These immigrants, new to our shores, call us out of our unawareness to a conversion of mind and heart through which we are able to offer a genuine and suitable welcome, to share together as brothers and sisters at the same table, and to work side by side to improve the quality of life for society's marginalized members". (Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity. NCCB/USCC 2000.)
In each refugee, “forced to flee to safety, Jesus is present as he was at the time of Herod. In the faces of the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick, strangers, and prisoners, we are called to see the face of Christ, who pleads with us to help.” (Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 106th World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2020)
The community of Old St. Patrick’s is dedicated to radical inclusivity and transformative kinship. We are called to welcome the stranger and the marginalized, to counter the divisiveness of “us vs. them” and “us vs. the other,” and to see the face of God in all people. In that spirit, the Immigration and Refugee Ministry works to assist refugees and immigrants in three main ways:
You are invited to journey with us as we welcome the stranger. Check out this webpage for updates on our sponsored refugee families, education opportunities, and bulletin articles. For more information, contact Kayla Jackson, Coordinator of Social Justice Ministries, kaylaj@oldstpats.org.
In each refugee, “forced to flee to safety, Jesus is present as he was at the time of Herod. In the faces of the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick, strangers, and prisoners, we are called to see the face of Christ, who pleads with us to help.” (Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 106th World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2020)
The community of Old St. Patrick’s is dedicated to radical inclusivity and transformative kinship. We are called to welcome the stranger and the marginalized, to counter the divisiveness of “us vs. them” and “us vs. the other,” and to see the face of God in all people. In that spirit, the Immigration and Refugee Ministry works to assist refugees and immigrants in three main ways:
- Accompanying the Refugee – sponsoring refugee families and walking alongside them in support and friendship
- Educating – ourselves and our parish about the issues facing immigrants and refugees so we can be better informed Catholics and citizens; connecting our Catholic faith to immigrant and refugee issues
- Advocating – for just and compassionate policies around immigration, immigration reform, and refugee resettlement.
You are invited to journey with us as we welcome the stranger. Check out this webpage for updates on our sponsored refugee families, education opportunities, and bulletin articles. For more information, contact Kayla Jackson, Coordinator of Social Justice Ministries, kaylaj@oldstpats.org.
Immigrant and Refugee Ministry Updates
February 14, 2020
Mohammed and Rama Alrefaai, children of one of our refugee families, seen here enjoying their sofa, a lamp and table—just a few of the many items recently furnished by OSP friends through our Wish List.
Thank you again for the generous donations of grocery cards, winter coats, beds, bedding, new vacuum cleaner and so much more.
Refugee Families’ February Wish List (updated 3.14.21)
Old St. Pat’s Immigrant & Refugee Ministry (IRM) is currently sponsoring five family households. Here is a list of some of their needs/wants just in case you can give them a hand by donating new or gently used items,
• Gift/grocery cards (Target, Aldi, Walmart, Amazon, etc.)
• Uber Gift Card (for one family member who takes three buses to 3rd shift work)*
• Used (but still operating) tablets/iPads
• Disney movie DVDs
• Reusable face masks in adult and children sizes
• Disposable diapers (size 3)
• Queen-size bedding: bed frame/platform bed, mattress, set of sheets, etc.
If you have other items available that are in good condition, please let us know and we will determine if our families have a use for them. Please send a photo of your donation item to Keri Kolozsi-Greene at kkg0511@ gmail.com or text to 872/529-7444.
*Contact Keri for details on Uber gift card.
Old St. Pat’s Immigrant & Refugee Ministry (IRM) is currently sponsoring five family households. Here is a list of some of their needs/wants just in case you can give them a hand by donating new or gently used items,
• Gift/grocery cards (Target, Aldi, Walmart, Amazon, etc.)
• Uber Gift Card (for one family member who takes three buses to 3rd shift work)*
• Used (but still operating) tablets/iPads
• Disney movie DVDs
• Reusable face masks in adult and children sizes
• Disposable diapers (size 3)
• Queen-size bedding: bed frame/platform bed, mattress, set of sheets, etc.
If you have other items available that are in good condition, please let us know and we will determine if our families have a use for them. Please send a photo of your donation item to Keri Kolozsi-Greene at kkg0511@ gmail.com or text to 872/529-7444.
*Contact Keri for details on Uber gift card.
Photo of the Week
Kate Bergin, one of our Ministry members, treated the Alrefaai children to a well-deserved after-school sledding outing. Thanks to mom, Dalya, for providing this photo of Amar, Loyola Academy freshman, enjoying this fun break.
Immigrant and Refugee Ministry Updates
January 17, 2020
Meet our newest family… an asylum-seeker from Mexico and his young son
In mid-December, the Immigrant & Refugee Ministry (IRM) of Old St. Pat’s was approached by three out-of-state groups to work with them to assist a gentleman from Mexico who was seeking asylum in the US. In non-political terms, asylum is defined as “sanctuary” or “shelter”; in more political parlance, it pertains to a specific status of protection from extradition, with permission to stay in the US due to the likelihood of physical harm if one were forced to return to one’s home country.
Our asylum-seeker has already completed the first step in gaining asylum status which is to pass what is called the “credible fear” interview with ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement); court hearings will follow. He was encouraged to move from Texas to a more immigrant-friendly place, a sanctuary city like Chicago. Thus, began a series of Zoom sessions where OSP was represented by Kayla Jackson, and IRM members, Kate Bergin and Maureen Hellwig.
To date, a case worker has been identified from the Chicago arm of the Interfaith Coalition for Detained Immigrants (ICDI), who has secured temporary affordable housing for this man and his one-year-old adopted son. OSP/IRM provided funds for a train ticket and some winter coats for their arrival in Chicago. Kate and Maureen have been exploring legal assistance options, both with a private attorney and through the Immigrant Legal Services program at Erie Neighborhood House, to see if they would assist with the remaining steps to approved asylum status. Child care options for the toddler are also being researched.
Our sincere thanks to OSP members who have already donated to our IRM fund for making all of this possible. Future asylum hearings will likely begin next month and we hope to help with legal expenses. So, in this new year that we hope will be better for all of us, please help us to make it better for this immigrant family by continuing to donate what you can. Please click on Give to OSP (upper Right-hand corner). Click on GIVE ONLINE, select Immigrant & Refugee Fund from drop down menu.
If you are interested in supporting our efforts as a volunteer or have any ideas or questions, please contact Kayla Jackson at kaylaj@oldstpats.org for more information.
In mid-December, the Immigrant & Refugee Ministry (IRM) of Old St. Pat’s was approached by three out-of-state groups to work with them to assist a gentleman from Mexico who was seeking asylum in the US. In non-political terms, asylum is defined as “sanctuary” or “shelter”; in more political parlance, it pertains to a specific status of protection from extradition, with permission to stay in the US due to the likelihood of physical harm if one were forced to return to one’s home country.
Our asylum-seeker has already completed the first step in gaining asylum status which is to pass what is called the “credible fear” interview with ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement); court hearings will follow. He was encouraged to move from Texas to a more immigrant-friendly place, a sanctuary city like Chicago. Thus, began a series of Zoom sessions where OSP was represented by Kayla Jackson, and IRM members, Kate Bergin and Maureen Hellwig.
To date, a case worker has been identified from the Chicago arm of the Interfaith Coalition for Detained Immigrants (ICDI), who has secured temporary affordable housing for this man and his one-year-old adopted son. OSP/IRM provided funds for a train ticket and some winter coats for their arrival in Chicago. Kate and Maureen have been exploring legal assistance options, both with a private attorney and through the Immigrant Legal Services program at Erie Neighborhood House, to see if they would assist with the remaining steps to approved asylum status. Child care options for the toddler are also being researched.
Our sincere thanks to OSP members who have already donated to our IRM fund for making all of this possible. Future asylum hearings will likely begin next month and we hope to help with legal expenses. So, in this new year that we hope will be better for all of us, please help us to make it better for this immigrant family by continuing to donate what you can. Please click on Give to OSP (upper Right-hand corner). Click on GIVE ONLINE, select Immigrant & Refugee Fund from drop down menu.
If you are interested in supporting our efforts as a volunteer or have any ideas or questions, please contact Kayla Jackson at kaylaj@oldstpats.org for more information.
Immigrant and Refugee Ministry Updates
January 10, 2020
Our sincere thanks to everyone for your donations towards the Immigrant & Refugee Ministry Holiday Wish List . You generously donated more than $1,700 in gift cards—about $100 for each family member – to help our families with groceries and other household needs. This helped to make the holidays a little brighter for our five deserving families.
Refugee Families’ January Wish List
Old St. Pat’s Immigrant & Refugee Ministry (IRM) is currently sponsoring five family households. Here is a list of some of their needs/wants just in case you can give them a hand by donating new or gently used items,
• Gift/grocery cards (Target, Aldi, Walmart, Amazon, etc.)
• Used (but still operating) tablets/iPads
• Disney movie DVDs
• Upright vacuum cleaner
• Reusable face masks in adult and children sizes
• Disposable diapers (size 3)
If you have other items available that in good condition, please let us know and we will determine if our families have a use for them. Please send a photo of your donation item to Keri Kolozsi-Greene at kkg0511@gmail.com or text to 872/529-7444.
Refugee Families’ January Wish List
Old St. Pat’s Immigrant & Refugee Ministry (IRM) is currently sponsoring five family households. Here is a list of some of their needs/wants just in case you can give them a hand by donating new or gently used items,
• Gift/grocery cards (Target, Aldi, Walmart, Amazon, etc.)
• Used (but still operating) tablets/iPads
• Disney movie DVDs
• Upright vacuum cleaner
• Reusable face masks in adult and children sizes
• Disposable diapers (size 3)
If you have other items available that in good condition, please let us know and we will determine if our families have a use for them. Please send a photo of your donation item to Keri Kolozsi-Greene at kkg0511@gmail.com or text to 872/529-7444.
Introducing Gapira Muhire
Although Gapira (in his mid-20s) and his older brother, Emile (late 20s), were born in the Republic of the Congo, they spent almost all of their young lives in a refugee camp in Rwanda, along with their other siblings, who still remain there. Numerous Congolese have found it necessary to depart their home country, which has been plagued by ethnic conflicts for many decades.
It’s hard to imagine the shock of leaving Rwanda, a country that straddles the Equator, to arrive in Chicago’s freezing temps in February 2019. The brothers were matched by Catholic Charities to the Old St. Pat’s Immigrant & Refugee Ministry (IRM) later that Spring.
Gapira had worked at O’Hare for a company that cleans airplanes (he takes two buses and a CTA train each way to his job) but became a casualty of the travel industry layoffs during the Pandemic. Since then, after a period of unemployment, he found another job with some benefits with another airport vendor loading/unloading cargo planes.
Gapira’s older brother, Emile, who had found minimum wage work at Eli’s Cheesecake, eventually decided to relocate to Kentucky earlier in 2020. Emile was attracted by the lower cost of living in Louisville where he also had a friend. When Emile left, Gapira moved into the apartment of a friend in the Rogers Park neighborhood.
His IRM liaison, Dave Gross, praises Gapira’s improving language skills—he has taken English classes through Refugee One Community Center, which helped to resettle both brothers when they arrived here. He has also recently received a Green card, which qualifies him for permanent residency and a path to citizenship. More good news, too — Gapira has recently purchased a used car, another important passage toward the American Dream.
Although Gapira (in his mid-20s) and his older brother, Emile (late 20s), were born in the Republic of the Congo, they spent almost all of their young lives in a refugee camp in Rwanda, along with their other siblings, who still remain there. Numerous Congolese have found it necessary to depart their home country, which has been plagued by ethnic conflicts for many decades.
It’s hard to imagine the shock of leaving Rwanda, a country that straddles the Equator, to arrive in Chicago’s freezing temps in February 2019. The brothers were matched by Catholic Charities to the Old St. Pat’s Immigrant & Refugee Ministry (IRM) later that Spring.
Gapira had worked at O’Hare for a company that cleans airplanes (he takes two buses and a CTA train each way to his job) but became a casualty of the travel industry layoffs during the Pandemic. Since then, after a period of unemployment, he found another job with some benefits with another airport vendor loading/unloading cargo planes.
Gapira’s older brother, Emile, who had found minimum wage work at Eli’s Cheesecake, eventually decided to relocate to Kentucky earlier in 2020. Emile was attracted by the lower cost of living in Louisville where he also had a friend. When Emile left, Gapira moved into the apartment of a friend in the Rogers Park neighborhood.
His IRM liaison, Dave Gross, praises Gapira’s improving language skills—he has taken English classes through Refugee One Community Center, which helped to resettle both brothers when they arrived here. He has also recently received a Green card, which qualifies him for permanent residency and a path to citizenship. More good news, too — Gapira has recently purchased a used car, another important passage toward the American Dream.
If you are interested in supporting our efforts as a volunteer or have any ideas or questions, please contact Kayla Jackson at kaylaj@oldstpats.org for more information. If you would like to make a donation, Click on Give to OSP (upper Right-hand corner). Click on GIVE ONLINE, select Immigrant & Refugee Fund from drop down menu.
This photo of Gapira was taken at the Riverwalk on one of his pre-Pandemic Chicago outings with Dave Gross, his IRM liaison. They’ve spent time practicing his English language skills while taking neighborhood walks .
This photo of Gapira was taken at the Riverwalk on one of his pre-Pandemic Chicago outings with Dave Gross, his IRM liaison. They’ve spent time practicing his English language skills while taking neighborhood walks .
Immigrant and Refugee Ministry Updates
December 27, 2020
The Immigration & Refugee Ministry (IRM) invited several speakers to a recent Zoom meeting to enhance our understanding of how their organizations work to assist immigrants and how Old St. Pat’s can assist them going forward.
Viator House (Brother Michael Gosch) and
Bethany House (Sr. Pat Crowley)
- Bethany House, located in Hyde Park, serves young women;
- Viator House, located in a NW suburb, serves young men.
Both of these organizations work with asylum seekers who do not have refugee status and are often placed in detention centers while they wait for approval of their status. These programs focus on young people who have aged out of juvenile detention centers (18+) and provide health, educational and social services. IRM has sent funds to both organizations while we continue to explore ways to be more personally involved.
Current Need: Volunteers are needed to pair with young men and women as mentors; as well as gently used but trendy clothing for both young men and women. If you are interested in supporting efforts as a volunteer or donate to either of these organizations please contact them directly at bethanyhouseofhospitality.com and viatorhouseofhospitality.com for more information.
Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants (ICDI)
ICDI gets inside detention centers and jails to provide pastoral care for those detained in nearby areas, such as Kankakee, Kenosha and McHenry. They also provide logistics — bus ticket, some food and clothing for their post-detention journey.
Mercy Sisters, JoAnn Persch and Pat Murphy Provide $10 stipends to detainees to pay for phone calls to families and food items from vending machines. IRM has sent ICDI $500 to support the sisters’ work. Please contact ICDI at icdichicago.org/how-to-help
Current Need:
• Sponsorship for individuals and families.
• A building (to buy or lease) to house those recently released from detention;
• Groups or individuals willing to temporarily house those recently released from detention.
If you would like to make a donation to IRM:
Please click on Give to OSP (upper Right-hand corner), click GIVE ONLINE, and select Immigrant & Refugee Fund from drop down menu.
Viator House (Brother Michael Gosch) and
Bethany House (Sr. Pat Crowley)
- Bethany House, located in Hyde Park, serves young women;
- Viator House, located in a NW suburb, serves young men.
Both of these organizations work with asylum seekers who do not have refugee status and are often placed in detention centers while they wait for approval of their status. These programs focus on young people who have aged out of juvenile detention centers (18+) and provide health, educational and social services. IRM has sent funds to both organizations while we continue to explore ways to be more personally involved.
Current Need: Volunteers are needed to pair with young men and women as mentors; as well as gently used but trendy clothing for both young men and women. If you are interested in supporting efforts as a volunteer or donate to either of these organizations please contact them directly at bethanyhouseofhospitality.com and viatorhouseofhospitality.com for more information.
Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants (ICDI)
ICDI gets inside detention centers and jails to provide pastoral care for those detained in nearby areas, such as Kankakee, Kenosha and McHenry. They also provide logistics — bus ticket, some food and clothing for their post-detention journey.
Mercy Sisters, JoAnn Persch and Pat Murphy Provide $10 stipends to detainees to pay for phone calls to families and food items from vending machines. IRM has sent ICDI $500 to support the sisters’ work. Please contact ICDI at icdichicago.org/how-to-help
Current Need:
• Sponsorship for individuals and families.
• A building (to buy or lease) to house those recently released from detention;
• Groups or individuals willing to temporarily house those recently released from detention.
If you would like to make a donation to IRM:
Please click on Give to OSP (upper Right-hand corner), click GIVE ONLINE, and select Immigrant & Refugee Fund from drop down menu.
Immigrant and Refugee Ministry Updates
December 6, 2020
Update from The Ramos Family
The Ramos Family — at the time consisting of Ferney, Maria and their young son, Luis – fled very difficult circumstances in their home country of Colombia, South America, and sought U.S. asylum several years ago. Despite the many challenges of 2020, the Ramos family has enjoyed many recent blessings too, especially the birth of Isabella earlier this year. Also importantly, Maria and Ferney have now received their Green Cards, enabling them to live and work permanently in the U.S., an important stepping stone toward U.S. Citizenship.
Baby Isabella was baptized at OSP in October, along with her brother, Luis, who has also begun Partners Religious Ed classes at OSP and attends these 5th grade classes virtually.
The Ramos Family — at the time consisting of Ferney, Maria and their young son, Luis – fled very difficult circumstances in their home country of Colombia, South America, and sought U.S. asylum several years ago. Despite the many challenges of 2020, the Ramos family has enjoyed many recent blessings too, especially the birth of Isabella earlier this year. Also importantly, Maria and Ferney have now received their Green Cards, enabling them to live and work permanently in the U.S., an important stepping stone toward U.S. Citizenship.
Baby Isabella was baptized at OSP in October, along with her brother, Luis, who has also begun Partners Religious Ed classes at OSP and attends these 5th grade classes virtually.
Luis, 10, is enjoying his recently donated piano, compliments of one of our Ministry volunteers, who discovered the piano online, arranged for transportation with assistance from our Ministry, and who has provided Luis with weekly piano lessons.
IRM’s Successful Thanksgiving Grocery Card Project
Little Azimi Anuar’s beaming smile shows his delight at receiving some of the grocery gift cards, donated by the Immigration & Refugee Ministry in honor of Thanksgiving. His mom, Azimah, in the true spirit of Thanksgiving, shared “we are so lucky to have you all.”
This is the family’s second Thanksgiving with us and the bond of friendship and trust has helped to make them feel welcomed and safe in their adopted country. The Anuar family, part of the persecuted Rohingya ethnic Muslim minority in Myanmar (formerly Burma), are among the more than 2,000 Rohingyans who have been resettled in Chicago.
Little Azimi Anuar’s beaming smile shows his delight at receiving some of the grocery gift cards, donated by the Immigration & Refugee Ministry in honor of Thanksgiving. His mom, Azimah, in the true spirit of Thanksgiving, shared “we are so lucky to have you all.”
This is the family’s second Thanksgiving with us and the bond of friendship and trust has helped to make them feel welcomed and safe in their adopted country. The Anuar family, part of the persecuted Rohingya ethnic Muslim minority in Myanmar (formerly Burma), are among the more than 2,000 Rohingyans who have been resettled in Chicago.
Refugee Families’ Wish List (updated November 9, 2020)
Old St. Pat’s Immigrant & Refugee Ministry is currently sponsoring four refugee households. Just in case you can give them a hand by donating new or gently used items, here is a list of some of their needs/wants.
• Gift/grocery cards (Target, Aldi, Walmart, Amazon, etc.)
• Disposable diapers (size 3)
• LR sofa
• LR chairs (smaller size)
• Older, but still working tablets/iPads
• Multi-purpose blender
• Ottoman
• Disney movie DVDs
• Microwave
• Room Air purifier
If you have other items available in good condition, please let us know and we will determine if our families have a use for them. Please send a photo of your donation (include dimensions for furniture) to Keri Kolozsi-Greene at 872-529-7444 or kkg0511@gmail.com
Old St. Pat’s Immigrant & Refugee Ministry is currently sponsoring four refugee households. Just in case you can give them a hand by donating new or gently used items, here is a list of some of their needs/wants.
• Gift/grocery cards (Target, Aldi, Walmart, Amazon, etc.)
• Disposable diapers (size 3)
• LR sofa
• LR chairs (smaller size)
• Older, but still working tablets/iPads
• Multi-purpose blender
• Ottoman
• Disney movie DVDs
• Microwave
• Room Air purifier
If you have other items available in good condition, please let us know and we will determine if our families have a use for them. Please send a photo of your donation (include dimensions for furniture) to Keri Kolozsi-Greene at 872-529-7444 or kkg0511@gmail.com
Sunday, November 1, 2020 IRM Updates
The Anuar Family
If you are unfamiliar with the term, Rohingya, these people are part of a Muslim ethnic minority group, which has faced systemic religious persecution in Buddhist-dominated Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. They are considered by the UN as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world.
As many as three million Rohingya have been killed for religious reasons for decades. Nearly one million have been banished from Myanmar since 2017. Many remain sheltered as refugees in camps and make-shift settlements in Bangladesh, but more than 1,500 have been resettled in Chicago, in part by Catholic Charities. The Anuar family was introduced to our Immigrant & Refugee Ministry in 2018 through the Archdiocesan program. Azimah and husband Norhan, along with their young son, Azimi, were resettled in Chicago after enduring a terrifying trip in a small boat off the treacherous waters of Indonesia in 2018. Many of their close family members still reside in Indonesia, but they are fortunate to have some of Azimah’s siblings nearby in Chicago and Milwaukee. The family is very close with a great spirit of camaraderie.
Azimah is a very contemporary young woman—humble, modest and very hospitable. Her language skills are excellent, having learned English as a second language (ESL) at the UN school in the refugee camp prior to her arrival in the U.S. She has some interest in working toward an accounting degree and is also presently working on a GED in Math, as well as busy helping their son, Azimi, who is bright and reserved, to learn at home in his first grade class. Although Norhan is a trained mechanic, his English skills need to improve before he can become certified to do that work here. He works locally for minimum wage now, but is eager to find work in his field once his English has improved.
In addition to assisting with Norhan’s ESL training (2x weekly), the OSP Immigrant & Refugee Ministry has been helpful in a number of ways—securing a Chromebook for Azimi, sofa and coffee table, a sewing machine for Azimah—and most importantly, friendship and support from a variety of OSP members.
If you are interested in supporting our efforts as a volunteer or have any questions or ideas, please contact Kayla Jackson at kaylaj@oldstpats.org for more information. If you would like to make a donation: Go to oldstpats.org, click on Give to OSP (upper Right-hand corner), click GIVE ONLINE, select Immigrant & Refugee Fund from drop down menu.
As many as three million Rohingya have been killed for religious reasons for decades. Nearly one million have been banished from Myanmar since 2017. Many remain sheltered as refugees in camps and make-shift settlements in Bangladesh, but more than 1,500 have been resettled in Chicago, in part by Catholic Charities. The Anuar family was introduced to our Immigrant & Refugee Ministry in 2018 through the Archdiocesan program. Azimah and husband Norhan, along with their young son, Azimi, were resettled in Chicago after enduring a terrifying trip in a small boat off the treacherous waters of Indonesia in 2018. Many of their close family members still reside in Indonesia, but they are fortunate to have some of Azimah’s siblings nearby in Chicago and Milwaukee. The family is very close with a great spirit of camaraderie.
Azimah is a very contemporary young woman—humble, modest and very hospitable. Her language skills are excellent, having learned English as a second language (ESL) at the UN school in the refugee camp prior to her arrival in the U.S. She has some interest in working toward an accounting degree and is also presently working on a GED in Math, as well as busy helping their son, Azimi, who is bright and reserved, to learn at home in his first grade class. Although Norhan is a trained mechanic, his English skills need to improve before he can become certified to do that work here. He works locally for minimum wage now, but is eager to find work in his field once his English has improved.
In addition to assisting with Norhan’s ESL training (2x weekly), the OSP Immigrant & Refugee Ministry has been helpful in a number of ways—securing a Chromebook for Azimi, sofa and coffee table, a sewing machine for Azimah—and most importantly, friendship and support from a variety of OSP members.
If you are interested in supporting our efforts as a volunteer or have any questions or ideas, please contact Kayla Jackson at kaylaj@oldstpats.org for more information. If you would like to make a donation: Go to oldstpats.org, click on Give to OSP (upper Right-hand corner), click GIVE ONLINE, select Immigrant & Refugee Fund from drop down menu.
Congratulations to Maureen Hellwig on the publication of her new book, A Neighbor Among Neighbors: Erie Neighborhood House, 150 Years as a Home with No Borders.
Erie Neighborhood House has been doing good work for 150 years. You will enjoy meeting the immigrants in this book as they arrive in the Erie neighborhood, and then move on, better for having engaged with Erie House. You will meet generations of volunteers who came to help and were transformed themselves. You will learn about organizations Erie helped to create and support in their early years that are, even today, among the most successful among their peers. Order directly from the publisher, MIPJ, which is taking pre-orders now at www.mipj.org. Royalties will be shared with Erie House.
Journey to Emmaus Award to Old St. Pat’s
Keep Hope Alive 2020 Benefit
You are invited to KEEP HOPE ALIVE 2020, “15 Years United for Immigrant Justice”, an online benefit and celebration on Thursday, October 29, 2020, 6:30pm, supporting the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Immigration Ministry and its local and national Pastoral Migratoria. Featuring Cardinal Blasé J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago and Sister Norma Pimentel of Catholic Charities Rio Grande Valley, this virtual event will support the leadership formation and accompaniment of immigrants as protagonists of their own development and integration in parish communities as inspired by Pope Francis. Registration is free, and sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available. Visit www.KeepHopeAlive2020.org for more information and to register.
Journey to Emmaus Award
Old St. Pat’s will be honored with the Journey to Emmaus Award, which honors a leader or group whose contributions to the Immigrant Ministry demonstrates a commitment to our mission to welcome the stranger in our midst empowering immigrants to live in this country with dignity. Throughout Old St. Pat’s history, they have been a beacon of justice and healing. For nearly 15 years, Old St. Pat’s has supported Pastoral Migratoria not only in their words, but also in their actions through their continuous advocacy and education activities that create awareness on the current reality of immigration policies, including the impact of family separation within the country.
As a further example of welcoming the stranger, Old St. Pat’s has made the simple gestures of offering their church as a gathering/resting oasis for the numerous immigration marchers that passed by the church as well as hanging out their sign of solidarity that said: ”The immigrants of yesterday welcome the immigrants of today.”
Keep Hope Alive 2020 Benefit
You are invited to KEEP HOPE ALIVE 2020, “15 Years United for Immigrant Justice”, an online benefit and celebration on Thursday, October 29, 2020, 6:30pm, supporting the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Immigration Ministry and its local and national Pastoral Migratoria. Featuring Cardinal Blasé J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago and Sister Norma Pimentel of Catholic Charities Rio Grande Valley, this virtual event will support the leadership formation and accompaniment of immigrants as protagonists of their own development and integration in parish communities as inspired by Pope Francis. Registration is free, and sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available. Visit www.KeepHopeAlive2020.org for more information and to register.
Journey to Emmaus Award
Old St. Pat’s will be honored with the Journey to Emmaus Award, which honors a leader or group whose contributions to the Immigrant Ministry demonstrates a commitment to our mission to welcome the stranger in our midst empowering immigrants to live in this country with dignity. Throughout Old St. Pat’s history, they have been a beacon of justice and healing. For nearly 15 years, Old St. Pat’s has supported Pastoral Migratoria not only in their words, but also in their actions through their continuous advocacy and education activities that create awareness on the current reality of immigration policies, including the impact of family separation within the country.
As a further example of welcoming the stranger, Old St. Pat’s has made the simple gestures of offering their church as a gathering/resting oasis for the numerous immigration marchers that passed by the church as well as hanging out their sign of solidarity that said: ”The immigrants of yesterday welcome the immigrants of today.”
Sunday, September 6, 2020
Alrefaai family
Alrefaai Family Update
The Alrefaai family has come a long way since they landed at O’Hare Airport on Christmas Eve 2016 in Chicago’s freezing cold. They had left Daraa, a small city in southwest Syria, after their home was bombed twice in 2013. Their family of six, including an infant daughter, left everything and eventually fled to Jordan where they stayed in a refugee camp until they were notified they would be relocated to the U.S.
The newly formed Old St. Pat’s Immigration & Refugee Ministry (IRM) pulled the family into their fold. The committee has helped the family in many ways, most recently in assisting them to secure a safer and better-located three-BR apartment in Skokie. The move will improve transportation for their two older sons, Tarek and Amar, to attend new and better high schools: Tarek will be a junior at Niles West and Amar a freshman at Loyola Academy where he has qualified for a scholarship. Both boys are still understandably challenged by language limitations. Fortunately for Amar, Loyola Academy made the additional commitment of offering him dedicated guidance and tutoring through the O’Shaughnessy program.
Mohammed, a sixth grader; and daughter Rama, now in second grade, will both attend Skokie public schools. The younger children have flourished here as their English was learned at younger ages. The IRM has provided friendship, some iPads and computers, winter coats and other clothing, a sewing machine, Zoom ESL lessons, tutoring, used bikes and more.
Ziad, the father, is doing well at his night job at Home Depot, but it is difficult to find time to advance his basic English given his job commitments. He and wife, Dalya, a loving mom and great cook, always put their children first and are focused on providing the best opportunities for them to succeed here while also trying to survive on minimum wages. All of the family members have Green Cards and will be eligible for citizenship in a few years.
We welcome your help for the Alrefaai family. Suggestions include providing Dalya with some paid home-based sewing projects, career-path opportunities for Ziad (his background is installing cable and satellite dishes in Syria), Zoom math/reading/ESL volunteer tutoring, and any financial assistance for their significant school expenses (including $1,500 of Loyola tuition not covered by Amar’s scholarship), back-to-school clothing and supplies, rent, also some furniture—sofa, coffee table, lamps, artwork, etc.
If you are interested in supporting our efforts as a volunteer or have any ideas or questions, please contact Kayla Jackson at kaylaj@oldstpats.org for more information.
If you would like to make a donation, please click on Give to OSP (upper Right-hand corner). Click on GIVE ONLINE, and select Immigrant & Refugee Fund from drop down menu.
The Alrefaai family has come a long way since they landed at O’Hare Airport on Christmas Eve 2016 in Chicago’s freezing cold. They had left Daraa, a small city in southwest Syria, after their home was bombed twice in 2013. Their family of six, including an infant daughter, left everything and eventually fled to Jordan where they stayed in a refugee camp until they were notified they would be relocated to the U.S.
The newly formed Old St. Pat’s Immigration & Refugee Ministry (IRM) pulled the family into their fold. The committee has helped the family in many ways, most recently in assisting them to secure a safer and better-located three-BR apartment in Skokie. The move will improve transportation for their two older sons, Tarek and Amar, to attend new and better high schools: Tarek will be a junior at Niles West and Amar a freshman at Loyola Academy where he has qualified for a scholarship. Both boys are still understandably challenged by language limitations. Fortunately for Amar, Loyola Academy made the additional commitment of offering him dedicated guidance and tutoring through the O’Shaughnessy program.
Mohammed, a sixth grader; and daughter Rama, now in second grade, will both attend Skokie public schools. The younger children have flourished here as their English was learned at younger ages. The IRM has provided friendship, some iPads and computers, winter coats and other clothing, a sewing machine, Zoom ESL lessons, tutoring, used bikes and more.
Ziad, the father, is doing well at his night job at Home Depot, but it is difficult to find time to advance his basic English given his job commitments. He and wife, Dalya, a loving mom and great cook, always put their children first and are focused on providing the best opportunities for them to succeed here while also trying to survive on minimum wages. All of the family members have Green Cards and will be eligible for citizenship in a few years.
We welcome your help for the Alrefaai family. Suggestions include providing Dalya with some paid home-based sewing projects, career-path opportunities for Ziad (his background is installing cable and satellite dishes in Syria), Zoom math/reading/ESL volunteer tutoring, and any financial assistance for their significant school expenses (including $1,500 of Loyola tuition not covered by Amar’s scholarship), back-to-school clothing and supplies, rent, also some furniture—sofa, coffee table, lamps, artwork, etc.
If you are interested in supporting our efforts as a volunteer or have any ideas or questions, please contact Kayla Jackson at kaylaj@oldstpats.org for more information.
If you would like to make a donation, please click on Give to OSP (upper Right-hand corner). Click on GIVE ONLINE, and select Immigrant & Refugee Fund from drop down menu.
Sunday, August 2, 2020
“God put you on our path. You have been much help to me and my family. We give thanks to God because He made all this possible.”
(Taken from Maria Ramos’ thank you note to OSP following the birth of their newborn Isabella)
Almost two years ago the Old St. Pat’s Immigrant & Refugee Rights Committee sponsored the Ramos family through the Archdiocesan Refugee Resettlement Program. This family—at that time consisting of Ferney, Maria and their young son, Luis—had fled very difficult circumstances in their home country of Colombia, South America. They transitioned through Ecuador where they sought U.S. asylum, and were finally resettled in Chicago.
A baby sister, Isabella, born on June 9, has been a joyous addition to the Ramos family. Our Old St. Pat’s volunteers have supported generously in many ways—including a “virtual” shower outfitting just about all of the needs of the nursery and more.
Luis, now 10 years, will be entering 5th grade in the western suburb where they live. One of our volunteers continues to give him weekly piano lessons (even by phone during the Pandemic). He hopes to attend Religious Ed classes at Old St. Pat’s once life returns to normalcy.
Old St. Pat’s volunteers have also donated food baskets, a laptop, sewing machine, bicycle as well as providing assistance in getting their Green cards, English as a Second Language lessons, and much more. The Ramos family has shown enormous gratitude for this help. They have also made great strides and shown much resourcefulness on their own. Their good attitude is greatly enhanced by their faith in God and practical problem-solving skills, despite the many challenges that they’ve faced. We’re all very proud of them.
If you are interested in supporting our efforts, as a volunteer, please contact Kayla Jackson at kaylaj@oldstpats.org for more information. If you would like to make a donation, please click here and Select Immigrant & Refugee Rights from Fund dropdown menu.
(Taken from Maria Ramos’ thank you note to OSP following the birth of their newborn Isabella)
Almost two years ago the Old St. Pat’s Immigrant & Refugee Rights Committee sponsored the Ramos family through the Archdiocesan Refugee Resettlement Program. This family—at that time consisting of Ferney, Maria and their young son, Luis—had fled very difficult circumstances in their home country of Colombia, South America. They transitioned through Ecuador where they sought U.S. asylum, and were finally resettled in Chicago.
A baby sister, Isabella, born on June 9, has been a joyous addition to the Ramos family. Our Old St. Pat’s volunteers have supported generously in many ways—including a “virtual” shower outfitting just about all of the needs of the nursery and more.
Luis, now 10 years, will be entering 5th grade in the western suburb where they live. One of our volunteers continues to give him weekly piano lessons (even by phone during the Pandemic). He hopes to attend Religious Ed classes at Old St. Pat’s once life returns to normalcy.
Old St. Pat’s volunteers have also donated food baskets, a laptop, sewing machine, bicycle as well as providing assistance in getting their Green cards, English as a Second Language lessons, and much more. The Ramos family has shown enormous gratitude for this help. They have also made great strides and shown much resourcefulness on their own. Their good attitude is greatly enhanced by their faith in God and practical problem-solving skills, despite the many challenges that they’ve faced. We’re all very proud of them.
If you are interested in supporting our efforts, as a volunteer, please contact Kayla Jackson at kaylaj@oldstpats.org for more information. If you would like to make a donation, please click here and Select Immigrant & Refugee Rights from Fund dropdown menu.
From Chicago Religious Leadership Network
Urge Congress and Midwest Regional ICE Field Office Director Robert Guadian to stop implementation of ICE's Citizens Academy
ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations plans to run a 6-week 'Citizens Academy' – "Citizens will participate in scenario-based training and exercises conducted in a safe and positive environment, including, but not limited to defensive tactics, firearms familiarization,and targeted arrests." Is this how we want our nation to treat God’s family? CRLN, Organized Communities Against Deportations (OCAD) and the Inter-Faith Committee on Latin America in St. Louis (IFCLA) have put together a sign-on letter. Use link below to read the letters and add your names.
www.crln.org/ice-citizens-academy/
Urge Congress and Midwest Regional ICE Field Office Director Robert Guadian to stop implementation of ICE's Citizens Academy
ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations plans to run a 6-week 'Citizens Academy' – "Citizens will participate in scenario-based training and exercises conducted in a safe and positive environment, including, but not limited to defensive tactics, firearms familiarization,and targeted arrests." Is this how we want our nation to treat God’s family? CRLN, Organized Communities Against Deportations (OCAD) and the Inter-Faith Committee on Latin America in St. Louis (IFCLA) have put together a sign-on letter. Use link below to read the letters and add your names.
www.crln.org/ice-citizens-academy/
Sunday, May 10, 2020
“Like a Bridge Over Troubled Waters...” Keeping Our Refugee Families in Our Hearts
by Maureen Hellwig
In the context of this current pandemic and our stay-at-home rules, our Immigrant and Refugee Rights Committee wants to assure our parish community that we are in communication with our refugee families. We are providing food, as needed – and it is. This has been made possible through the OSP Covid-19 Relief Fund and the generosity of our committee members... (To make a gift to support this fund, please use the OSP giving link, bit.ly/givetoosp, and select COVID-19 Relief from the drop-down menu.)
We are working to make sure our families have the devices they need to facilitate continuation of their efforts to learn English, and so the children don’t miss their online school lessons. A BIG THANKS to our David Ryan and Kevin Kelly of the OSP Men’s Group for assisting with a Chromebook donation. Our newest committee member, Penny Davoren, also donated an ipad. Their donations have been much appreciated.
Some of us will be helping with reading over the summer. Tarek, one of the teens in the Alrefaai family, is working hard on his English with the help of tutors from Loyola Academy including Loyola teacher, Margo Stack. His younger brother has been accepted and will begin his freshman year there in September. Committee member, Kate Bergin, has shared how helpful Fr. McGrath has been in giving these young men an opportunity for a great high school education.
On the joyful news side, Maria Ramos is expecting a baby in June. We had been planning a baby shower earlier in April, another event cancelled by the pandemic. However, committee member, Giovana Quigley, worked with Maria, through multiple emails and photo exchanges, to set up a gift registry at Target. Maria says she has been delighted with the array of gifts she has received, and all is ready for Baby Ramos’ arrival.
And believe it or not, Pat Hamill has continued piano lessons with Luis Ramos over the phone!
Mike Schubert, Committee Co-Chair, has been working on a proposal for the purpose of presenting our mission to potential donors, to ensure that we will continue to have the resources we need to support our current families, and perhaps, take on one more.
Committee member, Sharon O’Brien, has been in touch with Azimah and Norham of our Rohynga family as they begin the holy season of Ramadan. Fortunately, Norham’s job is still secure, so they are doing OK.
Our Congolese brother, Gapira, has not been so fortunate. So, committee member, David Gross, has been helping him fill out his unemployment benefit application. Gapira’s older brother, Emile, has moved to Kentucky.
Last, but not least, at our last meeting via Zoom, the committee agreed on an advocacy strategy on behalf of immigrants and refugees in the US, using some tools sent to us by Catholic Charities. To put this in context, federal policies and legislation, like the CARES Act and other measures to support those in need during the pandemic, have excluded most immigrants and refugees. While the Gospel would not support such exclusion, it has also struck me that so many of the faces of health care workers and academics helping the governor use data to best calculate what lies ahead, have the faces and voices of Indians, Asians, Middle Easterners, Latinos, and Europeans. These current or former immigrants and refugees are keeping us alive. Then add to that the many other essential, low-wage workers, very often people of color, who are helping us get by.
Please join us by participating with the information that follows. You can help by sending a message to our Congressional Representatives that we #StandWithRefugees. Then, take a moment to email your Representatives by visiting, https://democracy.io/#!/. This link makes it easy to send your message efficiently, without having to look up any contact information. I think it took me all of three minutes.
Let them know you are a member of a faith community who stands with refugees and wants to make sure that COVID-19 relief:
• Provides funding to strengthen the resettlement infrastructure
• Provides no-cost testing and treatment for all
• Ensures cash payments to ALL refugees
Thanks for making advocacy part of your work to support those we serve and in praying with words from Fr. Richard Rohr:
O Great Love, thank you for living and loving in us and through us. . . Knowing you are hearing us better than we are speaking, we offer these prayers in all the holy names of God. Amen.
To contribute to Old St. Pat’s Immigrant and Refugee Fund, please use the OSP giving link, bit.ly/givetoosp, and select Immigrant & Refugee Fund from the drop-down menu. We thank you in advance for your generosity.
We are working to make sure our families have the devices they need to facilitate continuation of their efforts to learn English, and so the children don’t miss their online school lessons. A BIG THANKS to our David Ryan and Kevin Kelly of the OSP Men’s Group for assisting with a Chromebook donation. Our newest committee member, Penny Davoren, also donated an ipad. Their donations have been much appreciated.
Some of us will be helping with reading over the summer. Tarek, one of the teens in the Alrefaai family, is working hard on his English with the help of tutors from Loyola Academy including Loyola teacher, Margo Stack. His younger brother has been accepted and will begin his freshman year there in September. Committee member, Kate Bergin, has shared how helpful Fr. McGrath has been in giving these young men an opportunity for a great high school education.
On the joyful news side, Maria Ramos is expecting a baby in June. We had been planning a baby shower earlier in April, another event cancelled by the pandemic. However, committee member, Giovana Quigley, worked with Maria, through multiple emails and photo exchanges, to set up a gift registry at Target. Maria says she has been delighted with the array of gifts she has received, and all is ready for Baby Ramos’ arrival.
And believe it or not, Pat Hamill has continued piano lessons with Luis Ramos over the phone!
Mike Schubert, Committee Co-Chair, has been working on a proposal for the purpose of presenting our mission to potential donors, to ensure that we will continue to have the resources we need to support our current families, and perhaps, take on one more.
Committee member, Sharon O’Brien, has been in touch with Azimah and Norham of our Rohynga family as they begin the holy season of Ramadan. Fortunately, Norham’s job is still secure, so they are doing OK.
Our Congolese brother, Gapira, has not been so fortunate. So, committee member, David Gross, has been helping him fill out his unemployment benefit application. Gapira’s older brother, Emile, has moved to Kentucky.
Last, but not least, at our last meeting via Zoom, the committee agreed on an advocacy strategy on behalf of immigrants and refugees in the US, using some tools sent to us by Catholic Charities. To put this in context, federal policies and legislation, like the CARES Act and other measures to support those in need during the pandemic, have excluded most immigrants and refugees. While the Gospel would not support such exclusion, it has also struck me that so many of the faces of health care workers and academics helping the governor use data to best calculate what lies ahead, have the faces and voices of Indians, Asians, Middle Easterners, Latinos, and Europeans. These current or former immigrants and refugees are keeping us alive. Then add to that the many other essential, low-wage workers, very often people of color, who are helping us get by.
Please join us by participating with the information that follows. You can help by sending a message to our Congressional Representatives that we #StandWithRefugees. Then, take a moment to email your Representatives by visiting, https://democracy.io/#!/. This link makes it easy to send your message efficiently, without having to look up any contact information. I think it took me all of three minutes.
Let them know you are a member of a faith community who stands with refugees and wants to make sure that COVID-19 relief:
• Provides funding to strengthen the resettlement infrastructure
• Provides no-cost testing and treatment for all
• Ensures cash payments to ALL refugees
Thanks for making advocacy part of your work to support those we serve and in praying with words from Fr. Richard Rohr:
O Great Love, thank you for living and loving in us and through us. . . Knowing you are hearing us better than we are speaking, we offer these prayers in all the holy names of God. Amen.
To contribute to Old St. Pat’s Immigrant and Refugee Fund, please use the OSP giving link, bit.ly/givetoosp, and select Immigrant & Refugee Fund from the drop-down menu. We thank you in advance for your generosity.