Chicago Archdiocesan program of Immigrant Parish Coordinators as part of the observance of National Migration Week. But, as elsewhere in the country that day, the weather did not cooperate and I could not get there. So I watched the film privately through the internet.
That occurrence actually became a powerful mindset for my participation in Sunday’s Interfaith Service, Becoming a Community of Hope, sponsored by the Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants. For four years now, it has become our closing celebration for National Migration Week.
With representation from the African American, Sikh, Muslim, Jewish, and Christian traditions, we heard from each representative the common themes that all of their writings and teachings express: hospitality, hope, welcoming the stranger, respect for differences. As would be expected in this kind of service, we were “preaching to the choir”, but it is good for the choir to be reminded together of the common concerns that so many of us carry. It was an affirmation of the need to persevere in our care for the immigrant, the refugee, the asylum seeker.
Two of the traditions specifically mentioned their understanding of hope, reflecting that, in those traditions, hope’s opposite – depression – is seen as an offense against God because it assumes a lack of trust in God’s providence.
This was something I think I needed to hear at this point in time amidst all the difficulties and crises going on around the world and in our midst. We closed in a Circle of Communities around the church singing Sr. Miriam Therese Winters’ lyrical adaptation of America the Beautiful.
I drove home that night buoyed by the mercy, goodness and power of our God who, in spite of the limitations of the human beings God has created, is still more powerful than all the negativity we manage to create.
HOPE STILL PREVAILS.
Promoting a Church and World for All
In his 2019 World Day of Migrants and Refugees message, the Holy Father called on Catholics to welcome, protect, promote and integrate not only migrants and refugees but “all those living in the existential peripheries.”
The United States annually celebrates National Migration Week each year in January.
A Mass at Holy Name Cathedral on January 5, feast of the Epiphany, highlighted the ethnic diversity of the Archdiocese of Chicago through multilingual readings and music. The Mass included Spanish, Polish and Filipino choirs from different parishes. Immigrants representing more than 30 countries participated in their traditional attire. Intercessions were offered in six languages, with Sr. Cathy Fedewa, CSFN from Cabrini Retreat Center, offering the English prayer.
Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago stated, “These days also highlight how the world’s refugees in our day experience the same struggles of the Holy Family, who had to flee violence and travel to a foreign land
for safety.”
December 12th is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
On a December morning in 1531, the Virgin Mary appeared in Mexico to Juan Diego, an indigenous Mexican farmer. During that first sacred encounter and in several more apparitions over the next few days, Mary spoke to Juan Diego in his native, Aztec language and asked him to build a church. She instructed him to bring roses to the bishop, and when he opened his cloak to drop the flowers before the bishop’s feet, all those present were stunned to see Our Lady’s image painted on his cloak.
Why did Mary appear to Juan Diego rather than to the bishop himself or someone else who was more powerful? Mary’s action is a sign of solidarity with those who might not be considered the most prestigious or powerful by society’s standards. She shows that a humble farmer, for example, has important contributions to make.
Beginning in 2016, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has named the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe a day of prayer and solidarity with immigrants and refugees. As the patron of the Americas, Our Lady of Guadalupe gives us a model for how we, too, might reach out to and welcome those who seek a better life in our land. It is in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe that our MSC province has been named.
To learn more: https://www.crs.org/resource-center/our-lady-guadalupeday-prayer-migrants-and-refugees?gclid=CjwKCAiAxMLvBRBNEiwAKhr-nDKX7LQ-QR1n-eWIar-j-4dE2a1a6GRB7ShGUq1YRcWHo1EYseW4-RoCcN8QAvD_BwE ~ Catholic Relief Services
Sharing the Beauty of Diverse Cultures and Traditions
Fully Alive is a weekly radio broadcast of the Archdiocese of Chicago, focusing on issues of human dignity and solidarity. On December 4, 2019, Sr. Cathy Fedewa, CSFN, of the Cabrini Retreat Center, joined staff from the Archdiocesan Office of Human Dignity and Solidarity in sharing two major events being sponsored by that office in December and in January, bringing awareness of the conflicts but also the beauty of the diversity of cultures shared in the city in its immigrant population.
Information and understanding of the events were shared with the audience regarding the Fourth Annual Posada to be held on December 13 on the streets of downtown Chicago.
The procession follows the same dynamics as a traditional posada, but instead of stopping at homes in their neighborhood, Joseph, Mary and their companions stop at various immigration-related locations in the city, such as the ICE Office and Immigration Court, and recall the difficulties immigrants encounter and the need for immigration reform. The procession ends at St. Peter’s Church in the heart of the city where all are finally welcomed and given hospitality….and a traditional celebration takes place.
The broadcast then continued with comments on National Migration Week being celebrated in the archdiocese, as it is around the country, on January 5, with a special liturgy in Holy Name Cathedral. A procession of nations in native dress (representing many of the diverse cultures in Chicago) begins the celebration. Diversity is also clear in the readings, intercessions and music, presented in varied languages. ~ submitted by Sr. Cathy Fedewa, CSFN, Cabrini Retreat Center
National Migration Week is January 5 – 11, 2020
nearly a half century, the Catholic Church in the United States has celebrated National Migration Week, which is an opportunity for the Church to reflect on the circumstances confronting migrants, including immigrants, refugees, children, and victims and survivors of human trafficking. The theme for National Migration Week 2020, “Promoting a Church and a World for All” draws attention to the fact that each of our families have a migration story, some recent and others in the distant past. Regardless of where we are and where we came from, we remain part of the human family and are called to live in solidarity with one another.
Unfortunately, in our contemporary culture we often fail to encounter migrants as persons, and instead look at them as unknown others, if we even notice them at all. We do not take the time to engage migrants in a meaningful way, as fellow children of God, but remain aloof to their presence and suspicious or fearful of them. During this National Migration Week, let us all take the opportunity to engage migrants as community members, neighbors, and friends. To do so, we will look at the important role that foster care plays in the lives of unaccompanied immigrants and refugees, highlight MRS’ Parishes Organized to Welcome Refugees, and examine local initiatives that are making important contributions in this regard.
For further information: https://justiceforimmigrants.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FInal-NMW-Toolkit-2020.pdf
National Migration Week
In his 2019 World Day of Migrants and Refugees message, the Holy Father reiterates the Gospel command to avoid
despising “one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly
Father” (Mt 18:10). It is not just about migrants: it is a question of seeing that no one is excluded. A globalization of
indifference has led to many of us to ignore the cries of the poor, turn our backs on the marginalized, and remain
indifferent to those struggling to find a better life. We are called to help create the conditions that will lead to a better
life for everyone on the planet.
From January 5-11, 2020, the Catholic Church in the United States will celebrate National Migration Week. The theme
for this year’s celebration is “Promoting a Church and a World for All,” which reflects the need for Catholics to be
inclusive and welcoming to all our brothers and sisters. It is a call for unity to stand in solidarity with and care for those
who are excluded and marginalized.
Well done, new U.S. Citizen!
Cabrini Immigrant Services, Dobbs Ferry, NY, is thrilled to announce that we have two new citizens! Muhammed Shabbir and Sajida Anjum Khan, both from Pakistan, have passed their tests.
Sajida worked very hard with her tutor, Barbara Fox and Muhammed worked equally hard with his tutor, James Sanders. Both tutors are very proud of their students.
Sajida and Muhammed are the proud parents of 4 children. They have a daughter in 7th grade, and sons in 6th grade, 4th grade and Kindergarten.!
A Feast Day Message from the Provincial
November 13, 2019
Dear Sisters and those co-responsible with us in Mission,
[Yesterday] we celebrated the Feast of Mother Cabrini. In these recent days I have had various experiences which have touched my heart and soul – a gift of Jesus and Mother Cabrini on her feast
• ➢ I listened to a webinar from an organization called “No more deaths” during which they spoke of a member of the organization who was being charged with a felony simply because he provided compassionate care to two undocumented migrants he discovered in the desert. I asked myself: What has become to the moral fabric of the USA that we would criminalize compassion?
• ➢ I listened to Sr. Yolanda, MSC who returned from a meeting in Matamoros, Mexico of those organizations who give assistance to migrants along the USA-Mexico Border. My heart was filled with hope as I heard of the generous service of so many volunteers and organizations who day by day offer care and compassion to our suffering brothers and sisters. My heart was also full of deep sadness that the immigration policies of the USA have created a humanitarian crisis for hundreds perhaps thousands of men, women and children who are stranded along the Mexican border. They are living in tents, inhumane conditions, without adequate food or health care. The tragedy is the number of children! They can’t go forward and they have no money to go back home! At that moment we made a decision to try to partner with one organization who is providing much needed help.
➢ Yesterday, Sr. Antonina, Sr. Pietrina and myself joined staff and clients from CIS of NYC, together with the New York Immigration Coalition, to go to Washington, D.C. to stand in solidarity with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) young adult recipients as they persevered in their struggle to gain a path to citizenship. We also met a group from Cabrini University!
For years this group of young people have lived in constant uncertainty that their status would change and they could be deported. The persistent hope and courage of those who are DACA recipients as well as those who fight for their cause was an incredible witness. Once again, the question surfaced in me: How is it that a nation formed and built by immigrants is now so closed to immigrants?
➢ Finally, today I listened to a webinar offered by the UISG (International Union of General Superiors) which shared the challenges, vision and horizon of CLAR (Confederation of Latin American and Caribbean Religious) for consecrated religious life for the years 2018-2021. There were many themes that confirmed our Provincial Chapter outcomes. What touched my heart was the vital call to be witnesses of Communion and Hope based on our belief in Jesus and to continue to live with enthusiasm the gift of our consecrated life as missionary disciples. We are further called to weave relationships that foster communion, reconciliation, inclusivity, and compassion. Finally, we are called to renew our option for the vulnerable and excluded of our world. For those who understand Spanish, I encourage you to go to www.clar.org and look under “Horizonte Inspirador” for more resources around these themes.
As I live these various moments, I find myself called to conversion. It is not enough for me to see or to hear/listen but my heart must be “moved to compassion” and action. Going to Washington, D.C. was one small action but I and we are called daily to go out of ourselves in love. When we go out the door of our room, our heart, our minds let us be credible witnesses – missionary disciples of God’s love in the world. If we do this – we give honor to God and honor the memory of Mother Cabrini.
Happy Feast Day!
United in the Heart of our loving God!
Sr. Diane Olmstead, MSC , Provincial, Guadalupe Province
Handbag Bingo to benefit Cabrini Immigrant Services, Dobbs Ferry, NY
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- …
- 22
- Next Page »