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Immigration
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July 2023Our Immigrant Brothers and Sisters on the Border Thank You!
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My name is Emmett Blake, and I would like to thank St. Austin’s for the generous support of clothes and toiletries. We filled my family’s Toyota Sienna for a mission of mercy* to the border June 27-29 with Fr. Bruce Nieli.
Fr. Bruce and I visited Brownsville, MacAllen, and Matamoros providing aid to people legally seeking asylum from unsafe conditions in their home countries. Currently, there are approximately 1,500 people lawfully waiting in Matamoros Mexico for a chance to receive asylum parole and eventually be granted asylum. These people come predominantly from Haiti, Venezuela, Cuba, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
Catholic Charities in MacAllen and Team Brownsville in Brownsville are each seeing between 100 and 150 people a day who have passed their credible fear hearings and have received asylum parole status so they can enter the U.S. and go to their sponsors. From there they will wait for asylum hearing(s).
The St. Austin donations provided necessities for the asylum seekers, but also hope, dignity, and mercy.
Thank you!
Emmett Blake“God has shown me that I should not call any person unholy or unclean.” [Acts 10:28]
*Yes, we have people who violate the law and bypass lawful processes to enter our nation.
*Yes, we also have people who lawfully seek asylum from unsafe conditions in their home countries.
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The clothing, shoes, and toiletries from St. Austin's went to recently arrived immigrants. They make a big difference for our brothers and sisters who often arrive at the Texas/Mexico border with very few personal belongings.
Here are the St. Austin donations:
And here are all the donations that went down to the border with Fr. Bruce Nieli and Emmett Blake:
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June 2023 ~ World Refugee Day, Clothing/Toiletries Drive, & Trip to the Border
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World Refugee Day
Welcome our newest Texans and celebrate World Refugee Day on Saturday, June 24 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Bullock Texas State History Museum! Click on the image below for more details and a schedule of the day.
World Refugee Day (June 20) raises awareness of the plight of refugees throughout the world. It was established by the United Nations in 2000 and first celebrated on June 20, 2001. The Austin celebration, sponsored by the Bullock Museum and member organizations of the Austin Refugee Roundtable, celebrates new American citizens and recognizes the courage and resilience of refugee families and individuals.
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Clothing & Toiletries Drive for Immigrants
Fr. Bruce Nieli and parishioner Emmett Blake are heading to the Texas/Mexico border Tuesday through Thursday, June 27th to 29th. Before the pandemic, Emmett went to the border every 3 months to help out. For this trip, he's collecting clothing and toiletry items to donate to the organization Team Brownsville, and he's coordinating carpools for anyone who would also like to travel to the border to volunteer on those days.
Clothing Items Needed (new or gently used):
Adult T-shirts - sizes S, M, L
Men’s boxers - sizes S, M, L (NEW only)
Women's Panties - sizes 5, 6, and 7 (NEW only)
Men's Shoes - sizes 7-10
Women's Shoes - sizes 6-9
Belts
Shoe strings
Toiletries Needed (new only):
Feminine hygiene pads
Toothbrushes
Travel-sized toothpaste
Disposable razors
Dental floss
Travel-sized soap
Travel-sized shampoo
Items can be dropped off at the parish office or at the St. Joseph altar until just after the 11:30 am mass on Sunday, June 25. Only new toiletries and new or clean, gently used clothing items on the list can be accepted.
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Trip to Volunteer Along the Texas/Mexico Border
Contact Emmett for further information if you are interested in traveling to the border.
Trip Details:
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Participants will be leaving Austin at 8:30 am on Tuesday June 27th and returning Thursday June 29th in the evening. Emmett will help coordinate carpools.
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Participants are responsible for finding and paying for their own sleeping arrangements and meals. There is no financial support for this trip.
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Participants will visit Sr. Norma Pimentel of Catholic Charities RGV in MacAllen, TX, volunteer at the Team Brownsville Welcome Center (USA), and (optional) volunteer in Matamoros camps (Mexico).
Disclaimers:-
St. Austin is not affiliated with the trip in any way. We are simply advertising the opportunity for those who might wish to participate.
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Anyone choosing to cross into Mexico needs a passport.
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Although participants will travel together as a team, ultimately everyone needs to make their own decisions regarding health and safety.
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Immigration resources and ways to take action
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We have a humanitarian crisis playing out on our southern border, a crisis of long duration. In Texas we're right in the middle of the action. This tragic situation will continue for some time. We cannot, in good conscience, ignore the crisis.
How can we respond to this complicated situation when partisans on both sides make outrageous statements?
We must go to clear thought and civil discourse instead of responding with emotion, ranting, and chanting. We offer a few suggested actions adapted from Fr. Chuck's July 7, 2019 column, the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops, and
Fr. James Martin, S.J. We also offer additional resources and links.
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1. Pray
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"Pray for enlightenment by the Holy Spirit. Pray for a spirit of wisdom, understanding and courage. Pray that your motivations not be based on fear or prejudice either way, but on the truth and compassion that come from God. Pray for our Bishops, to be forthright and honest, especially for our Bishop, Joe Vasquez, who is the chair of the US Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migrants and Refugees." - Fr. Chuck
Pray also for the migrants and their families. Pray in your own words or say A Prayer for Immigrant Children, one of the Collected Prayers for Immigrants, or the Pilgrims of Solidarity.
For prayerful reflection, we invite you to read Welcoming the Stranger by Ron Rolheiser, OMI and to meditate on the To Reach Across Borders prayer from CRS.
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2. Be Informed
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Get informed as a Catholic. Many news outlets want to tell you their version of the truth. But as Catholics, we need to know our stance on immigration issues. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) website, Justice for Immigrants, is a great place to start. Here are some additional resources:The Vatican's Migrant and Refugee Office
Jesuit Refugee Service/International
Jesuit Refugee Service/USA
Kino Border Initiative
Catholic Ministries Serving Migrants and Refugees
DACA and the Deportation of Dreamers: A Franciscan Ethical Perspective
Inform yourself with facts. The misinformation about migrants and refugees is often driven by racism and fear. Listen to the stories of migrants and refugees, and encounter them as individuals. The following websites provide factual information on the issues facing people on the move and the Church's work with them:
Learn why unauthorized migrants don't come here legally
Debunk myths, get answers to tough questions about immigrants, read an explanation of detention policies.
Know the facts about immigrants and their contribution to Texas
Learn why families have been separated at the border as well as the cost of separating immigrant families
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USCCB & Papal Statements on Immigration
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Pope Francis Meets with European Migrants and Refugees (March 2023)
Pope Francis' messages on World Day of Migrants and Refugees (2013-Present)
Pope Benedict XVI's messages on World Migration Days (2005-2012)
Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope - USCCB, 2003
Pope John Paul II's messages on World Migration Days (1978-2005, see especially 1996)
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3. Advocate for immigrants
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Let your elected officials know that you stand with the US Catholic Bishops on immigration issues. Call your representatives in Congress, your Senators, and the White House and express your opinions and experiences. Urge politicians and lawmakers to do the right thing. Use the quick links on our Advocate Now page to get their contact information. You can also use Catholic Charities USA's form, which provides language urging our representatives to reform our broken immigration system.
Advocate for migrants with family, friends, and publicly. They need advocates. The voiceless need your voices. We cannot let these stories fade away. This human rights crisis needs to remain in the eyes of decision-makers across the country and internationally. You can read and sign the Advocacy Action Alert on Family Separation.
The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) issued a statement in 2018 on how to manage refugee arrivals humanely and in a manner that respects their dignity and rights under the US and international law. Some of their concerns were addressed in the Supreme Court decision, which secured DACA while continuing to advocate for lasting stability in legislature for DACA recipients. Caritas Internationalis also offers a number of ways to support and advocate for immigrants and refugees worldwide.
Remember in the next election that these issues matter, and vote. Voting is not only a privilege but an obligation.
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4. Support organizations that are helping immigrants
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People are in real need. In spite of all the money our government is spending on the detention camps – and it is a lot – there are many unmet n
eeds.
Here are a few organizations and ways to offer support locally:Catholic Charities of Central Texas
Casa Marianella, a shelter for refugees and asylum seekers
Ninas Arriba, educate a girl. Change the world.
American Gateways, legal aid to low-income immigrants
Raices Texas, legal and social services
Catholic organizations (that are doing great work) to which you can donate and/or volunteer your time are:
Catholic Charities/USA
Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley (directed by Sister Norman Pimentel; St. Austin's has donated to them)
Kino Border Initiative (a Jesuit ministry)
Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), legal help is very important right now, particularly for asylum seekers.
The Holy Family Fund
Casa Cornelia Law Center
Annunciation House in El Paso (not diocesan-sponsored)
Team Brownsville prepares & serves meals to migrants
Respite Center, Sacred Heart Parish, Brownsville -- call 956.702.4088
Open your home to a refugee youth. The USCCB offers a list of foster parent programs affiliated with them.
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5. Take Care of Yourself & Stay Positive
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