NEWSLETTER FOR CATHOLIC MIGRANT MINISTRY A PUBLICATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PASTORAL SERVICES SPECIAL EDITION FOR CHRISTMAS 2018 THE JOURNEY / EL CAMINO SPECIAL EDITION FOR CHRISTMAS 2017 SEEDS IN THE DESERT A Message from Fr. Jesús Flores, Diocesan Coordinator of Catholic Migrant Ministry Our Latino migrant communities are made up of stable families who cultivate a strong sense of unity. The 57 children and 28 youth who prepared to receive the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation, respectively, had the good fortune of being able to rely on families who were ready to do all they could for their sons and daughters. This sense of unity is reflected, too, in various Bible Study groups who get together to share their devotion to Holy Scripture and illuminate their lives by reflecting on the Word. Sister Kay Schwenzer and Victor Burgos have been accompanying the workers from Cayuga County in King Ferry. Jorge Salgado has also initiated the same program with groups from Livingston County. We have been blessed to have three Hispanic priests serving the migrant community. In late 2017, we welcomed Father Daniel Ruiz serving our migrant community and warmly making the Gospel message present to them in King Ferry. During 2018, we also welcomed Fathers Erick Viloria and Jorge Ramirez, serving our migrant communities of Geneva and Penn Yan respectively. On January 6, migrant families celebrated El Día de Los Reyes (The Epiphany) and exchanged gifts as is their tradition. We are thankful for the generous donation of gifts for the children. In August, 30 children enjoyed the experience of a week-long Camp Stella Maris program. Even in the midst of such unity within the community, and the support and generosity of so many people, there is also the very real tension and suffering of families when they are forced to separate because of migration politics and faced with the uncertainty of what’s to come. We, in Migrant Ministry and the Catholic Christian community, desire all the more to welcome migrant families and to walk with them in solidarity. At the same time, we seek to encourage other Christian communities to support migrant families and to integrate them into the life of the larger church and of society itself. I ask you to pray for these communities and those who accompany them. In Christ, Fr. Jesús Flores THE JOURNEY / EL CAMINO SPECIAL EDITION FOR CHRISTMAS 2018 THE JOURNEY El Camino With your generosity, we were able to purchase a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It arrived in Marion and was installed on November 28, 2018, just in time for her Feast Day on December 12. A group of delegates from the Diocese of Rochester took part in the National 5th Encuentro for Hispanic/Latino Ministry. Approximately 3,500 representatives from around the US enthusiastically shared their experiences of “being church with a Latino face.” We treasured the richness of these experiences, from all corners of our country, and returned much heartened by this vigorous Latino presence among us. The Journey/El Camino is published by the Catholic Migrant Ministry for the Department of Pastoral Services of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, New York. Our Mission Statement: “Catholic Migrant Ministry, rooted in the Church’s teaching that we are all sisters and brothers, seeks not only to build up migrant workers as people of faith, but also to foster a mutual sharing of gifts, both material and spiritual, between all migrant workers and the other faith communities of the Diocese of Rochester.” Editorial Team: Bernard Grizard, Diocesan Director of Pastoral Services Fr. Jesús Flores, Diocesan Coordinator of Migrant Ministry For Additional Information: Department of Pastoral Services Attn: Fr. Jesús Flores Office of Migrant Ministry 1150 Buffalo Road Rochester, NY 14624 585-328-3228 ext. 1354 Fr.Jesus.Flores@dor.org Diocesan Migrant Ministry Sites: Wayne County Our Lady of Guadalupe, Marion Lucila Romero, Pastoral Minister Yates/Ontario Counties St. Francis de Sales Church, Geneva, and St. Michael, Newark Sr. Kay Schwenzer, R.S.M., Pastoral Minister Western Monroe/Livingston Counties Nativity Church, Brockport, and St. Thomas Aquinas, Leicester Jorge Salgado, Pastoral Minister EVENTS IN 2018 THE JOURNEY / EL CAMINO SPECIAL EDITION FOR CHRISTMAS 2018 JAN World Day of Migrants & Refugees Feast of the Epiphany (El Día de Los Reyes) FEB Feast of Our Lady of Suyapa (Honduras) MAR Holy Week and Easter APR Hispanic Leadership Conference: Strengthening Marriages MAY Cruz de Mayo Rosary First Eucharist (Geneva, NY) JUN Regional 5th Encuentro for Hispanic Ministry (Albany, NY) First Eucharist (Marion, NY) JUL First Reconciliation AUG Santa Misión First Eucharist (Brockport, NY) Awareness Workshop: Responding to Immigrants with Knowledge and Compassion Week-long Camp Stella Maris Program for Youth SEP National 5th Encuentro for Hispanic Ministry (Grapevine, TX) OCT Harvest Bienvenida Celebration Saint Oscar Romero canonized October 14, 2018 NOV Dia de los Muertos Feast of Our Lady of Providence Awareness Workshop: Catholic Social Teaching of the Church and Immigration DEC Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Posadas We are grateful for the generous support through which you allow us to continue pastoral services to migrant communities each year. The needs of our ministry continue to be great, and are in fact increasing under the pressure of the continued oppression of the migrants among us. Your contribution to Catholic Migrant Ministry will be deeply appreciated. If you would like to make a contribution, please make checks payable to Diocese of Rochester; and note Migrant Ministry in the memo. Mail to: Diocese of Rochester Attn: Pastoral Services/Office of Migrant Ministry 1150 Buffalo Road Rochester, NY 14624 Thank you for your support! Have a Blessed Christmas!