Immigrant and Refugee Ministry
"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
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 immigration@oldstpats.org.
- Accompanying the Refugee and Asylum Seeker – sponsoring refugee and asylum-seeking 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 immigration@oldstpats.org.
Serve Asylum Seekers Arriving in Chicago
September 2023: |
As of September 15, 2023, over 150 asylum-seekers are moving into the Parthenon Guest Suites at 310 S. Halsted. This has become the newest shelter for God’s children being bussed up from Texas. Many wonderful parishioners have asked ‘What can we do?” This is our chance to show them Mercy!
We are communicating with the 34th Ward office and the Chicago Department of Family Support and Services to coordinate our efforts. If you are interested in supporting these migrants in our backyard, whether via action or donation, please fill out this form using the following link: West Loop/Greektown Migrant Support |
This form gives you the option of participating in the S. Halsted Shelter group only. If you are interesting in participating in more of the activities of the Immigration & Refugee Ministry, e-mail immigration@oldstpats.org. Thank you for being merciful as God has been to you!
Here are ways to help:
Volunteering
If you, or someone you know, speaks Spanish and can help with translation, please consider signing up for a volunteer shift HERE. Bilingual volunteers are needed Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 am -12:00pm to assist with registration, helping in the food pantry and clothing shop, and speaking with families to assist with resource distribution.
Volunteers are also needed Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 am -12:00pm to help with processing donations in the Food Pantry and Share Shop-- Spanish is not required for this role, please consider signing up for a volunteer shift HERE OR by contacting Lynn Milligan at lmilligan@chicagolights.org
Donations
Donated items can be delivered/ dropped off at Fourth Presbyterian Church (126 E Chestnut St, Chicago, IL 60611) between the hours of 8:30am and 4:00pm. Use the Chestnut Street entrance.
You can use their lists of preferred food items from Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Costco. You can also purchase new clothing items and have them sent directly to The Social Service Center via Amazon. These lists are set up to ship directly to Fourth Church sales-tax free: just click, pay, and ship!
General Questions? Please contact Theresa Thornburg at tthornburg@chicagolights.org
Let's work together to create communities of welcome, hospitality, safety and hope for our immigrant brothers, sisters and siblings in Christ.
Volunteering
If you, or someone you know, speaks Spanish and can help with translation, please consider signing up for a volunteer shift HERE. Bilingual volunteers are needed Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 am -12:00pm to assist with registration, helping in the food pantry and clothing shop, and speaking with families to assist with resource distribution.
Volunteers are also needed Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 am -12:00pm to help with processing donations in the Food Pantry and Share Shop-- Spanish is not required for this role, please consider signing up for a volunteer shift HERE OR by contacting Lynn Milligan at lmilligan@chicagolights.org
Donations
Donated items can be delivered/ dropped off at Fourth Presbyterian Church (126 E Chestnut St, Chicago, IL 60611) between the hours of 8:30am and 4:00pm. Use the Chestnut Street entrance.
You can use their lists of preferred food items from Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Costco. You can also purchase new clothing items and have them sent directly to The Social Service Center via Amazon. These lists are set up to ship directly to Fourth Church sales-tax free: just click, pay, and ship!
General Questions? Please contact Theresa Thornburg at tthornburg@chicagolights.org
Let's work together to create communities of welcome, hospitality, safety and hope for our immigrant brothers, sisters and siblings in Christ.